What We Saw at Prep Dig Iowa Sizzle 2026

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   CORALVILLE, Iowa - The third annual Prep Dig Sizzle wrapped up Wednesday afternoon at Xtream Arena. Teams with potential to enjoy a memorable 2026 season got an early sense of where they stood heading into it.   Coaches I spoke with appreciated the opportunity. I was thankful for the chance to see these squads get their feet under them and looked forward to tracking their progress throughout the fall.   We watched an up-and-coming Humboldt outfit start its impressive run to the Class 3A state championship match here last year. The Wildcats showed this week that pieces are there for another special campaign if they come together.   You can read about schools only playing on Tuesday of this year's Sizzle <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/notes-observations-from-day-1-of-pd-iowa-sizzle-26/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/notes-observations-from-day-1-of-pd-iowa-sizzle-26/">HERE</a>. Below is a rundown of the other programs in the event.   HUMBOLDT HUMMING   Last year's Class 3A runners-up have a chance to finish the deal this season. Junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='545946' first='Addison' last='Waldorf'], a Northern Iowa commitment, is as good any player in the state at her position. Her classmate, [player_tooltip player_id='746258' first='Adelynn' last='Goodell'], an all-state middle hitter, also will be among the best on the court most days.   That combo proved deadly again this week with the connection strengthening. [player_tooltip player_id='833174' first='Jazzie' last='Dodd'], a six-rotation outside hitter, showed she's ready to build on an excellent sophomore season of 2025 as well.   The question for the Wildcats will be filling in around that terrific trio. They'll need inexperienced kids to step up. And they have plenty capable of doing so.   A big key for Humboldt will be getting the ball to Waldorf so she can distribute the ball to Goodell, Dodd and the other attackers. [player_tooltip player_id='794177' first='Gracie' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='993181' first='Ryah' last='Cirks'] show potential to fill that role very nicely.   ASSUMPTION RELOADING   Defending state champion Assumption was one of the better teams at the Sizzle. The Knights had the makings of a group fully capable of making another run despite the jump up to Class 4A.   Standout returners [player_tooltip player_id='694203' first='Belle' last='Cotton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='742600' first='Piper' last='Hodge'] rank as two of the better players at their respective positions in the state. They'll need to raise their level of play and help lead an overall inexperienced roster.   Sophomore Natalie Depoorter is ready to keep the trains running on time as the new starting setter. [player_tooltip player_id='854516' first='Zoe' last='Cinadr'] and [player_tooltip player_id='877691' first='Piper' last='Peterson'] have a chance to be impactful freshmen.   CLIPPING ALONG   Of the state's winningest programs this decade, Clear Creek Amana played really good volleyball this week with the understanding that there's a lot more where that came from. The Clippers worked in a lot of candidates to replace big production lost to graduation after last year.   Luckily, they bring back two of the state's better players in [player_tooltip player_id='516002' first='Julia' last='Schlarbaum'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson']. The former was slowed by a hand injury at the Sizzle but looked sharp when she was in there. The latter, a middle hitter by trade, is contributing around the court more these days.   Libero [player_tooltip player_id='902716' first='Kendall' last='Ronnfeldt'] played well and will keep CCA in system a lot. The Clippers are figuring out the second touch with competition at setter. [player_tooltip player_id='571219' first='Haydin' last='Wauters'] is a middle hitter ready to take the next step.   LIGHTNING STRIKING   Liberty got a lot out of the Sizzle. The Lightning split playing time between kids competing for the varsity rotation and others that will be on junior varsity if they come up short. The coaches received a lot of evaluation time.   It looked like Liberty was looking for a second setter in preparation for running a 6-2. It allowed [player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'], who recently committed to Morningside, to swing away from the opposite pin, which benefits this team. [player_tooltip player_id='851203' first='Norah' last='Willey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='917911' first='Kaylin' last='Davis'] were competing for the second setter spot.   [player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller'], [player_tooltip player_id='273001' first='Ellie' last='Wilson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493985' first='Sydney' last='Van Heukelom'] team with [player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'] in providing the Lightning with a senior class that's played a lot of varsity volleyball and won a lot of games. [player_tooltip player_id='845222' first='Ava' last='Meidlinger'] is another veteran poised for a big final prep season.   BULLDOGS HAVE BITE   Bettendorf has experienced solid success in recent years. The Sizzle performance supplied evidence that the Bulldogs can bite even harder in 2026. And on top of that, it happened with one of their best players, [player_tooltip player_id='575805' first='Dyllan' last='Harn'], sidelined with an injury.   It starts in the back row with multi-year starter at libero, [player_tooltip player_id='569671' first='Logan' last='Ramstack']. [player_tooltip player_id='946816' first='Abby' last='Dykstra'], [player_tooltip player_id='952192' first='Beatrice' last='Shirley'], Brielle Wilson, Haley Engels and [player_tooltip player_id='949060' first='Reece' last='Harrell'] are varsity veterans leading a large group of candidates competing for playing time.   LITTLE HAWKS TAKING FLIGHT   Iowa City High brings back a super foundation of three multi-year varsity starters. [player_tooltip player_id='493658' first='Hattie' last='Galloway'], a Milwaukee commitment, is one of the state's best two-way players. She's operating with skills to play six rotations despite middle hitter being her natural position.   Galloway shares the captaincy with [player_tooltip player_id='805985' first='Kaitlin' last='Loria'], another senior that's developed as a viable six-rotation performer. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='730426' first='Hazel' last='Schluckebier'] puts Galloway, Loria and others in position for clean swings. The junior is a fundamentally sound volleyballer.   It's on top of that trio where the Little Hawks will be looking build. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='802825' first='Maeve' last='Obermueller'] and Rainie Pfohl, junior Mirin Oxley, and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='775626' first='Georgia' last='Sutherland'] and [player_tooltip player_id='780596' first='Audrey' last='Howe'] all were part of their main rotation at the Sizzle.   UNION UNITING   Union brings back an excellent core from a team that reached the regional finals last year. The Knights are filling in around the foundation. They got off to a great start at the Sizzle, winning sets against larger schools and competing closely with everyone.   The middle combination of [player_tooltip player_id='754886' first='Taylen' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='730396' first='Caitlyn' last='Schneider'] might be the state's best in Class 2A. [player_tooltip player_id='830328' first='Bianca' last='Grimm'] is one of my favorite players in Iowa to watch. The senior is a ball of energy, skilled and smart. [player_tooltip player_id='789782' first='Hinley' last='Mast'] is an excellent athlete and an underrated setter. I like this team.   JEFFERSON GELLING   Nicole Herman is building Cedar Rapids Jefferson. The J-Hawks flashed signs of progress at last year's Sizzle and had taken another step forward when they returned this week. The program's energy is palpable.   [player_tooltip player_id='555785' first='Lexi' last='Haller'] is baller. The senior would be good if she only set but standing out as one of the team's best hitters gives opponents fits. She's also an excellent leader, too. [player_tooltip player_id='815520' first='Kymara' last='Atwood-Mayes'], Mia Denlinger, [player_tooltip player_id='986910' first='Demarriana' last='Steel'], Izzy Szabo and Adilynn Akers are among kids that took steps forward on varsity last year.   DEVILS DIG IN   Davenport Central brings back a solid nucleus led by [player_tooltip player_id='765171' first='Dillynn' last='Moore'], who led the team in kills and digs as a freshman last year. She played really well on Wednesday and will be atop all opponent scouting reports this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='942739' first='Isy' last='Devasthali'] is another promising sophomore that improved during the club season. Anne Linehan is a rising setter that fed Moore and Devasthali consistently a year ago.

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area