Top PINS In The 5A And 4A Class

The 5A and 4A schools are loaded with talent this season, especially when it comes to the pin hitters. A lot of these athletes are contributing not only with their swings, but also with their blocks, serve receive, and defense in the back row. There is a lot of pressure put on these girls, especially with most of them being primo hitters for their schools. Although there are so many kids in between these two classes that could be on here, I picked out a handful that I've been impressed with so far this season.    I swear every time I watch Ankeny, it's like the [player_tooltip player_id='730419' first='Hailey' last='Wiederin'] show. Don't get me wrong, the entire Ankeny varsity squad is phenomenal, and I've been rooting for them all season. But every time I've gotten to watch them, Wiederin puts on a SHOW. There's no wonder why she's ranked #7th in Iowa and leads the Hawks in more than one stat. Wiederin is lethal not only at the net, but also from anywhere in the back row. However, her skills go far beyond her swing. She manages to stay calm and collected in her serve receive and defense. I think she has definitely been one of my favorites to watch.     Although Kendra is one of the shorter pins on this list, you couldn't tell with her insane vertical. I was always so impressed every time I watched her compete this past club season. She wasn't afraid to take risks, no matter who was on the other side of the net. And those tough shots she was taking almost always worked in her favor. The best part about Nolton's offense is the power and speed she has in her swing. She's one of those athletes that you don't quite know what to expect when first looking at her. But it doesn't take long for her to draw the spectators in. I am so excited to see the impact she makes in her final club season.     Between her club and high school season, [player_tooltip player_id='730098' first='Caroline' last='Crane'] has had quite the year. For starters, Crane helped lead her Iowa United team to a third-place finish in the 16 National division at the GJNC this summer. Now, she's contributing to the successful season that Dowling Catholic has been having this fall. Although she can be a terminator no matter where you put her, she really thrives on the right side. She has the ability to hammer the ball down, but knows how to utilize her shots when need be. Although she doesn't play a whole lot of defense, when she does, she does it with ease. Crane is another athlete I'm excited to watch excel at the next level.     I haven't gotten to see [player_tooltip player_id='516002' first='Julia' last='Schlarbaum'] play live a whole lot this season. However, when I have, I'm never left disappointed. This girl brings so much to the court for this CCA program and still isn't finished. What sets her apart from a lot of juniors is how advanced her maturity, IQ, and skill set are compared to other juniors. The way she plays makes it seem as though she's two steps ahead of everyone. She reads her opponents extremely well and makes quick-thinking adjustments to better the ball.     [player_tooltip player_id='443092' first='Malia' last='Rogers'] is a dominant outside who continues to prove why she's so high up in the rankings. Rogers is someone who was blessed with height, but has worked hard to utilize every inch of her body when she plays. My favorite thing about Rogers is her phenomenal cut shots that come at the most unexpected times. She's an athlete that you can't ever count out, no matter where she's swinging from. Not only can she put the ball away at the net, but she also has amazing range while running the pipe ball as well.     I've mentioned her before, and I'll continue to mention her. [player_tooltip player_id='1043729' first='Hayden' last='Dietz'] is a hitter who truly does not get talked about enough. I know it's easy for a lot of pins to get overlooked in such competitive classes. However, I don't want that to be the case here. Dietz is the shortest one on this list, but she plays like she's 6'0. She trusts her swings and never shies away from ripping the ball, no matter where she is on the court. My favorite part about Hayden is the way she fulfills her roles and leads her team. Especially when it comes to the underclassmen, she's always there to encourage and reassure them. Her skills, leadership, and care for her team is what really speak volumes to me.     There's no question as to why [player_tooltip player_id='991341' first='Madison' last='Messerly'] is DCG's top scorer. She remains consistent with her swings, is quick to adjust to her sets, and knows how to find the court. No matter where she is swinging from, she knows how to maneuver her body to set herself up for success. My favorite shot by Messerly is her no-look, cross-body swing down the line, which I haven't seen many teams pick up. She is making plays that you don't see many athletes in her class making.     I know at this point we are all aware of [player_tooltip player_id='493984' first='Kyla' last='Ramler']'s skills, but I obviously have to put her on this list. Ramler has been guiding Western Dubuque to success so far this season and has kept them in that #3 spot. She has proven to be an offensive threat no matter where she is on the court or who's blocking her. Her ability to gain power through her approach and find ways to get through and around the block is incredible. I am extremely excited to see how Ramler contributes to the Redbird program next fall.

The 5A and 4A schools are loaded with talent this season, especially when it comes to the pin hitters. A lot of these athletes are contributing not only with their swings, but also with their blocks, serve receive, and defense in the back row. There is a lot of pressure put on these girls, especially with most of them being primo hitters for their schools. Although there are so many kids in between these two classes that could be on here, I picked out a handful that I've been impressed with so far this season.