Mescher stood out when watching her at the 2025 MLK Day tournament in Kansas City. I liked what I saw in her game again during the Iowa Regional last year. Again, she put her best foot forward during an in-person scout at the 2026 Nike President’s Day Classic in St. Louis. The carrying tools for Mescher are court awareness and a high volleyball IQ. It’s an intense look on the face and learning from tendencies of the opponent. It helps in getting into proper position. From there, she shows sharp skills in getting the ball cleanly to her setter. Mescher moves well, and does a nice job communicating with teammates before and during points. Graduation losses at Ankeny should put her in position for more playing time in 2026.

Speaking of passing and defense, Mescher is poised to be a major Iowa stock riser after her Exposure Tour performance. She meshed well with any passer lined up next to her and effectively covered seams in the block during scrimmages. Not only was Mescher keeping balls off the floor, but her steady platform guided the ball to her target. This is the first of many Iowa Impact standouts we’ll discuss throughout the week.

Mescher patrols the back row for a sound Impact outfit that finished third at the Iowa regional this spring. Mescher possesses the attributes needed for success as a defensive specialist. She moves well laterally and has quick reflexes. She supports those gifts with keen anticipation and technical soundness. Mescher is a good leader that communicates consistently with teammates and keeps everybody on the same page. Ankeny experienced key graduation losses after last season, and Mescher looks like another key piece of the puzzle for one of the state’s top programs.