Names to Know in Iowa's Freshman Class

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/10/iowa-prep-dig-team-rankings-for-week-6/">Iowa Prep Dig Team Rankings for Week 6</a>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/10/weigh-in-wednesday-whos-tops-on-the-right-side/">Weigh-In Wednesday: Who's Tops on the Right Side?</a>   I've written multiple pieces on Iowa's 2029 Class this season. It's proven to be a deep group of student-athletes with prospects regularly emerging.   Here's another group deserving attention:    McGraw has taken the West Central Activities Conference by storm as a ninth-grader in 2025. The 5-foot-10 newcomer ranks among the top freshmen in the state with 204 kills through 76 sets. She added 42.0 blocks and 113 digs, showing an ability to impact matches throughout rotations. McGraw looks most comfortable operating from the middle of the net, where height and long arms work to her advantage. She reads the defense well in directing her attack and has a good feel for throwing up the block. McGraw also appears effective working at the pin, where her strong, quick swing ends points. McGraw is one to watch moving forward.     Facing a challenging schedule, Wall has produced at a good clip as a freshman on varsity. Her 172 kills (.171) ranked second among the Stars through 56 sets and had her with the top ninth-graders in the state. With height and long arms, Wall has a good foundation for success at the pin. She adds in an impressive vertical leap and powerful swing, making her look advanced for her age. Maturity also helps keep her playing within herself and not trying to do too much. Wall sees the court well and reads the defense, allowing her to attack soft spots on the other side of the net. She has a good feel for the block, too.     I caught Shaffer in action during the club campaign when she was competing with the Rocket 14R outfit. She flashed potential during that scouting opportunity and is realizing some of it during her freshman prep season. Shaffer is a bouncy middle with explosion off of the court and power in the swing. She reads defenses well, which helps her work around the block and find holes to exploit on the other side of the net. It helped her pile up 139 kills (.318) during the Blue Raiders' first 59 sets of 2025. Her team-best 40.0 blocks proved she was a two-way player. She has a good feel for identifying the attack, getting in position and timing her block.     Rausch was a key piece to a CIA 14U outfit that was among the state's top teams in the age group. She's carried that production and success over into her first year of prep ball. The freshman had accumulated 131 kills during the Pirates' first 69 sets. She'd added 19.0 blocks and 54 digs, displaying skills as an all-around volleyball player and, perhaps, foreshadowing what's to come as she matriculates through high school. Rausch takes advantage of her height and long arms in ending points from both pins. She patiently diagnoses where the defense is setting up and adjusts her attack to take advantage of soft spots. Already contributing at a high level in a tough league, it feels like Rausch has plenty of room to go before reaching her potential.     Horn could have a decision to make down the road. Her future is bright on the basketball and volleyball courts. For the latter, she's gotten her prep career off to a fantastic start. Through the Gaels' first 49 sets, she'd piled up 129 kills with 36.0 blocks, proving to be a two-way presence in the middle of the net. As you would expect from her accomplishments in basketball, Horn brings athleticism and explosion to volleyball. In addition, she shows a good feel for the game with keen instincts. Her attack is technically sound with her swing quick through the hitting zone and generating power to finish points. Horn reads defenses well, and long arms and timing help her throw up an effective block.     Moore stood out as an all-around dynamo when I watched Select win the club volleyball 14U division at the Iowa Regional in the spring. She ended points with excellent explosion off of the court and a sound swing from the pin. Moore also kept her team in system when lining up in the back row, patrolling her area and delivering clean passes. She's used that momentum to stand out as a freshman in the state's largest classification. Through the Blue Devils' first 56 sets, Moore led her team with 113 kills and 116 digs. She added in 10.0 blocks for good measure. Athleticism and quickness are a big part of her game. She also flashes a high volleyball IQ and makes her teammates better.

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