Prep Preview ’26: MVC Players to Watch – Part II

<!-- 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-i/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/prep-preview-26-mvc-players-to-watch-part-i/">Prep Preview '26: MVC Players to Watch – Part I</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In two weeks, 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 Mississippi Valley Conference:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='754657' first='Cyan' last='Blommer'], OH, Iowa City West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While club volleyball fans knew all about Blommer foe awhile, the freshman was a revelation on the prep volleyball scene a year ago. That she was not at least an all-district choice by the coaches association seemed like an oversight considering her production. She led an Iowa City West team that reached the state tournament for the first time in nine years in kills and ranked second in digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='781517' first='Hadassah' last='Smith'], MH, Cedar Falls</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Blommer, there's a case for Smith being snubbed for all-district recognition as a ninth-grader in 2025. She ranked second on Cedar Falls with 251 kills (.317) and led it in blocks (71.0). Those numbers should go up after another strong season on the club circuit. Smith is a unique combination of power and athleticism that can take over matches from the middle of the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'], S/RS, Iowa City Liberty</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the fiercest competitors around, Miller never stops expanding her game and skill set. She built her foundation on sharpening her setting and has built herself into an impactful player elsewhere around the court. Miller ends points and is an improving blocker. She's sharp in serve-receive and handles herself well in defending the back row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='775182' first='Olivia' last='Marais'], OH, Cedar Rapids Prairie</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marais started contributing as a Prairie Hawk freshman in 2024 and established herself as a integral part of the team last fall. Marais took a step forward as an attacker for a club team that reached the USAV Nationals this summer. There's potential for six-rotation impact in her first year as an upperclassman. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='525829' first='Addison' last='Phillips'], MH, Cedar Rapids Kennedy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Phillips has stood out as one of Kennedy's top performers during the last two seasons. She's progressed steadily during that time, becoming a especially consistent two-way performer in the middle of the net. Phillips is a good athlete with leaping ability and timing to throw up an effective block. Her attack is continually adding power and improved placement.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='555785' first='Lexi' last='Haller'], S/RS, Cedar Rapids Jefferson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/stock-risers-from-prep-dig-iowa-sizzle-2026/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/stock-risers-from-prep-dig-iowa-sizzle-2026/">wrote about Haller</a> after watching her again at last week's Prep Dig Iowa Sizzle. Like the others on this list, the J-Hawk junior worked hard to make herself the best volleyballer she can be. She's a versatile setter that can impact matches in multiple ways at the position. When she moves off of it in the 6-2, there's power at the pin and a useful block. Haller holds up well in the back row, too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='805985' first='Kaitlin' last='Loria'], OH, Iowa City High</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A "basketball kid", Loria flashes a heck of a lot of potential on the volleyball court, too. I reviewed that after seeing her again last week's Sizzle. After focusing on AAU hoops and skipping club volleyball this year, Loria showed some rust but also the upside to be a prime-time, six-rotation performer as a senior this fall. She'll need to be really good from the pin. She has that in her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->