Lyla Nelson Lyla Nelson 5'7" | S/DS/L Northwest Waukee | 2028 State IA brings poise to the second contact. She reads first pass trajectory early and adjusts her positioning before the ball arrives, minimizing emergency movement. Her release is compact, and she consistently delivers a hittable ball that keeps attackers on schedule.

Nelson distributes evenly and avoids predictability. In pressure rotations, she stays calm and recognizes matchups, working to create one-on-one opportunities rather than forcing contested swings. Her leadership is steady — she manages rhythm and keeps her team grounded when rallies extend. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas

It’s fair to say that Iowa PowerPlex setters played a big role in running the show last weekend. We’ll start with Nelson, an agile sophomore setter with a wealth of defensive grit in the right-back area. Even if she’s not handling the second contacts, Nelson’s relentless floor defense allows her team to grind through marathon rallies. Her quickness translates well to the setter spot, as Nelson can get her feet to the ball and track down errant passes. PowerPlex 16U Nelson will surely benefit from this all-around prowess.

Lyla Nelson Lyla Nelson 5'7" | S/DS/L Northwest Waukee | 2028 State IA brings a spark to the court for this PowerPlex 15 Jackson squad as a setter who can command the court. She brings a positive court presence where she connects with her teammate and keeps it all together. As a setter she gets her feet to the ball that allows the hands to work. She connects extremely well with her middles and isn’t afraid to run a quick tempo. 

Nelson is another gem in Waukee Northwest’s embarrassment of volleyball riches. Most of the group will be back in 2025, making the Wolves one of the favorites to win the 5A title. Nelson operated on the freshman team last year as she began her development in one of the state’s top programs. She’s continued that growth this club season as evidenced by her performances at the Northern Lights and Iowa Regional Qualifiers. Nelson shares the setting duties for PowerPlex. She’s ready when her turn comes up and is precise with her offerings. Nelson adjusts well to errant passes and finds ways to set up her hitters no matter what. She a good athlete that moves around the court with quickness. Nelson defends well in the back row, too.