Prep Preview ’26: CIML Players to Watch – Part I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We made it to dead week, the 2025-26 high school sports year ending with last week's softball and baseball state tournaments. That means the next time we convene, a new year will be kicking off. It also means another exciting volleyball season is upon us. Teams will be working hard throughout the first part of August preparing for competition later in the month.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig Iowa will get you ready for the new campaign with content leading up the first point. Here's a closer look at players to watch in the state's top big-school conference, the Central Iowa Metro League: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Part I</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'], OH, Waukee Northwest</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top-ranked Class of 2027 player in the state, there's little Vogt can't do on the volleyball court. The Iowa State commitment be seeking her third state title this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='443092' first='Malia' last='Rogers'], OH, Waukee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Vogt, Rogers has a case to be considered the best player in Iowa. A Purdue pledge, the Waukee senior is a nightmare for opponents and can take over a match. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='500340' first='Kaylie' last='Klein'], OH, Dowling Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Klein shares the skills to impact the action through six rotations, much like Vogt and Rogers. The Dowling Catholic star will be heading to Santa Clara next year but not before Maroon opponents must deal with her one more time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490011' first='Leah' last='Janulewicz'], DS/OH, Waukee Northwest</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Janulewicz will play in the back row at Drake but she's a jack of all trades for the defending state champions. The powerful athlete could play the pin at some colleges and owns one of the better swings in the CIML. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493609' first='Madison' last='Grover'], MH, Indianola</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Indianola senior is among the best middle hitters in Iowa. She changes matches as a two-way performer ending points and throwing up an intimidating block, skills they'll welcome at Wayne State next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='758828' first='Sophia' last='Heither'], MH, Ankeny Centennial</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When we're talking Heither, power is the name of the game. One of the few starters back from Ankeny Centennial's best-ever team of 2025, she played her best volleyball at the state tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490016' first='Raquel' last='Risk'], MB/RS/OH, Ankeny</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Risk's teams win. That's not a coincidence. The versatile front-row performer does whatever her squads need to find victory lane. She's a bouncy athlete with a big swing and will be a key player for Ankeny. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='763901' first='Berkley' last='Weiland'], S/RS, Southeast Polk</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weiland ranks as one of the state's better setters just midway through her prep career. As good as she's been to date, expect a big step forward in Pleasant Hill this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='730419' first='Hailey' last='Wiederin'], OH/RS, Ankeny</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been a meteoric rise for Wiederin during the last year. She broke out for Ankeny last fall, shined for Iowa Premier this club campaign and committed to Northern Iowa last month. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='443125' first='Liv' last='Davis'], S, Waukee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis ranks among the elite players at her position in Iowa. The Waukee senior and Kent State commitment possesses all the skills necessary for impacting matches in multiple areas. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->