It’s State Tournament Time: Who Are My Top Players To Watch?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'Twas the morning of the tournament and all through the state, athletes were beginning to congregate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bags were packed, and waters prepared, jerseys were selected and carefully paired.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ready for what the tournament would hold, creating memories forever retold.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing all week and going for gold, seeing what you've worked for all season starting to unfold.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now aces! Now blocks! Now digs and now kills!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now student section chants and fans left with chills!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As nets are rising, we all start to chime: "Happy State Tournament to all, and to all a good time!"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The time is FINALLY here, the most anticipated part of high school volleyball- the State Tournament. Throughout this week we are going to see some of the best athletes in Iowa going head to head to try and clutch a state title for their schools. We've already seen a lot of great volleyball throughout this season, but I have a feeling this is going to be a whole other level of competition! I am going to be covering the event all week so make sure to keep an eye out on my socials for player evaluations, live updates, highlights, and more (Instagram @Prepdigmarissa).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To get things started, here are my predictions of the tournament as well as some players to watch from each class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">1A</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1059128,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/11/5A-State-Tournament-Bracket-4.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1059128" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5 Players to watch in 1A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/havanna-dolbeare/" data-type="players" data-id="777812">Havanna Dolbeare</a> of Ankeny Christian </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/kate-pieper/" data-type="players" data-id="790527">Kate Pieper</a> of Holy Trinity Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/quinn-sweeney/" data-type="players" data-id="887022">Quinn Sweeney</a> of Janesville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/taylor-kipp/" data-type="players" data-id="913851">Taylor Kipp</a> of Dunkerton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/elsie-hoegh-2/" data-type="players" data-id="493978">Elsie Hoegh</a> of Boyden-Hull</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2A</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1059130,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/11/5A-State-Tournament-Bracket-3.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1059130" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5 Players to watch in 2A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/brehanna-murch/" data-type="players" data-id="1002745">Brehanna Murch</a> of Denver</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/natalie-rausch/" data-type="players" data-id="754872">Natalie Rausch</a> of Hudson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/elliotte-friessen/" data-type="players" data-id="769009">Ellie Friessen</a> of Hinton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/bianca-grimm/" data-type="players" data-id="830328">Bianca Grimm</a> of Union Community</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/jenna-blythe/" data-type="players" data-id="902985">Jenna Blythe</a> of Grundy Center</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">3A</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1059133,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/11/5A-State-Tournament-Bracket-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1059133" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5 Players to watch in 3A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/scarlett-ferin/" data-type="players" data-id="720363">Scarlett Ferin</a> of Solon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/kennedy-vant-hul/" data-type="players" data-id="902904">Kennedy Van't Hul</a> of Western Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/leah-caffery/" data-type="players" data-id="490009">Leah Caffery</a> of Wilton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/brookelyn-jondle-2/" data-type="players" data-id="493981">Brookelyn Jondle</a> of Roland-Story</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/addison-waldorf/" data-type="players" data-id="545946">Addison Waldorf</a> of Humboldt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">4A</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1059136,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/11/5A-State-Tournament-Bracket-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1059136" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5 Players to watch in 4A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/gabrielle-hatlevig/" data-type="players" data-id="560368">Elle Hatlevig</a> of Norwalk</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/amalia-djoumessi/" data-type="players" data-id="893927">Amalia Djoumessi</a> of Waverly- Shell Rock</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/peyton-dirks-2/" data-type="players" data-id="754649">Peyton Dirks</a> of North Polk</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/haydin-wauters/" data-type="players" data-id="571219">Haydin Wauters</a> of Clear Creek Amana</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/gabrielle-demmer/" data-type="players" data-id="555692">Gabrielle Demmer</a> of Western Dubuque</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5A</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1059138,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/11/5A-State-Tournament-Bracket.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1059138" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5 Players to watch in 5A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/london-taylor/" data-type="players" data-id="555820">London Taylor</a> of Waukee Northwest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/avrielle-ohda/" data-type="players" data-id="789484">Avrielle Ohda</a> of Pleasant Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/josephine-austen/" data-type="players" data-id="610472">Josie Austen</a> of Iowa City West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/kaelyn-marie-rinehart/" data-type="players" data-id="498069">Kaelyn Rinehart</a> of Ankeny Centennial </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/maggie-leifker/" data-type="players" data-id="394331">Maggie Leifker</a> of Dallas Center-Grimes</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->