McDonald is an entertaining volleyball prospect to scout. I was reminded of that when watching her in person multiple times during the last few weeks. The University of Iowa commitment brings excellent energy, focus and skills to the court. The junior covers a lot of area in the back row. She stands up strong against the attack with quickness, sharp reflexes and technical soundness to kick start transition off of serve-receive or in digging up the opposing attack. McDonald adjusts to tendencies during matches and becomes better positioned as they go along. She consistently is up to the task when challenged, often leading to her being avoided by teams.

Let’s double down on the Iowa Premier gang. Must-see defensive talent is not limited to those wearing a different color. McDonald was a mainstay in the Iowa Premier lineup last weekend, patrolling the middle-back area as a primary DS. The dynamic shifted as soon as she rotated in, as McDonald did not hesitate to make calls and rally her backcourt companions. This is the kind of ball control specialist you can’t keep off the floor, and her high standing in the 2028 rankings is clearly warranted.