In-Depth Look at New PD Iowa ’28 Rankings Update

<!-- 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><strong><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/pd-iowa-team-rankings-class-5a-preseason-super-16/">PD Iowa Team Rankings: Class 5A Preseason Super 16</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/pd-iowa-team-rankings-class-4a-preseason-super-16/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/pd-iowa-team-rankings-class-4a-preseason-super-16/">PD Iowa Team Rankings: Class 4A Preseason Super 16</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig Iowa continues working its way through another round of player rankings. You can check out the updated look at the Class of 2027 <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/insight-into-prep-dig-iowa-class-of-27-rankings-update/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/insight-into-prep-dig-iowa-class-of-27-rankings-update/"><strong>HERE</strong></a>. Related content can be found <a href="https://prepdig.com/author/rob-howe-author/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/author/rob-howe-author/"><strong>HERE</strong></a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class of 2028 is up next for discussion. One scan through the <strong><a href="https://prepdig.com/iowa/rankings/2028-watch-list-2/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/iowa/rankings/2028-watch-list-2/">UPDATED RANKINGS</a></strong> reveals a whole lot of talent and depth. It's also a group that has two years of high school ball to get better, which is exciting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you've read rankings content from me before, you understand the importance of adding context to them. It helps alleviate a whole bunch left open to interpretation in any ranking of people/places/things, etc. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The best way to start accomplishing greater insight is by tiering the rankings. It groups like-level players together. Sometimes there's a big difference between No. 1 and No. 2. Others times, it might be razor thin. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the case of the latest Prep Dig Iowa Class of 2028 rankings update, the Top 9 remained the same. That made it even more important to talk about tiers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='560368' first='Elle' last='Hatlevig'] has held onto the top spot in this class since the first rankings were released. The Norwalk junior has solidified that position and stayed in her own tier following club ball. She continued sharpening all of her volleyball skills and committed to Michigan State this summer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second tier of the Iowa '28 rankings contains six student-athletes. That means we see these players being a similar combination of current ability and upside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='573313' first='Deviryn' last='McCarty'] checks in at No. 2. The MOC-Floyd Valley standout took a step forward and proved healthy during the club campaign after missing her sophomore prep season due to injury. She'll be in the back row when she arrives at Northern Iowa in a few years but does it all for the Dutchmen. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Humboldt setter [player_tooltip player_id='545946' first='Addison' last='Waldorf'] is ranked third. The dynamic junior enjoyed a super club season, when she guided her team to the USAV Nationals in the open division. Northern Iowa received her pledge. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='545971' first='Avery' last='Cordes'] competes for the defending Class 5A champions and the state's top club team in her age group. That's not a coincidence for the No. 4-ranked player. The Duke commitment can play any of the three front row positions better than most in Iowa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Hatlevig, Waldorf and Cordes teamed up for club success, so, too, did McCarty and No. 5 [player_tooltip player_id='781456' first='Morgan' last='Kooiman']. The Western Christian junior has as high of a ceiling as anyone in this class. South Dakota locked up her commitment this summer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Coyotes also secured the pledge of the sixth-ranked player in the cycle, [player_tooltip player_id='516002' first='Julia' last='Schlarbaum']. The Clear Creek Amana junior shines through six rotations as an outside hitter with prodigious power. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='730419' first='Hailey' last='Wiederin'] rounds out the tier as the third UNI commitment in it. The No. 7 player is absolutely packed with potential and on a great development trajectory. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third tier of the rankings includes four players. It starts with Dowling Catholic's [player_tooltip player_id='845755' first='Kennedy' last='Klein']. The St. Thomas pledge is a six-rotation force with room to grow her game and add power. The same could be said about the other three athletes in this tier, as a matter of fact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woodward-Granger's [player_tooltip player_id='702737' first='Alena' last='Schaack'] is No. 9. The emerging middle is another Northern Iowa commitment. She's followed by Ankeny's [player_tooltip player_id='732859' first='Elle' last='Isaacson'], who rose up two spots in the rankings to 10th. The Drake pledge possesses one of the class's heaviest swings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='730098' first='Caroline' last='Crane'] rises five spots to No. 11 in the rankings and closes out the third tier. The Dowling Catholic junior and Fresno State commitment is a hammer on the right side and an improving blocker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->