2026 Club Team Preview: Club Iowa Juniors 15 Black

<!-- 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/2025/12/2026-club-team-preview-club-iowa-juniors-16-black/">2026 Club Team Preview: CIA 16 Black</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/12/2026-club-team-preview-club-iowa-juniors-17-black/">2026 Club Team Preview: CIA 17 Black</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're rolling along with our 2026 Club Team Preview series here on Prep Dig Iowa. The goal is highlighting as many teams as possible before we get the season underway next month. Then we'll shift to scouting reports and roundups from real matches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The preseason process works best when directors get us rosters or point us to where they're posted on line. Requests for those are out. If you did not receive one (sometimes our contact information is outdated), you can send them to RobHoweHN@gmail.com.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CIA's top 14U team from a year ago enjoyed a successful season. The squad earned an American Division bid at last summer's USAV National Tournament in Dallas, where it finished an impressive 13th out of 64 teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The bulk of that roster has returned as part of the club's 15 Black team. I watched it compete at this past weekend's M1 Rochester Elite Scrimmages at the National Volleyball Center. It looked like an outfit poised for a big 2026. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Opposite pin [player_tooltip player_id='769693' first='Stella' last='Zmolek'] has continually improved her overall game. That showed up again when watching her in action at M1. An explosive athlete, she brought a heavy hand to the right side, blocked well and took sound swings from the outside, too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Zmolek at her position, [player_tooltip player_id='762921' first='Taylor' last='Kriegel'] resumed her ascent as one the top setters in her age group at that spot. The Marion freshman's well-rounded skill set and consistency stand out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of up-and-coming six-rotation outside hitters boost this 15 Black team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='891599' first='Charlee' last='Kirkpatrick'] helped Grundy Center reach the Class 2A state semifinals this past fall with 241 kills (.248), 261 digs and 40.0 blocks. At M1, she looked improved after just scouting her at the state tournament a few months ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='754872' first='[player_tooltip player_id='523167' first='Natalie' last='']' last='Rausch'] was part of a young Hudson squad that provided hope in 2025 that big things were ahead for the Pirates during the coming years. The freshman, who flashed an all-around skill set in Rochester, produced 189 kills 32.0 blocks and 80 digs in the fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Annie Weaver and [player_tooltip player_id='849088' first='Chloe' last='Degroot'] supplied CIA with a productive one-two punch in the middle of the net during the Rochester event. Weaver, a freshman at Cedar Falls Peet, was a new addition since this group's 14U season. Degroot returned following a ninth-grade season at Benton that saw her contribute 124 kills (.236) and 40.0 blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Galena (IL) High freshman outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='931424' first='Macie' last='Weber'] was another new addition to the CIA top team this year. It looked like an impressive vertical leap and swing with power at M1. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='893263' first='Brynlee' last='Asche'] was listed as a returner from 14 Black, but I did not see her compete in Rochester. The middle hitter did start for Dunkerton as a freshman this fall, when the Raiders made an improbable run to the Class 1A state semifinals. She contributed 82 kills (.248), 99.0 blocks and 266 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Delaware's [player_tooltip player_id='782418' first='Claire' last='Scherbring'] was donning the libero jersey when I was watching CIA at M1 with Morgan Adams filling the defensive specialist role. They shared the jersey when I scouted 14 Black in 2025. Scherbring developed on the Hawk freshman team in the fall, while Adams did the same at Don Bosco, where she also got her feet wet on the varsity. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CIA 15 Black is without one of its top performers from last season's 14 Black squad. Molly Street, a dynamic, six-rotation eighth-grader, won't play up again and is staying back with 14 Black in 2026, according to the club's website. She will be one of the state's top players in that age group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I could not locate a schedule on the CIA website, but the club faces a challenging slate on an annual basis. I've scouted it at top tournaments in St. Louis and Chicago, to name a few places it visits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->