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

<!-- 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/">Prep Preview '26: MVC Players to Watch – Part I</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/prep-preview-26-mvc-players-to-watch-part-ii/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/prep-preview-26-mvc-players-to-watch-part-ii/">Prep Preview '26: MVC Players to Watch – Part II</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/prep-preview-26-mvc-players-to-watch-part-iii/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/prep-preview-26-mvc-players-to-watch-part-iii/">Prep Preview '26: MVC Players to Watch – Part III</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In nine days, 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='493985' first='Sydney' last='Van Heukelom'], MH, Iowa City Liberty</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Entering her fourth season as a starter, Van Heukelom is playing her best volleyball and appeared poised for a big senior year competing at the Prep Dig Iowa Sizzle last week. An all-conference pick in 2025, Van Heukelom enters her final campaign with 197.0 career clocks and will once again be a factor in the middle of the net for the Lightning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='540833' first='Izzie' last='McDonald'], DS/L, Iowa City West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McDonald enjoyed a breakout season in 2025, stepping into the libero position for an Iowa City West team that returned to the state tournament for the first time since 2016. The sophomore came up with 410 digs, the fourth most in the MVC. She helped her club team qualify for the open division at the USAV Nationals and verbally committed to the University of Iowa this summer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='730426' first='Hazel' last='Schluckebier'], S/RS, Iowa City High</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Entering her third season as the Iowa City High setter, Schluckebier will look to build on a 2025 prep campaign that saw her expand her game and earn all-MVC recognition. The sophomore ran the offense efficiently and stood out when the Little Hawks went 6-2. She's become a threat with her swing and playing improved defense all around the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='555692' first='Gabrielle' last='Demmer'], DS/L, Western Dubuque</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Demmer ranked third among MVC competitors with 424 digs as a Western Dubuque junior last season. It led to a spot on the all-conference team. I got to see her play with Six Pack a few times this club season and <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/04/2026-asics-show-me-nq-back-row-standouts/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2026/04/2026-asics-show-me-nq-back-row-standouts/">wrote about it</a>. The Bobcats could make noise in 2026. If they do, Demmer will be a big reason why. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='840581' first='Lila' last='Homolar'], OH, Waterloo West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Homolar impressed the heck out of me when she played a key role in Waterloo West topping Iowa City High for the first time in a long time last year. She stood out through six rotations during the early-season upset. Homolar kept it up during the whole campaign, earning all-conference recognition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='780202' first='Mallory' last='Pfab'], RS/OH, Dubuque Senior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pfab is a newcomer to the prep ranks and a welcome addition to Dubuque Senior, which graduated an all-timer in Cambel Drapeau, who is off to Creighton this season. Pfab has that type of upside if it all comes together. The tall, powerful left-hander is advanced beyond her years and will make an immediate impact in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='533845' first='Taylor' last='Otte'], MH, Iowa City West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been a steady ascent for Otte, who took a big step forward in helping Iowa City West to the state tournament last season. It resulted in all-conference recognition and led to a spot on the state's top 16U club team, which qualified for the open division at USAV Nationals. Otte is set up for an impactful junior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->