Weigh-In Wednesday: Which MH is Iowa’s Best?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A few weeks ago, we introduced our “Weigh-In Wednesday” poll here on Prep Dig Iowa. The response has been excellent and participation was greatly appreciated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's keep it rolling with a look at one of the sport's more under-appreciated positions - Middle Hitter/Blocker. Iowa is fortunate to be home to really good ones. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a list of candidates for the top prep middle in the state with their 2025 credentials. As always, feel free to add any student-athlete we don't have listed:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='230661' first='Ellah' last='Derrer']<a href="https://www.gobound.com/direct/teams/h2022217584529b57de7146f467183fd/show">,</a> SR, Assumption - </strong>The Kansas State commitment is enjoying a super senior campaign with 158 kills (.417) and 59.0 blocks in her team's first 48 sets played. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='389066' first='Cambel' last='Drapeau'], SR, Dubuque Senior - </strong>A Creighton pledge, the talented Drapeau had 270 kills (.374) and 41.0 blocks through the first 64 sets of 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320104' first='Presley' last='Myers'], SR, Holy Trinity Catholic - </strong>Myers is an imposing presence in the middle of the net. She produced 210 kills (.420) and 51.0 blocks (20 solo) through the Crusaders first 69 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='552892' first='Lindsay' last='Kruse'], SR, Saint Ansgar - </strong>The Southwest Minnesota State University commitment had come up with 204 kills (.523) and 59.0 blocks (32 solo) during the Saints' first 63 sets of 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='827473' first='Mylee' last='Thurm'], SR, Denver - </strong>An obstacles in the middle for opponents of the defending Class 2A state champions, Thurm has rolled up 170 kills (.410) and 65.0 blocks in the Cyclones' first 75 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='474884' first='Peyton' last='Nagle'], SR, Bettendorf - </strong>A multi-year standout in the middle for the Bulldogs, Nagle had accumulated 134 kills (.341) and 57.0 blocks in 56 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448350' first='Jozie' last='Lahr'], SR, Solon - </strong>The senior has been a consistent force in the middle for the Spartans for some time. Through the first 58 sets of 2025, she had 100 kills (.303) and 59.0 blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='890714' first='Aubree' last='Davis'], SR, Lewis Central - </strong>Davis has hit the ground running during her first season with the Titans, posting 157 kills (.335) and 50.0 blocks in 56 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='822988' first='Cali' last='Whitaker'], SR, Mount Vernon - </strong>One of the few returners from last year's state title team, Whitaker has kept the Mustangs competitive with 139 kills (.463) and 47.0 blocks in 55 sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='389933' first='Ellie' last='Muller'], SR, Dowling Catholic - </strong>Muller remained a factor in the middle of the net as she has for multiple seasons with 90 kills (.337) and 39.0 blocks in 47 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='329851' first='Macie' last='Lupkes'], SR, Xavier - </strong>As one of the few returners from last season's state tournament team, Lupkes had contributed 153 kills (.308) and 38.0 blocks in 53 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='389844' first='Bre' last='VanDenTop'], SR, Sergeant Bluff-Luton - </strong>A key part of the puzzle during the Warriors' state tournament run a year ago, VanDenTop has 184 kills (.353) and 41.0 blocks in 52 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='500116' first='Alexa' last='Weber'], SR, Waukee - </strong>After helping the Warriors reach the state tournament last season, Weber has returned with 95 kills (.383) and 39.0 blocks in 53 sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='389078' first='Norah' last='Hany'], SR, Johnston - </strong>A Florida Tech commitment, Hany has delivered 114 kills (.271) and 31.0 blocks in 57 sets this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='818213' first='Ryanne' last='Brubaker'], JR, Grundy Center - </strong>Few players in the middle have improved as much as Brubaker during the last year. She had 264 kills (.466) and 85.0 blocks (27 solo) in the first 72 sets played in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493658' first='Hattie' last='Galloway'], JR, Iowa City High - </strong>A prospect worthy of more attention on the recruiting trail, Galloway racked up 174 kills (.345) and 50.0 blocks (24 solo) during the Little Hawks' first 51 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493984' first='Kyla' last='Ramler'], JR, Western Dubuque - </strong>Ramler has steadily improved during her prep career. She recorded 229 kills (.394) and 28.0 blocks (27 solo) during the Bobcats first 59 sets of 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='890718' first='Quinn' last='Roush'], JR, Ankeny - </strong>The Hawk junior had 76 kills (.283) and 91.0 blocks in 69 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson'], JR, Clear Creek Amana - </strong>Simpson posted 155 kills (.390) and 51.0 blocks through her team's first 60 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='555746' first='Clare' last='Yeggy']<a href="https://www.gobound.com/direct/teams/h20222175845d85726b209e34dfda34b/show">,</a> JR, Pleasant Valley - </strong>A first-year starter, Yeggy had recorded 125 kills (.343) and 48.0 blocks through 60 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='394331' first='Maggie' last='Leifker']<a href="https://www.gobound.com/direct/teams/h20222175845e350f851d30b4799a071/show">,</a> JR, Dallas Center-Grimes - </strong>A versatile player in the front row, Leifker had 175 kills (.304) and 45.0 blocks in 68 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='827838' first='Sophia' last='Heither'], JR, Centennial - </strong>Heither has registered 69 kills (.355) and 44.0 blocks during 37 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493985' first='Sydney' last='Van Heukelom'], JR, Liberty - </strong>The junior had 101 kills (.321) and 35.0 blocks in 53 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='525829' first='Addison' last='Phillips'], JR, Kennedy - </strong>Phillips posted 154 kills (.301) and 32.0 blocks in 68 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490016' first='Raquel' last='Risk'], JR, Ankeny - </strong>Hawk junior had 96 kills (.250) and 39.0 blocks after 69 sets played. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545971' first='Avery' last='Cordes'], SO, Northwest - </strong>A standout wherever she lines up at the net, Cordes has shined in the middle this season with 125 kills (.344) and 55.0 blocks in 60 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='730396' first='Caitlyn' last='Schneider'], SO, Union - </strong>The versatile Schneider had 93 kills (.215) and 53.0 blocks (24 solo) in 63 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='781456' first='Morgan' last='Kooiman']<a href="https://www.gobound.com/direct/teams/h202410070300525516c60bb378a604d/show">,</a> SO, Western Christian - </strong>Kooiman was a key contributor for one of the state's top outfits with 184 kills (.393) and 39.0 blocks in 48 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='533845' first='Taylor' last='Otte']<a href="https://www.gobound.com/direct/teams/h2022217584545fa315da7b945c5a3a7/show">,</a> SO, Iowa City West - </strong>Otte has been a steady performer with 108 kills (.302) and 31.0 blocks in 50 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='730449' first='Kylee' last='Suhr'], SO, Williamsburg - </strong>The sophomore had 138 kills (.317) and 31.0 blocks in 48 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='781517' first='Hadassah' last='Smith'], FR, Cedar Falls - </strong>Smith piled up 123 kills (.347) and 35.0 blocks through 51 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://poll.fm/16093997","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"crowdsignal","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-crowdsignal wp-block-embed-crowdsignal"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://poll.fm/16093997 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->