Going Gauntlet Team Preview – PowerPlex 16 Nelson

<!-- 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></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm looking forward to checking out my first Prep Dig Gauntlet June 6-7 in suburban Milwaukee. Nine Iowa teams across the 15-17 age groups will be representing the state at the competitive, pre-USAV Nationals event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've been fortunate enough to have seen seven of the nine teams in person. One of the ones I did not catch, Iowa Premier 16-1,&nbsp;<a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/05/going-gauntlet-iowa-premier-16-1-claims-open-bid/?itm_source=parsely-api">was written about by Prep Dig's Chris Fitzgerald</a>&nbsp;in our "Going Gauntlet" series leading up to the show.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll be putting together previews for the rest of our state's teams. Here's a look at&nbsp;Iowa PowerPlex 16 Nelson. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It took me most of the season to catch up with Iowa Powerplex 16 Nelson. Fortunately, I was able to watch it live in two late-season events - The ASICS Show Me National Qualifier last month in Kansas City and The Mizuno Midwest Challenge earlier this month in Des Moines. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PowerPlex finished seventh in the USA Division against a challenging field at Show Me. It played up in the 17U Division at Mizuno Midwest, where I saw it go toe-to-toe with a really talented Select 17s outfit in the gold bracket before coming up just short. Nelson finished a very respectable fourth in the event. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PowerPlex 16U team secured a Freedom Division bid at this summer's USAV National Tournament in Indianapolis with a fourth-place finish at the Iowa Regionals. The squad has risen up to the American Division with a trickle-down bid to the region.&nbsp;<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a roster loaded with talented individuals appearing to be gelling at the right time, Nelson has a chance to do well at the challenging Prep Dig Gauntlet. A strong performance there would set it up for a run at nationals. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libero [player_tooltip player_id='729146' first='Anna' last='Jackson'] is a wall in the back row. Combining physical gifts, technical soundness and a high volleyball IQ, the Dallas Center-Grimes standout consistently keeps this squad in system so it can take advantage of a strong collection of attackers. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson is working with a reliable pair of setters, too. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='763901' first='Berkley' last='Weiland'] is an emerging star at the position. Tall and athletic with long arms, the Southeast Polk sophomore consistently hits her spots with sets. She stays on the court in the 6-2 because her swing from the right pin is powerful and her defense through six rotations is effective. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='730468' first='Lyla' last='Nelson']'s sharp setting makes it easy for the coaches to play Weiland all around the court. The Waukee Northwest sophomore is improving at an impressive clip and is well positioned to compete for a rotation spot with defending champion Waukee Northwest in the fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='763850' first='Gianna' last='Stanfel'] was a breakout performer around this time a year ago. The opposite pin then played well in helping Dowling Catholic get back to the state tournament in the fall. She's built on that output with dominating efforts this club campaign. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='732859' first='Elle' last='Isaacson'] really took a step forward as an Ankeny sophomore in the fall, when the young Hawks reached the state semifinals. She's lifted her game to another level during club ball with more consistency on the attack and an improving feel for throwing up the block. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elle Subbert (ADM),&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='546566' first='Tabitha' last='Molden']&nbsp;(Johnston) and&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='754649' first='Peyton' last='Dirks'] (North Polk) make up a formidable trio of middle hitters with the versatility and agility to slide to a pin. They're all imposing defenders at the net with heavy swings to end points. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waukee Northwest's [player_tooltip player_id='730423' first='Harper' last='Rus'] is the type of versatile volleyballer teams covet. She'll put it down from the pin or pick it up in the back row. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='730392' first='Aylin' last='Adamson'] (Ankeny) shares traits with Rus as a multi-positional contributor. [player_tooltip player_id='775051' first='Ingrid' last='Secory'] (Waukee) is making excellent progress in the back row. These two kids could very well be breakouts in school ball during the fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->