2026 Setters and DS/Ls 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 did watch every athlete and I picked some of my favorite 2026 setters and defensive specialists from the Expo, so let's discuss what makes them special and unique! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='261058' first='Brynn' last='Bakula'] (2026, S)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":263445,"width":267,"height":194,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/1-Brynn-Bakula.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263445" width="267" height="194" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bakula plays for the Cedar Falls High School varsity team and started in every match so far in her high school career. She had an amazing 9.4 APS, 53 kills, 38 total blocks, 148 digs, and 25 service aces with a 93% serve efficiency. My notes have her getting several service aces at the Expo, and that she was the best setter at digging up balls, and going up for blocks. Very impressive player!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='261052' first='Ainsley' last='Haedt'] (2026, DS/L)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":263450,"width":267,"height":163,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/7-Ainsley-Haedt.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263450" width="267" height="163" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Haedt attends North Scott High School. At the Expo, she had many service aces, and watching her along the back row I think the best position with the most consistency for her was in the middle. She has really good digs there and is fantastic in serve/receive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='261063' first='Elise' last='Coghlan'] (2026, S)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coghlan played in 33 sets during her freshman season at ADM High School with 108 assists. At the Expo, she had great sets all around and dug up a ball no one should have been able to get up. She handles out-of-system play very well also. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='261075' first='Kaelyn' last='Wieland'] (2026, S)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":263459,"width":285,"height":208,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/18-Kaelyn-Wieland.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263459" width="285" height="208" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wieland plays for West Des Moines Valley High School, which lost at the state tournament in Class 5A to Pleasant Valley in the semi-finals. She had a team-high 4.2 APS (491), 194 kills, 34 total blocks, 2.0 DPS, and 29 service aces with a 90.4% serve efficiency. At the Expo, she attacked an overpassed ball, had great blocks, has great form, and was probably the most aggressive player for the day. She is a fantastic athlete and will probably be ranked when the 2026 class gets that honor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='261083' first='Maegan' last='Cheeseman'] (2026, S)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cheeseman is a 6' setter who will play at Ankeny Centennial in her high school years. She is good at setting up hitters on either pin and sets a low fast middle. She also hits past the block of the outside across the net when necessary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='261088' first='Mya' last='Lei-Butters'] (2026, DS/L)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":263453,"width":337,"height":213,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/12-Mya-Lei-Butters.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263453" width="337" height="213" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lei-Butters is a very impressive DS/L for Ankeny Centennial, who made it all the way to the state volleyball tournament in Class 5A only to lose in the semi-final match against Iowa City Liberty. Lei-Butters played in every match played by the Jaguars during the 2022 season. She had 1.2 DPS and 28 service aces with a 93.0% serve efficiency. At the Expo, I noticed her great passing in the first 5 minutes of watching her court. She looks effortless while playing in the back row, but has the ability to change the trajectory of a game with her masterful digs and her stable and consistent passing. Great athlete! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='261066' first='Emma' last='Reaman'] (2026, DS/L)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reaman is a DS/L and can pass, block, hit, and can dig beautifully. She was really fun to watch work her way around the entire court as that is not something we get to see during high school games. She really showed off her skill at the Expo! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->