Scouting Reports, Photos: Ballard Bombers 2026

<!-- 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>The high school volleyball years create wonderful life memories for everyone involved. Connections are strong.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That thought was the impetus behind developing these scouting-report/photo pieces a few seasons ago to act as yearbook pages. I've written as many of them as I could based on watching teams play in person. Hopefully, they capture that squad in words and pictures, and can be accessed years down the road.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we look at Ballard, who I scouted at the Grinnell Invite on Aug. 29. The Bombers finished third in the Gold Bracket, securing solid sweeps against South Tama County and Grinnell. They also pushed Class 4A state semifinalist Clear Creek Amana to three sets before falling 15-12 in the third. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ballard plays a deep rotation and receives contributions up and down the lineup. The team shows a strong connection and appears to play for each other. There's plenty of communication and supporting each other.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a closer look on standout players followed by a photo gallery of Bombers: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["728886"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a9b14f8aacdb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Huntrods is one of my favorite players to scout. She always brings great energy to the court and lifts up her teammates. The Ballard junior also can do just about anything that needs to be done on the court. I've seen her stand out in the jersey, which is probably her natural spot, but her quick-twitch athleticism, leaping ability and surprising pin power from a smaller frame allow for a contributions through six rotations. That was the case when scouting her again at the Grinnell Invite early in the season. Huntrods was swinging away and blocking at the pin. She also came up with excellent defense in the back row and started transition off of serve-receive. Huntrods looked poised for a very productive junior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["754258"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a9b1771d1d3a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I hadn't seen Ersland compete in person until scouting her at the early-season Grinnell Invite. She was leading a Bomber attack that helped the team finish third in the Gold Pool with the only setbacks coming against fellow state-tournament hopefuls in Solon and Clear Creek Amana. Ersland benefits from excellent leaping ability, rising above the net and getting on top of the ball. It helps her generate a lot of power. She also adjusts well to off-timed or -target sets. Ersland puts up a strong block and is a good athlete that flows well with the action. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["939167"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a9b188f1e7d5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mudd caught my attention during the club campaign when I scouted her and RVA at the Iowa Invite at the TBK Center in the Quad Cities. I was impressed again watching her compete for Ballard during the Grinnell Invite early on in the prep season. She was swinging away and defending the net at the opposite pin for RVA. As a Ballard senior, she was lining up in the middle of the net. It speaks to her athleticism and versatility up front. It's a skill set that works well on the right side or middle. Mudd bounces off the court, thriving on quick sets and getting on top of the traditional offerings. She has an excellent feel for blocking and changing attacks when she's unable to get her hands on it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["729559"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a9b1a7385093"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I've had the pleasure of scouting Gardner frequently throughout the last few years. She competes for one of the most entertaining teams on the club circuit at Ohana. Like others on that squad, her all-around volleyball skills are sharp and allow for positional versatility. I hadn't seen her play libero, a position Ohana filled with a Drake commitment. I did see her line up with the jersey for Ballard at the Grinnell Invite early in the 2026 prep season. She handled the spot very well against heavy-swinging attackers for Solon, Clear Creek Amana, South Tama County and elsewhere. Gardner flows well with the action and positions herself to make plays. She tracks the ball well in serve-receive and does well in getting the transition game underway.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:gallery {"linkTo":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"><!-- wp:image {"id":1024278,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/137A7432.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1024278" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ballard's [player_tooltip player_id='709085' first='Hailey' last='Estrem']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1024279,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/137A7434.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1024279" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ballard's [player_tooltip player_id='939167' first='Norah' last='Mudd']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1024299,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/137A7583.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1024299" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ballard 2026. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1024607,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/137A7590.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1024607" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ballard's [player_tooltip player_id='754258' first='Kendall' last='Ersland']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1024888,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/137A7594.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1024888" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ballard's [player_tooltip player_id='728886' first='Lilly' last='Huntrods']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1025160,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/137A7645.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1025160" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ballard's [player_tooltip player_id='728886' first='Lilly' last='Huntrods']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1025428,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/137A7707.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1025428" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ballard's Marley Gatchel. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1036863,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/137A8690.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1036863" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ballard's [player_tooltip player_id='754258' first='Kendall' last='Ersland']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1036866,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/137A8641.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1036866" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ballard's [player_tooltip player_id='939167' first='Norah' last='Mudd']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1036872,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/137A8725.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1036872" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ballard's [player_tooltip player_id='709085' first='Hailey' last='Estrem']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1036874,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/137A8754.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1036874" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ballard's [player_tooltip player_id='490006' first='Harley' last='Askelsen']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --></figure> <!-- /wp:gallery -->