I have gotten to watch Schlarbaum a few times throughout this season. From prep dig sizzle in the preseason all the way up to this past weekend, she has continued to leave me impressed every time I’ve watched her play. It doesn’t take much for her to make her presence known every time she steps on the court. Her ability to remain aggressive no matter where her sets are and still manage to find the court is outstanding. Not only is she forceful at the net, but she is also fantastic in the back row. Her serve receive is exact, and she’s scrappy on defense.

I haven’t gotten to see Julia Schlarbaum Julia Schlarbaum 6'0" | OH/RS Clear Creek-Amana | 2028 State IA play live a whole lot this season. However, when I have, I’m never left disappointed. This girl brings so much to the court for this CCA program and still isn’t finished. What sets her apart from a lot of juniors is how advanced her maturity, IQ, and skill set are compared to other juniors. The way she plays makes it seem as though she’s two steps ahead of everyone. She reads her opponents extremely well and makes quick-thinking adjustments to better the ball.

Schlarbaum was a breakout performer in 2025, starting with the club season at United and then as a sophomore at Clear Creek Amana last fall. She played a big role in helping the Clippers reach the state tournament again as a six-rotation mainstay. Schlarbaum has continued her ascent in the game, adding more power at the pin and sharpening her skills as an all-around player. She’s a hammer on the outside and can put the ball down from the 10-foot line, an area she’s really improved. Schlarbaum is very reliable in the back row against the attack and in serve-receive. Her jump serve can be deadly. A South Dakota commitment, Schlarbaum is one of the state’s top players and has a ways to go before reaching her tremendous upside.

There is no denying that Schlarbaum is one of CCA’s most lethal weapons. I was very impressed with the contribution she made in every single rotation. At the net, she remained aggressive and did a phenomenal job of always finding a way through the blockers. The junior also had a very sharp cut shot that her opponents couldn’t seem to pick up. Even when Shlarbaum was in the back row, she still found ways to score, not only off of her amazing top spin serve but also from back row attacks.

Although CCA is an all-around great team, you can’t help but give a lot of props to Julia. I don’t think there has been a time that I’ve watched her play and not been amazed. She is such an amazing, well-rounded athlete with a competitive drive like no other. With Julia now being an upperclassman, I am excited to see how she grows in the leadership aspect.