Prep Preview ’26: Missouri River Players to Watch – Part III

<!-- 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><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/07/prep-preview-26-ciml-players-to-watch-part-iii/">Prep Preview '26: CIML Players to Watch</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/prep-preview-26-mac-players-to-watch-part-iii/">Prep Preview '26: MAC Players to Watch</a>&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/prep-preview-26-mvc-players-to-watch-part-iv/">Prep Preview '26: MVC Players to Watch</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/prep-preview-26-missouri-river-players-to-watch-part-i/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/prep-preview-26-missouri-river-players-to-watch-part-i/">Prep Preview '26: Missouri River Players to Watch Part I</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/prep-preview-26-missouri-river-players-to-watch-part-ii/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/prep-preview-26-missouri-river-players-to-watch-part-ii/">Prep Preview '26: Missouri River Players to Watch Part II</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next week, there will be real high school volleyball matches that count. I know. It's a redundant sentence. It seems necessary to convey the annual surprise that another season is upon us, however.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We received a peek at teams competing in the&nbsp;<a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/stock-risers-from-prep-dig-iowa-sizzle-2026/">Prep Dig Iowa Sizzle</a>. They and others around state have committed to improvement in pursuit of realizing dreams in November.</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 one of the state's top leagues, the Missouri River Conference: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='572668' first='Jacey' last='Young'], DS/L, Lewis Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Young's 400 digs in 2025 would have ranked second in the Missouri River Conference, where the Titans now reside after being in the Hawkeye 10 since 1970. The move should benefit them athletically, where talented players like Young will impact volleyball in the league right away. She has 736 career digs with two seasons to play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='897309' first='Reagan' last='Hensley'], RS/MH, Bishop Heelan </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hensley announced her arrival in a big way last season. The Bishop Heelan freshman ranked fourth in the Missouri River Conference with 49.0 blocks. She added 64 kills in starting all 38 of the Crusaders' matches. The long-armed, right-side hitter should be able to add more on the attack and ramp up her blocking in Year 2. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='812711' first='Delaney' last='Griebel'], RS/MH/OH, Sergeant Bluff-Luton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scouting Griebel in high school and at Prep Dig showcases, the Sergeant Bluff-Luton junior has proven to be a versatile competitor. She's capable of putting the ball down from either pin or in the middle of the net. Ranking 11th among Missouri Valley kill leaders as a sophomore last year, Griebel also shows an aptitude for the block.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1020663' first='Aubrey' last='Sohn'], MH, Sioux City East</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sohn stood out as a key contributor for Sioux City East last fall. The junior middle hitter ranked third among Black Raiders in kills and will be the second leading returner in that category. She'll be the leader in blocks that's back. A reliable, two-way performer in the middle of the net, Sohn is set up for a super senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='882673' first='Emary' last='Cooper'], RS/OH, Lewis Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cooper is one of the better kept secrets in the state. Another club year with Premier Nebraska will have her ready to build on a sophomore season of 2025 that saw the opposite pin rank second on Lewis Central with 229 kills (.229). She's the leading Titan returnee in that category. She made strides as a blocker last season and is likely to contribute more in that area. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1020654' first='Claire' last='Nelson'], OH, Bishop Heelan </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nelson stepped into an important role in 2025, when defending champion Bishop Heelan was reloading after winning a state championship. The sophomore cranked out 163 kills, which ranked third among Crusaders and eighth in the Missouri River. With another offseason of training under her belt and a year of varsity experience, Nelson should be ready for more. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='890710' first='Kalli' last='McSorley'], S, Lewis Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McSorley shared the setting duties with a senior in Lewis Central's 6-2 last season. The junior led the Titans in assists, and her 194 digs ranked second on the team. She added 82 kills, proving to be a threat to end points in a variety of ways. McSorley joins Young and Cooper in giving the new Missouri Valley member a foundation that can create noise in Year 1. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->