Marlee Ellison Marlee Ellison 5'10" | OH/DS/L Ankeny | 2027 State IA is another PowerPlex commit from the Class of 2027 who has given her verbal commitment to Lenoir Rhyne.  Lenoir Rhyne is a Division 2 school located in Hickory, North Carolina in the Southern Athletic Conference. They are coming off a 23-8 season in 2025 where they advanced to the second round of the D2 national tournament.  Ellison will be looking to have a big senior season for Ankeny where they will be building off a final four appearance in 5A in 2025.  She is an electric scorer who can find points on the board in multiple ways. 

We knew we’d have a few Iowa PowerPlex stars to see in the club’s home gym. Iowa PowerPlex 17U Mendoza lineup is loaded with firepower, but Ellison emerged as a surprise leader for her runner-up crew. She has demonstrated her ball control prowess at previous Prep Dig showcases. However, Ellison flourished as a full-time left-side hitter at last weekend’s event and produced innumerable eye-popping swings. Her burst and explosiveness were ready-made for this dream team.

Another attacker out of Ankeny High School to watch this week is Marlee Ellison Marlee Ellison 5'10" | OH/DS/L Ankeny | 2027 State IA .  She will be suiting up for Iowa PowerPlex 17 Mendoza.  I’ve seen Ellison play since her 15s year and it has been an exciting evolution for her game.  She stepped onto the state tournament floor as a freshman and made a big Impact .  She’s continued to do so at the prep and club level.  There is an explosiveness about her game where she makes things happen.  She plays with a chip on her shoulder and isn’t afraid to take a big rip, she wants to win. 

Ellison shined during the Live Like Line Tournament early on in the 2025 season. It was a continuation of the great start to her junior season. Ellison piled up 130 kills through her team’s first 21 matches, nine more than she had during all of her sophomore campaign. I caught her playing at the LOVB Iowa Showcase in early June. Ellison had taken another step forward before arriving at Iowa City West for this event. Ellison isn’t the tallest pin, but she impacts matches with athletic explosion, hang time and a consistent operation. She’s good at playing within herself and not trying to do too much with her attack. When the conditions are right, she will terminate points.