Mighty Blockers at the Iowa Top 250 Expo

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the Top 250 Expo in Iowa this weekend, there were tons of talented athletes to watch.&nbsp; I watched every athlete and I picked some of my favorite mighty blockers, so let's discuss what makes them special and unique! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='261079' first='Kaylee' last='Koudelka'] (2024, MH/OH)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":263516,"width":259,"height":194,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/112-Kaylee-Koudelka.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263516" width="259" height="194" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Koudelka plays middle for the North Polk Comets during the school season and was one of the most important players during their regular season. She led the team in kills, was second in blocks, fourth in digs, and third in service aces. I mention this just so we understand her role for her team in the past. At the Expo, she displayed the same skills found in her high school team play. She can jump, block, hit, and dig with the best of them. She is truly a 6-rotation player and what a coach does with her is dependent upon what they need on the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='215427' first='Ava' last='Groeteke'] (2026, MB)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":263539,"width":220,"height":329,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Ava-Groeteke.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-263539" width="220" height="329" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Groeteke is a 6' middle blocker at Dowling Catholic High School. She can set, hit, and block very well. She is an all-around real-deal athlete and that was surely on display as the event went on. She is very versatile and could handle unexpected ball recovery very well. She continued to make heads-up plays and that is what separated her from the other athletes on the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='230661' first='Ellah' last='Derrer'] (2026, MB)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Derrer played for the state championship team for Davenport Assumption High School in the 2022 Class 3A State Volleyball tournament. At 6'3", she already has an entire varsity volleyball season behind her where she played in 102 of 106 total sets for the Knights. She had 367 kills with a .414 hitting efficiency, and 72 total blocks. To put it mildly, she is very impressive. The ball comes back at you really hard when she blocks it, she is a great hitter as well as a great blocker. To be upfront about it, I was cheering for them in Class 3A, so I am not sure I am impartial here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='261054' first='Ally' last='Olmstead'] (2024, MH)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":263537,"width":546,"height":364,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Ally-Olmstead.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263537" width="546" height="364" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Olmstead plays for Alburnett High School. She is the top hitter for her team and is probably counted on to accomplish a lot for her team. The top setter had 111 sets and Olmstead had 118 kills. The point I am trying to make is that she uses whatever she is given to make points for her team. She looked really good at the Expo with great blocking, good digs following a blocked hit, and really good hitting. She has a high volleyball IQ and can see the court really well. Her ball placement is spot on!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->