Smith has developed as a prospect at a consistent rate during the last few years. Most of that development has manifested itself in her being more consistent. The Cedar Falls junior long has brought explosion and power in her attack. Harnessing them into greater efficiency has made her and her teams better. Smith showed that during the prep year, when she registered 180 kills (.204) and 19.0 blocks in 85 sets for one of the state’s better programs. It showed up again during the 2026 ASICS Show Me National Qualifier in mid-April in Kansas City. While it’s easy to get overshadowed by a Power 4 teammate at the pin, Smith’s play provided opponents with little relief. It’s one of the reasons the Six Pack 17s won the Liberty Division at the event, securing a bid to this summer’s USAV National Tournament in Indianapolis. Smith is capable of helping plenty of college programs if he chooses that path. And there’s plenty of upside here that can be developed for even greater results.

Smith got her feet wet in a few matches with the Cedar Falls varsity as a sophomore last season. With graduation losses leading to more opportunity in 2025, she’s stepped in with production to help keep the Tiger train running. Smith ranked fourth on the team in kills as the campaign reached its final weeks. I watched how she was getting it done when Cedar Falls played at Iowa City High on Sept. 30. Smith is a powerful pin with explosion off of the court and intention in her swing. She does a nice job mixing up the attack and reading the block. Smith shows potential in putting up the block with the leaping ability and long arms to develop that part of her game. She’s one to watch moving forward as a prospect on the rise.

Smith was a leader among the Midwest Live’s 2027s and seamlessly transitioned from one drill to the next. She has experience on both pins during her prep career, allowing her to shift around the dial during scrimmages. The Cedar Falls native has enjoyed a productive late-season stretch with Six Pack and produced some double-digit kill performances at the Show Me Qualifier. Smith’s showcase outing is the perfect launching point to her upperclassman tenure.