Scouting Reports, Photos: Assumption Knights 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 Assumption, who I watched compete at the Iowa City High quad late last month. The Knights impressed by knocking off the host, Liberty and Dike-New Hartford, all teams ranked in their classes. The 2025 Class 3A state champions proved they're a clear-cut title contender in 4A this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a closer look at student-athletes standing out followed by photos of Assumption:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["694203"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac5214877331"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A fixture in the lineup since freshman year and a key contributor as a 10th-grader during last year's run to the 3A state championship, Cotton has continually improved her overall volleyball game every step of the way through her prep and club careers. The Grand Valley State commitment has lifted her skills even higher this season as the Knights have emerged as a favorite in 4A. When watching Cotton compete at the Iowa City quad in late September, there was the potent attack at the pin that has come to be expected. She's smart, finding ways to end points no matter the defense faced. Cotton has probably improved the most in the back row, where she's quite reliable in serve-receive and facing up against the opposing attack. Through the year's first 62 sets, Cotton led the Knights in kills and ranked second in digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["742600"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac521f77428d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It's surprising that Hodge has not received the college attention leading to a commitment. Whenever I've watched her compete, she's proven to be a player that would enhance the rosters at plenty of schools on the next level. The latest in-person scout happened at the Iowa City High quad in late September. Hodge had increased her impact even though she was coming off a sophomore campaign of 2025 that saw her hold down the back row for the 3A state champions. She's technically sound and smart, making her a problem for opponents. Hodge covers a lot of ground and rarely is out of position, a result of reading the action and flowing with it accordingly. She's going to make a college recognizing the value really happy. Despite teams avoiding her, Hodge had racked up 322 digs in 62 sets coming into this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["946877"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac526445faa1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Depoorter has experienced a crash course in learning the setter position, playing up an age group at a high level along the club circuit. It prepared her for taking over as Assumption's starter this season, when the defending 3A state champs moved up a classification. Her ability to hit the ground running has been instrumental in the Knights not skipping a beat. The sophomore had handed out 511 assists, and collected 116 digs, 42 kills and 23.0 blocks through the first 62 sets. I'd watched Depoorter shine with older kids in club, and she was doing the same during an in-person scouting opportunity at the Iowa City High quad in late September. The 10th-grader is tall with long arms, allowing her to get extension on her sets, which are precise. Depoorter throws up a strong block, and can terminate points with a hefty lefty swing or a well-timed setter dump. The arrow is pointing up for this college prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["918791"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac527ac05a34"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Without question one of the top freshmen in the state, Cinadr has taken the competition by storm in her first prep campaign. It's matched what I saw from her this summer at the USAV National Tournament in Indianapolis, when she was standing out through six rotations for the best Iowa team in her age group. I caught up with the exciting volleyball prospect again at the Iowa City High quad in late September. Operating as a three-rotation outside hitter, Cinadr was swinging with the type of authority not often seen from such a young competitor. She has a really good feel for the pin, powering through the block when available, also working off of it or around it depending on what the defense presents. There's definite six-rotation potential here. Cinadr should already be firmly on colleges radar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["877691"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac5292ec7d9a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If you're a college recruiting Iowa and not familiar with Peterson, you're behind. The talented, versatile front-row performer stood out during the club campaign, playing a large role in leading her squad to the USAV National Tournament, where I scouted her a few times. There, she was impacting play in the middle of the net, slamming the ball down with authority and denying opponents from accessing her area with the attack. When I saw her again at the Iowa City High quad in late September, Peterson was terminating points from the opposite pin, flashing uncommon explosiveness and power for her age. Her work defensively in the middle translates well to the right side, where she's an obstacle with an effective block. Peterson is one of the state's top ninth-graders, a prospect ascending in a big way.</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":1045422,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/137A1668.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045422" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='877691' first='Piper' last='Peterson']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1045421,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/137A1663.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045421" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Assumption's Natalie Depoorter. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1045420,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/137A1636.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045420" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Assumption's Natalie Depoorter. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1045419,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/137A1630.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045419" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='742600' first='Piper' last='Hodge']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1045418,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/137A1591.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045418" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='877691' first='Piper' last='Peterson']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1045417,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/137A1560.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045417" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='742600' first='Piper' last='Hodge']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1045416,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/137A1513.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045416" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='918791' first='Zoe' last='Cinadr']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1045415,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/137A1507.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045415" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='1037650' first='Taylor' last='Camarena']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1045412,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/137A1498.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045412" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='742600' first='Piper' last='Hodge']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1045409,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/137A1464.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045409" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='918791' first='Zoe' last='Cinadr']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1045386,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/137A1459.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045386" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='694203' first='Belle' last='Cotton']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1045385,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/137A1451.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045385" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Assumption's Natalie Depoorter. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1045383,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/137A1447.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045383" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='694203' first='Belle' last='Cotton']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1045382,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/137A1371.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045382" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='742600' first='Piper' last='Hodge']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1045381,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/137A1366.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045381" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='742600' first='Piper' last='Hodge']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --></figure> <!-- /wp:gallery -->