Previewing Iowa Regional Volleyball 16U 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>The time has arrived. The Iowa Regional Volleyball Tournament tips off this weekend in Central Iowa, running three weekends in all.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state's top 16U-18U girls teams will competing this weekend for bids to this summer's USAV National Tournament in Indianapolis. There are five bids up for grabs in the 16 and 17 divisions, and three available for the 18s. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's start our previews off with a look at the 16U group (listing of available teams as schedules had not been posted at time of publishing):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa Premier 16-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The favorite in this tournament returns the nucleus of the Iowa Premier 15-1 squad that won the Iowa Regional last year and qualified for the USAV Nationals in the Open Division. This group has been tested against tough competition, including stops at the Triple Crown NIT and the Sunshine Classic. It finished a respectable 61st out of 163 teams in the former and 19th out of 48 teams in the latter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A collection of highly-ranked prospects come together to make up Premier, which plays under the Adrenaline umbrella but is an otherwise independent outfit practicing in the central part of the state. It seems to be ascending as the team increases its connectivity with each tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Opponents must contend with Prep Dig's top-ranked in-state 2028, [player_tooltip player_id='560368' first='Elle' last='Hatlevig']. Norwalk junior-to-be should see plenty of activity when colleges can begin contacting her directly on June 15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PD's third- and fourth-ranked '28s also line up for Premier. Versatile front-row performer [player_tooltip player_id='545971' first='Avery' last='Cordes'] is coming off a state championship with Waukee Northwest, and setter [player_tooltip player_id='545946' first='Addison' last='Waldorf'] has an experience of reaching the state championship match still fresh in her mind from the fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seventh-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='730419' first='Hailey' last='Wiederin'] was a key cog in young Ankeny outfit advancing to the Class 5A state semifinals. She's shown she can end points from both pins. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woodward-Granger fell in a regional final with [player_tooltip player_id='702737' first='Alena' last='Schaack'] taking another step forward in her development. She was joined in Premier's middle rotation this season by [player_tooltip player_id='533845' first='Taylor' last='Otte'], a key contributor to Iowa City West making it back to the state tournament for the first time since 2016. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fellow Trojan [player_tooltip player_id='540833' first='Izzie' last='McDonald'] has teamed up with Norwalk's [player_tooltip player_id='809159' first='Reese' last='Heim'] and [player_tooltip player_id='766068' first='Madison' last='Messerly'] from Dallas Center-Grimes to hold it down in the back row for Premier. Messerly's versatility allows for contributions around the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa United 16-1 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another team that is battled tested, United 16-1 Elite played in Triple Crown and the Sunshine Classic. It finished 118 at Triple Crown and showed growth by placing 15th in the open division at Sunshine. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='516002' first='Julia' last='Schlarbaum'] is Prep Dig's sixth-ranked in Iowa for '28, while setter [player_tooltip player_id='701976' first='Adelyn' last='Stien'] checks in at 14th. Versatile [player_tooltip player_id='808755' first='Jeorgia' last='Evans'] is a Top 30 kid in the class, and [player_tooltip player_id='846069' first='Olivia' last='Marais'] is a factor at the pin. [player_tooltip player_id='610472' first='Josie' last='Austen'] shines while playing up, and [player_tooltip player_id='851203' first='Norah' last='Willey'], [player_tooltip player_id='771601' first='Kaitlyn' last='Amman'], [player_tooltip player_id='571219' first='Haydin' last='Wauters'] and [player_tooltip player_id='555730' first='Taylor' last='Hoskins'] help make this a deep roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa United 16-1 Elite Timmerman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched Timmerman reach the St. Louis President's Day Open Division Gold Bracket. It performed at a high level despite still working out the kinks of the early season. It's faced stiff competition, including at the Sunshine Classic, where it came up short against Iowa Premier in the open division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dowling Catholic super sophomore trio of [player_tooltip player_id='730098' first='Caroline' last='Crane'], [player_tooltip player_id='845755' first='Kennedy' last='Klein'] and [player_tooltip player_id='758163' first='Jaya' last='Morrow'] are important contributors for United Timmermann. [player_tooltip player_id='765334' first='Meryl' last='Sandholm'] and [player_tooltip player_id='946957' first='Jaslyn' last='Rasmussen'] are an excellent duo in the middle of the net, pin [player_tooltip player_id='493975' first='Stella' last='Largent'] is