Prospects That Popped at 2026 Iowa Invitational

Iowa Invite <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/01/photo-gallery-i-2026-iowa-invitational-at-tbk/">Photo Gallery I</a>   Iowa Invite <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/01/photo-gallery-ii-2026-iowa-invitational-at-tbk/">Photo Gallery II</a>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/01/recapping-what-we-saw-at-2026-iowa-invitational/">Recapping What We Saw at 2026 Iowa Invitational</a>   Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   It feels like the month of January flew by. Of course, traveling to Rochester (MN), Milwaukee and Bettendorf for club events pushes time.   We're on to February with the Northern Lights Qualifier, Presidents' Day tournaments and other high-end events going down around the region. I'll be wherever Rockets 15R is competing. See ya in Saint Louie.   Before we march ahead to March, let's look back at last weekend's Iowa Invitational in the Quad Cities. Here are newer or lesser known names that shined at the TBK Bank Sports Complex.    Thompson was operating through six rotations on RVA's top 15s team when we saw her at the 2026 Iowa Invitational in late January. She was one of the better outside hitters we watched in the age group. Thompson flashes a strong vertical leap and generates power with her swing. Hang time allows her to read the block and direct the attack into holes in the defense. The Dowling freshman's strengths also help in defending at the net. Thompson is a good athlete, which shows up when lining up in the back row, where she's quick and moves well laterally. The Maroons return a lot of production from their state tournament team, but Thompson could push for playing time as a sophomore next season.     During an in-person scouting opportunity at the Iowa Invitational in late January, Schaben impressed in the middle for RVA's top 15s team. It's notable that she's playing up an age group and standing out as one of her team's players with the most upside. She showed that for the Roland-Story eighth-grade team in the fall, and I wouldn't rule out her helping the Norseman varsity as a freshman in 2026. For now, she's developing her skills within a program that's among the state's best at doing so. The foundation for success with Schaben is solid. She's already six-feet tall with a wide wing span and athletic explosion. She's strong for her age, which shows up in a powerful attack. There's a natural feel for the game present. Schaben boasts significant upside at this early stage of her volleyball career.     McCaulley caught my attention when watching her compete at the M1 Rochester (MN) Elite Scrimmages in early January. She shined again at the Iowa Invitational later in the month. The Pleasant Valley sophomore brings athleticism and leaping ability to the middle of the net. They help her throw up an effective block with timing and court sense also aiding in the endeavor. McCaulley is dangerous on the attack, again, exploding off of the court and getting well above the net. The swing is powerful. She saw limited action on the PV varsity this past season, but with her skills and the Spartans' graduation losses a breakout prep season in 2026 seems like a good bet.     Marzen isn't a new name for followers of volleyball around the state. The junior led Van Meter with 214 kills (.237) and 260 digs this past season. Her exploits earned fourth-team all-state laurels in Class 3A. Even with that resume, Prep Dig did not have an evaluation posted on her profile page. It happens sometimes. We miss seeing a prospect in person during scouting on occasion. Thankfully, I watched her live during the Iowa Invitational in late January. Like her prep responsibilities, Marzen is tasked with competing through six rotations. She succeeds in completing it with natural gifts combining with a high volleyball IQ. Marzen is a good athlete with explosion and sharp actions. She's also technically sound on the attack, and in defending at the net or in the back row.     Brown isn't a new name on the Iowa volleyball trail, but the talented two-way middle is deserving of more attention along it. Brown impacted matches throughout a recent in-person scouting opportunity at the Iowa Invitational in late January. We also saw her back at the Prep Dig Sizzle in August, the early stages of Norwalk building its team that reached the state tournament. Consistency stands out when it comes to Brown. She understands what she can do and performs within those abilities. Throwing up an intimating block is the best weapon in Brown's arsenal. She can jump out of the gym and times up the attack very well. There's power in the swing with potential for more development there before reaching a considerable ceiling.     Assumption will be replacing plenty of graduated production from its 2025 Class 3A state championship team next fall. That's the bad news. The good news that student-athletes like Stevens will receive an opportunity to contribute more moving forward. According to Bound, she appeared in seven matches, starting one of them last year. Stevens has built on that experience and carried momentum into the club season, where we saw her compete at the Iowa Invitational in late January. Iowa Select was using her throughout six rotations, and she was meeting the challenge. Stevens' athleticism and fundamentals make her an effective attacker from multiple spots on the court. Quick reflexes help her defend in the back row. Stevens is a strong 2026 breakout candidate among the prep ranks.

Iowa Invite Photo Gallery I