2025 Club Team Spotlights: Rockets 17R

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of the top teams in the region will be competing this weekend in St. Louis at the Nike President's Day Classic. The group includes a large contingent of squads from Iowa looking to see how they match up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of those outfits is Rockets 17R. I'm looking forward to seeing the growth of student-athletes on this roster since watching them during the school season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unfortunately, the headliner, [player_tooltip player_id='261094' first='Reese' last='Naeve'] is sidelined with an injury and won't be playing in the Gateway to the West. The Iowa State commitment told Prep Dig that she hopes to only miss another week or two.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The cupboard is not bare beyond Naeve, however. Missouri-Kansas City signee [player_tooltip player_id='508627' first='Stella' last='Smith'] impacts games at the net with her swing and block. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libero [player_tooltip player_id='373682' first='Kennedey' last='Whitford'] solidifies the back row . The South Dakota State pledge is coming off a high school season that saw her come up with 418 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>State coaches named [player_tooltip player_id='329851' first='Macie' last='Lupkes'] second-team all-state in Class 4A in 2024. The Xavier middle led the Saints with 74.0 blocks and ranked second with 194 kills (3.53). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='243457' first='Emily' last='Henderson'] (Clear Creek Amana) and [player_tooltip player_id='389008' first='Addison' last='Allen'] (North Scott) earned 4A third-team all-state honors. The versatile Henderson handed out 928 assists, produced 96 kills, came up with 302 digs and had 48.0 blocks. Allen recorded 956 assists to go with 144 digs, 47 kills and 29.0 blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='261085' first='Maren' last='Ouellette'] played an important role in Pleasant Valley winning the Class 5A state championship in November. She registered 109 kills (.255), 59 digs and 19.0 blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='474884' first='Peyton' last='Nagle'] ranks as one of the more underrated players in the state after a junior season with 165 (.296) and 58.0 blocks against a really challenging schedule. Washington's [player_tooltip player_id='455741' first='Leighton' last='Messinger'] provides versatility as evidence by her 285 kills (.251) and 244 digs as a junior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='389004' first='Eliana' last='Barickman'], who preps at Geneseo (IL) High, adds front-row depth. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->