De Jager impressed me while watching her compete at the state tournament last season. It was good getting another chance to watch her in action at the recent Prep Dig Stock Up Showcase in Clive. She’s a technically-sound, all-around volleyball player getting better at each aspect of the game. I noticed added power in the game this summer. There’s a chance for that to keep developing with a frame capable of adding strength. De Jager is a good athlete with quick reactions that help her defend in the back row and get up on the block. A big vertical and whip in the swing make her a productive attacker. De Jager’s ceiling is high. Her work ethic is designed to help her reach it.

It’s no wonder why De Jager has established a starting presence with Western Christian, one of Iowa’s most recognizable prep powerhouses. She soared above the net tape at our Stock Up Showcase and delivered the kind of pace that’s nearly impossible to defend. De Jager has a knack for swinging at the peak of her jump, and she’ll only climb higher as an upperclassman.

One of the more frustrating developments of the club campaign was missing Salty on the circuit. Chalk it up to bad timing. De Jager was one of the athletes I most wanted to watch after seeing her thrive with Western Christian at last fall’s state tournament. As a sophomore, she finished the season with 229 kills with 152 digs and 31.0 blocks. In lieu of live scouting, I hunted down club video to see the strides she’s made. A strong overall volleyball player with an ability to impact matches in various ways, De Jager sharpened her skills and technique leading to greater consistency. It’s already a big swing with potential for plenty more.

I don’t get to see kids from the western part of the state as often as I’d like. It’s a welcomed opportunity when running across them at club events and during the state tournament. I’d watched video highlights of De Lager heading into this year’s Iowa high school championships and looked forward to seeing her in action live during it. She’s an advanced attacker at the pin, technically sound with a big swing. De Jager looks natural hitting on the right-side with a big vertical leap and quick operation through the attack. She also displays a great feel for the block. As a sophomore, she produced 229 kills with 152 digs and 31.0 blocks. De Jager also has a ways to go before reaching her ceiling as a player.