Stock-Risers from 2025 Iowa State Tournament

<!-- 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 href="https://prepdig.com/2025/11/prep-dig-iowa-elite-all-state-tournament-team/">Prep Dig Iowa Elite All-State Tournament Team</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/11/freshmen-who-flourished-at-state-tournament/">Freshmen Who Flourished at State Tournament</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Being where your feet are is great advice. Live in the moment. It's OK to dream bigger, though. In fact, it should be encouraged. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In reporting on pro, college and high school sports for more than 30 years, I'm always amazed at the progress you guys make through hard work. It's why any scouting report or evaluation that's ever been published can go stale in a hurry. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Athletes regularly improve in their disciplines. Again, you love to see it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some volleyballers that showed during last week's state tournament that they've been working on their games, resulting in noticeable improvement:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493609' first='Madison' last='Grover'], 2027, MH/OH, Indianola - </strong>Grover played a leading role in Indianola enjoying a rewarding season, which included an upset at highly-ranked Waukee in the regional final. The win clinched a berth in the state tournament, where Indianola gave great effort in a first-round loss to No. 1 Waukee Northwest. Grover delivered six kills and a pair of blocks, showing she could successfully swing from all three front-row positions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='758163' first='Jaya' last='Morrow'], 2028, S, Dowling Catholic - </strong>I watched Morrow at the Westside Invitational in Cedar Rapids late in the regular season. She was on her way to helping the Maroons back to the state tournament in a 6-2 alignment with a senior. It can be tough to get in a rhythm in that setup, but Morrow looked comfortable at that event and again in Coralville last week. During a first-round setback to Ankeny, she handed out 21 assists to go with six digs and a pair of service aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='827838' first='Sophia' last='Heither'], 2027, MH, Ankeny Centennial - </strong>It's been fun watching Heither develop since the first time I saw her at the Iowa City High tournament early in the 2024 season. She's just continued getting better as an aggressive two-way middle. Her skills are sharper now than they were a year ago and her feel for the game improved, too. Heither was outstanding in helping the Jaguars reach the Class 5A state championship match. Hopefully her continued growth is catching the attention of more colleges. She could help a lot of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='533845' first='Taylor' last='Otte'], 2028, MH, Iowa City West - </strong>A two-way middle hitter, Otte seamlessly transitioned from Class 3A Williamsburg to 5A Iowa City West without missing a beat. The sophomore played an instrumental role in returning the Trojans to the state tournament this season, and held up well in a first-round loss against eventual runner-up Ankeny Centennial, featuring a pair of strong middles. Otte came through with five kills, two digs and four assisted blocks in three sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='555746' first='Clare' last='Yeggy'], 2027, MH, Pleasant Valley - </strong>The Spartans lost a lot of firepower from last year's Class 5A state championship team. They remained one of the state's top teams in 2025 with plenty of help from first-year starter Yeggy. I watched her at the Prep Dig Sizzle just before the season, the Westside Invite in Cedar Rapids late in the year and again in Coralville. She just kept getting better, culminating with 11 kills, two solo blocks and seven assisted blocks in a first-round loss to West Des Moines Valley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='443086' first='Brynn' last='Cibula'], 2027, Six-Rotation OH, WDM Valley - </strong>Cibula caught my attention while watching her compete with Iowa Impact on the club circuit. She stood out as an explosive athlete capable of putting the ball down from the pin or reacting defensively in the back row. Cibula advanced her game even more as evidenced by her two matches at state. She contributed 21 kills, 21 digs, four assisted blocks and a solo block in eight sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='766068' first='Madison' last='Messerly'], 2028, OH/DS, Dallas Center-Grimes - </strong>Messerly popped on my radar this past club season when she was competing with the top 15U team in the state. She operated mostly in the back row with that outfit. Seeing her swing at this year's state tournament completed the picture of a versatile prospect capable of contributing all around the court. During a first-round loss to eventual 4A state champion North Scott, Messerly piled up 13 kills, 10 digs, two assisted blocks and a pair of assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816843' first='Maryn' last='Franken'], 2027, MB/OH, Sioux Center - </strong>I hadn't seen Franken compete in person before the state tournament, and it didn't take long for her to make a positive impression. Sioux Center lists her at 6-feet tall but she looked more like 6-2ish during interviews. Despite nursing an injury requiring her to wear a walking boot when not playing, Franken was instrumental in helping the Warriors to the 4A championship match, earning all-tournament team honors in the process. She contributed all around the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='746258' first='Adelynn' last='Goodell'], 2028, MH, Humboldt - </strong>Asked about Goodell's play in the 3A state championship match, Assumption middle hitter, [player_tooltip player_id='230661' first='Ellah' last='Derrer'], the Kansas State commitment and all-state tournament team captain, sung the sophomore's praises. Goodell was great in helping the Wildcats upset top-ranked Western Christian in the semifinals and throughout the week in Coralville. She earned all-state tournament honors after piling up 46 kills, nine assisted blocks and a pair of solo blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='775968' first='Maddyn' last='DeJager'], 2028, OH, Western Christian - </strong>Performing in a rotation with a lot of veteran players, DeJager distinguished herself with an outstanding sophomore season that saw her finish with 229 kills, 152 digs and 31.0 blocks in 113 sets. She flashed that upside in her game for the Wolfpack at the state tournament with 12 kills, six digs, four assisted blocks and five aces serves in eight sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->