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<p>The state tournament is a wonderful opportunity to watch great teams and players from around Iowa competing at one well-run event. The 2026 edition will be remembered for a long time as one delivering great stories and memories.</p>
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<p>One of the best aspects of the state tournament is seeing student-athletes for the first time or one of the first times. It's a group that's historically been dominated by freshmen but now includes eighth-graders.</p>
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<p>We might discuss to the latter group in the next few days as we continue writing content from state. First up, however, let's take a look at freshmen that were fabulous:</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">I was watching Hall play in person for the first time during the state tournament. Needless to say, the Western Christian freshman impressed me and everybody else in the building. She earned a spot on the Class 3A all-tournament team in helping the Wolfpack win their 20th championship. Hall produced 41 kills in the 10 sets played during the title run. She's an explosive pin with an excellent vertical leap and power in the swing well beyond her years. Hall is among the state's ninth-graders with the highest ceiling.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Quick hails from a volleyball family. Her mom, Michele Quick, his her head coach with Ankeny Christian Academy, which won the Class 1A state championship last week for the fourth time in five years. Her older sister, Katie Quick, now at Drake, was the setter on the pervious three title teams. The younger Quick is cut out of the same mold as her older sibling. She's a dynamic setter capable of impacting matches in multiple ways. Gabbie earned all-state tournament honors after accumulating 85 assists, 11 kills and 28 digs in 10 sets played at state.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">We first noticed Cirks while she was competing at a Prep Dig Iowa showcase event this summer in Clive. She commanded the back row and flashed an advanced platform for her age. It's why were weren't surprised to see her wearing the jersey for a Humboldt team that reached the state semifinals for a second year in a row. Cirks delivered 33 digs and eight assists during eight sets played in Coralville. She will be one to watch during the 15U club campaign with [program_tooltip program_id='490821' first='Power' last='Plex']. </p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">I scouted VanBruggen for the first time in person during the Iowa City High tournament early in the season. The new arrival from Nebraska already was establishing herself as a presence on the Ankeny Centennial attack and you could tell the tide was rising. The explosiveness and power was advanced for her age. The state witnessed that talent when she proved to be one of the key pieces for a Jaguar team on the rise entering the state tournament. Despite losing to four sets to rival Ankeny in the quarterfinals, VanBruggen produced a team-high 17 kills (.353) with a pair of blocks. </p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Cinadr impressed me when seeing her in person for the first time during the USAV National Tournament this past summer in Indianapolis. She was operating through six rotations, offering an advanced set of skills and athleticism at the pin and in the back row. Assumption needed her to focus on her swing during her freshman year, and Cinadr was thriving when I saw her live twice during the regular season. She did it again on the big stage at state. The ninth-grader hammered out 17 kills in a five-set win against Waverly-Shell Rock in the quarterfinals and ranked second on her team with seven kills in a three-set loss to Clear Creek Amana in the semis.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Walker was shining playing up an age level during the USAV Iowa Regional Tournament this past spring. It was a game that stood out most for its power against older competition. The transition to high school ball was made much smoother by the presence of that skill set, which I saw in person during the MVC Tournament Gold Bracket. It was there again at the state tournament last week. Walker solidified herself as one of Iowa's best ninth-graders, contributing five kills and 4.0 blocks (3 solo) in a four-set quarterfinal win against North Polk. She had three kills and two blocks in a three-set semifinal loss to eventual champion Norwalk. </p>
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Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area
The state tournament is a wonderful opportunity to watch great teams and players from around Iowa competing at one well-run event. The 2026 edition will be remembered for a long time as one delivering great stories and memories.
One of the best aspects of the state tournament is seeing student-athletes for the first time or one of the first times. It's a group that's historically been dominated by freshmen but now includes eighth-graders.
We might discuss to the latter group in the next few days as we continue writing content from state. First up, however, let's take a look at freshmen that were fabulous:
I was watching Hall play in person for the first time during the state tournament. Needless to say, the Western Christian freshman impressed me and everybody else in the building. She earned a spot on the Class 3A all-tournament team…
Quick hails from a volleyball family. Her mom, Michele Quick, his her head coach with Ankeny Christian Academy, which won the Class 1A state championship last week for the fourth time in five years. Her older sister, Katie Quick, now…
We first noticed Cirks while she was competing at a Prep Dig Iowa showcase event this summer in Clive. She commanded the back row and flashed an advanced platform for her age. It's why were weren't surprised to see her wearing the jersey for a Humboldt team that reached the state semifinals for a second year in a row. Cirks delivered 33 digs and eight assists during eight sets played in Coralville. She will be one to watch during the 15U club campaign with Power Plex
.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
I scouted VanBruggen for the first time in person during the Iowa City High tournament early in the season. The new arrival from Nebraska already was establishing herself as a presence on the Ankeny Centennial attack and you could tell…
Cinadr impressed me when seeing her in person for the first time during the USAV National Tournament this past summer in Indianapolis. She was operating through six rotations, offering an advanced set of skills and athleticism at the pin and in the back row. Assumption needed her to focus on her swing during her freshman year, and Cinadr was thriving when I saw her live twice during the regular season. She did it again on the big stage at state. The ninth-grader hammered out 17 kills in a five-set win against Waverly-Shell Rock in the quarterfinals and ranked second on her team with seven kills in a three-set loss to Clear Creek Amana in the semis.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Walker was shining playing up an age level during the USAV Iowa Regional Tournament this past spring. It was a game that stood out most for its power against older competition. The transition to high school ball was made much smoother by the presence of that skill set, which I saw in person during the MVC Tournament Gold Bracket. It was there again at the state tournament last week. Walker solidified herself as one of Iowa's best ninth-graders, contributing five kills and 4.0 blocks (3 solo) in a four-set quarterfinal win against North Polk. She had three kills and two blocks in a three-set semifinal loss to eventual champion Norwalk.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
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