Prep Preview ’26: Missouri River Players to Watch – Part I

<!-- 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-iv/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/prep-preview-26-mvc-players-to-watch-part-iv/">Prep Preview '26: MVC Players to Watch</a> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In one week, 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 Missouri River Conference:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913844' first='Bailey' last='Ball'] S, Sergeant Bluff-Luton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ball played a key role in leading Sergeant Bluff-Luton to the state tournament semifinals as a sophomore in 2024. The sensational setter earned all-state recognition from the coaches last season, when the Warriors return to Xtream Arena in Coralville. The senior is poised for a grand finale in 2026. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dara Mollet, MH/RS, Bishop Heelan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The coaches named Mollet to their all-district team a year ago, when the junior ranked second on Bishop Heelan with 277 kills in 109 sets. She paced the Crusaders and ranked among the state's best with 126.0 blocks. An all-state campaign could be loading and, with it, a trip back to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kali Cunningham, DS/L, LeMars</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cunningham is the top returning player among digs leaders in the Missouri River Conference from a year ago. The junior came up with 309 in 79 sets, which represented the second-best rate among qualifiers. The Bulldogs will be leaning heavily on Cunningham again in 2026, and she's prepared for the challenge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='892907' first='Adrienne' last='Wall'], OH, Sioux City North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During a difficult 2025 season at Sioux City North, Wall provided hope that brighter days were ahead for the Stars. The freshman ranked fifth in the Missouri River Conference with 243 kills in 81 sets. She also came up with 132 digs. Coaches will ask more of her this year, and the 10th-grader is ready.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='893089' first='Addeline' last='Vondrak'], OH, Sioux City West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sioux City West took some lumps last season, but with Vondrak and others back in the fold, the Wolverines are looking to claw their way up the standings in 2026. The sophomore broke out as a ninth-grader a year ago, when her 197 kills in 65 sets ranked sixth among everyone in the league. Her 188 digs were the most on her team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493652' first='Kaitlyn' last='Hardie'], DS/L, Sergeant Bluff-Luton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hardie patrolled the back row with passion for a Sergeant Bluff-Luton outfit that returned to the state tournament last year after reaching the semifinals in 2024. The junior came up with 284 digs in 85 sets, earning all-district honors. Sixty assists were a testimony to play-making off of the two-ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493980' first='Melina' last='Snoozy'], MH/OH, Bishop Heelan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On of the state's most gifted athletes, Snoozy committed to the Iowa State women's basketball program back in April. While college volleyball coaches were aware getting her away from that sport was unlikely, some of them will watch her this season with envy for Cyclone hoops. She paced Heelan in kills last season and ranked second in digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->