I was so impressed with how heavy Kaitlin Loria Kaitlin Loria L State IA ‘s swing was at this event. Her having a powerful swing is nothing new, but it seems like it gets stronger every time I watch her. It didn’t matter where I was looking in the gym; I could tell when she was swinging simply by the sound of her contact. With this being Loria’s senior year and City High having a fairly strong group, I think this could be the year that she leads the Hawkettes to the State Tournament.

A member of the City High varsity rotation since she was a freshman, Loria has steadily added consistency and power through the years. Her play at the Prep Dig Iowa Sizzle in early August provided evidence she might be accessing even more in 2026. The senior put the ball down with authority, showing she could hit line and expose holes in the defense. It’s a big vertical and a heavy swing. Loria still is working through getting comfortable in the back row, but the ability is present for her to become reliable there. She just needs the reps after not playing club volleyball this year. Basketball is her main sport now, but college volleyball coaches shouldn’t sleep on her potential in their arena.

Loria showed during the 2025 season-opener against Waterloo West that she can impact matches at a higher level than her first two seasons of varsity volleyball. The junior is an explosive outside hitter capable of contributing through six rotations at this level, as she proved during a successful club campaign. Loria’s attack has become more consistent in the last year. She’s also worked hard on sharping her play in the back row. Loria can handle most varsity attacks and is improving her back-row skills through increased repetitions. Her athleticism and quick reactions give her a chance to be really solid through six.