More Names to Know from 2026 Iowa Impact Invite

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   Iowa Impact held its annual invitational this past weekend at the Prairie Trail Sports Complex in Ankeny. The results have been posted <a href="https://results.advancedeventsystems.com/event/PTAwMDAwNDQ5MDA90/home">HERE</a>.   Here's a closer look at student-athletes that shined during the competition:    I've watched Shirley continuously improve during the last year or so. She performed well a club season ago and stood out again during multiple in-person scouting opportunities of Bettendorf in the fall. Shirley's versatility is her calling card. She helps her teams out wherever it's needed. That was the case when I watched her competing at the 2026 Impact Invite in Ankeny. Her Platform 17 Adidas squad won the 17/18U Gold Bracket at the event with her operating through six rotations. Shirley brings a heavy swing to the front row. It's derrived from a strong vertical leap, strength and hang time, which also aids her in throwing up the block. A good athlete, Shirley moves well laterally and flashes quick reflexes to hold up well in the back row.     Johnson put together a memorable sophomore campaign for Northeast, which lost a tough five-setter in the postseason but returns a lot of production to grow from the experience in the fall. She led the team in assists, ranking second in blocks, third in kills and fourth in digs. Johnson flashed that broad base of skills when I watched her competing at the 2026 Impact Invite in Ankeny. Her Platform 16 Adidas team took fourth in the 16U division, losing a couple of close matches in the Gold Bracket. Johnson was working through six rotations as an outside hitter. She looked especially comfortable and effective ending points from the opposite pin, where her long arms and jumping ability also contribute to an intimidating block. Johnson is a good athlete with quick actions. Those traits along with smooth lateral movements help her hold up well in the back row.     I've scouted Murch periodically throughout the last few years. Her performances during last club season and as a prep in the fall proved she was an integral part of team success. Some of that stems from her versatility. A setter by trade, Murch was behind a senior at that position for Denver. No worries. She moved to the pin and piled up 323 kills (.284) in helping the Cyclones win another Class 2A championship. When I caught her again at the 2026 Impact Invite in Ankeny, she'd seamlessly slid back over to setter, where shell likely line up in Denver during the next two campaigns. Murch's setting is precise and consistent with her having a good feel for where the hitters like the ball. She reads the defense well, allowing for sets to the attacker with an advantage or her exploiting a donut with the dump.     Ott spent her 2025 prep season developing on the sophomore team within a program that reached the Class 5A state championship match for the first time in school history. The Jaguars graduate a lot of firepower from that squad, and if her play in the 2026 Impact Invite is any indication, Ott could seize an opportunity. The multi-sport athlete was playing well through six rotations, giving her a path to playing time at multiple spots. Ott jumps well and generates power in her swing from both pins. A keen feel for game flow positions here to throw up an effective blocks. Lateral quickness and quick-twitch reflexes aid her in defending in the back row. While softball may appear to be her best sport right now, her ceiling in volleyball also is significant.     Finding playing time on the Dowling Catholic varsity can be challenging. The Maroons boast one of the state's most talented rotations annually. That was the case when they made it back to the state tournament in the fall. Really good players like Hobbs didn't crack the top team, instead developing on the junior varsity in hopes of contributing this coming season. She looked like she'd be capable of doing so when watching her at the 2026 Impact Invite in Ankeny. It was the first time scouting her in person since last year's Iowa Regional qualifier. Hobbs played a major role in leading her Ohana team to the Gold Bracket there. She was in the same position in playing through six rotations for the club's 17U National team en route to a third-place finish here. Hobbs plays with maximum effort, has a heavy swing and is a good athlete with volleyball skills.     Hanson has steadily improved throughout the last year from what I've witnessed during in-person scouts. She's gotten strong, grown in height and sharpened her volleyball skills. It's exciting to consider her upside as the multi-sport athlete continues to gain volleyball experience. I watched her compete at the Westside Invite in Cedar Rapids late in the prep season and again at the 2026 Impact Invite with the host program's 16-1 Elite team. Hanson just keeps adding power to her lefty-swing from the opposite pin, where she attacks aggressively. Her long arms and timing make her a factor as a blocker, too. Hanson is a player with a high ceiling and is on her way to reaching it. She'll likely build on her sophomore season at Bondurant-Farrar that saw her lead the varsity in blocks and rank second in kills as a sophomore.

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