solid through six rotations and [player_tooltip player_id='498069' first='Kaelyn' last='Rinehart'] defends the back row very well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PowerPlex 16U Nelson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Still another team that should be prepared for the regional after facing a tough schedule that included appearances at Triple Crown and the Sunshine Classic. It took sixth in the 64-team USA Division at Sunshine. It was 67th out of 163 at Triple Crown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='732859' first='Elle' last='Isaacson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='763850' first='Gianna' last='Stanfel'] provide Nelson with a pair of heavy hitters on the outside. [player_tooltip player_id='729146' first='Anna' last='Jackson'] is among the best back-row performers in Iowa's '28 Class. The same can be said of [player_tooltip player_id='763901' first='Berkley' last='Weiland'] at setter, where [player_tooltip player_id='730468' first='Lyla' last='Nelson'] also plays at a high level. [player_tooltip player_id='546566' first='Tabitha' last='Molden'] and [player_tooltip player_id='825087' first='Ella' last='Subbert'] bring difference-making, two-way play to the middle of the net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Six Pack</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='604510' first='Aleigha' last='Cahoy'], [player_tooltip player_id='770743' first='Jasmine' last='Dodd'], [player_tooltip player_id='769708' first='Elody' last='England'], [player_tooltip player_id='808653' first='Erin' last='Steege'], [player_tooltip player_id='575805' first='Dyllan' last='Harn'], [player_tooltip player_id='934818' first='Jenzen' last='Klooster'] and [player_tooltip player_id='751358' first='Emmie' last='Sager'] help make Six Pack a formidable bunch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CIA 16 Black</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've seen this team a couple of times this year. It played well when in a rhythm by following the lead of setter [player_tooltip player_id='755663' first='Adeana' last='Murch']. Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='791383' first='Joy' last='Burkle'] can contribute through six rotations, [player_tooltip player_id='767026' first='Elsie' last='Gerdes'] is solid in the back row, and [player_tooltip player_id='730396' first='Caitlyn' last='Schneider'] and [player_tooltip player_id='826988' first='Lauren' last='Meaney'] are strong in the middle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa Impact 16-1 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team can compete when everyone is together. [player_tooltip player_id='728886' first='Lilly' last='Huntrods'], [player_tooltip player_id='896589' first='Kaylee' last='Hanson'], [player_tooltip player_id='819822' first='Tenley' last='Fried'], [player_tooltip player_id='789386' first='Hanna' last='Fouch'] and [player_tooltip player_id='952741' first='Adalynn' last='Harms'] are important players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa Impact 16-1 Premier</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A dark horse to do damage in this event thanks to student-athletes like [player_tooltip player_id='877006' first='Breeze' last='Bentz'], [player_tooltip player_id='952219' first='Emersyn' last='Ott'], [player_tooltip player_id='776905' first='Tenley' last='Heidemann'], [player_tooltip player_id='946971' first='Reagan' last='Hogan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='938499' first='Emerson' last='Hutchins']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Select 16 Mizuno</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A talented roster includes [player_tooltip player_id='694203' first='Belle' last='Cotton'], [player_tooltip player_id='742600' first='Piper' last='Hodge'], [player_tooltip player_id='771625' first='Chloe' last='Wilkin'], [player_tooltip player_id='783286' first='Taylor' last='Evans'], [player_tooltip player_id='946877' first='[player_tooltip player_id='523167' first='Natalie' last='']' last='DePoorter'], [player_tooltip player_id='813413' first='Falyn' last='Mussmann'] and [player_tooltip player_id='774499' first='Kennedy' last='Livengood']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rockets 16R</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='751549' first='Katherine' last='Barickman'], [player_tooltip player_id='730426' first='Hazel' last='Schluckebier'], [player_tooltip player_id='730449' first='Kylee' last='Suhr'] and [player_tooltip player_id='768502' first='Charleigh' last='Whitford'] give the Rockets a chance to make noise at regionals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PowerPlex 16U Chapman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team can get on a roll with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='752514' first='Brooklynn' last='Kelley'], [player_tooltip player_id='754848' first='Annabell' last='Niggemeyer'], [player_tooltip player_id='729453' first='Jennifer' last='Alexander'] and [player_tooltip player_id='536274' first='Ryan' last='Connolly'] dotting the roster. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Platform 16 Adidas</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='947959' first='Claire' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='951089' first='Addi' last='Mohr'], Lyla Johnston and Maddie Bohonek are notable names from this Platform squad. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->