16U Middle Hitters Make Noise at Iowa Qualifier

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 16U Division in Iowa is strong overall. Most years it usually means the non-pin positions contain intriguing players. That's certainly the case at middle hitter in this age group. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That bunch impacted the action at last weekend's Iowa Regional Qualifier in West Des Moines. Those matchups were some of the best during the event. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Champion United Elite hits opponents with a 1-2 punch of [player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='555725' first='Brielle' last='Trout']. Simpson (Clear Creek Amana) and Trout (Center Point-Urbana) are improving at a rate that will have them in the discussion for all-state honors in the fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PowerPlex impresses with its collection of middles. [player_tooltip player_id='490016' first='Raquel' last='Risk'] (Ankeny), [player_tooltip player_id='747361' first='Sidney' last='Rogers'] (Centennial) and [player_tooltip player_id='394331' first='Maggie' last='Leifker'] (Dallas Center-Grimes) will rank among the best at the position next school-ball season. They're all versatile enough to stand out elsewhere along the front row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keeping with the theme, Impact's roster features multiple middles shining. [player_tooltip player_id='493605' first='Kenlie' last='Erickson'] (Centennial) achieves with her athleticism, explosion and timing, which make her capable of playing other positions. [player_tooltip player_id='745362' first='Dottie' last='Reed'] (Winterset) is a pop-up prospect that continued improving this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Select's [player_tooltip player_id='493971' first='Allison' last='Toft'] (Durant) and [player_tooltip player_id='493984' first='Kyla' last='Ramler'] (Western Dubuque) match up well with most middles in the state. Both of them are just scratching the surface of their high-upside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>United Premier's [player_tooltip player_id='493985' first='Sydney' last='Van Heukelom'] (Liberty) and [player_tooltip player_id='493983' first='Heather' last='Hingst'] (Prairie) started for solid 5A teams last season. They've improved during the club campaign, setting them up for what could be impactful junior years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rockets' [player_tooltip player_id='493658' first='Hattie' last='Galloway'] (City High) battled Heukelom and Hingst as sophomores in the MVC last season. Galloway is one of the most athletic, powerful middles in the state with potential to the be Iowa's best at the position by the time she's a senior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='702527' first='Ryanne' last='Brubaker'] is a net presence literally and figuratively for CIA. The 6-foot-8 sophomore from Grundy Center utilizes combines agility and athleticism with a commitment to sharpening her skills, and it shows. Her teammate, [player_tooltip player_id='533587' first='Carlea' last='Dagel'] from Iowa Falls-Alden, is raising her stock in each club event. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ohana's Kennedy Hobbs gets the job in the middle with the flexibility to slide to either pin. Her teammate, [player_tooltip player_id='760323' first='Abigail' last='Olsen'], succeeds by being active at middle as a two-way performer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->