Bryan was one of the top back-rowers in Iowa’s 2029 Class when scouting her during the last club campaign. She continued making that case when I saw towards the end of the prep regular season at the Westside Invite in Cedar Rapids. The freshman showed out again when starting at libero for Dowling Catholic at the state tournament. It led to me expecting a lot then watching her again at the USAV Iowa Regional during late March in West Des Moines. Bryan did not disappoint. She was a bright spot for PowerPlex, running balls down in defending against the attack and starting her team’s offense with precise passes off of serve-receiver opportunities. Bryan is a kid most opponents look to avoid when competing against PowerPlex, but she forces her way into the action on many occasions with how much court she can cover. Bryan is athletic and moves well side to side. She picks up on tendencies from the other team, too.

Over the last two days, Sidney Bryan Sidney Bryan 5'6" | DS/L Dowling Catholic | 2029 IA distinguished herself through first-contact control. Her serve-receive platform remained steady even against high-velocity servers, consistently delivering balls to the target that allowed her offense to stay in tempo. She sets her angle early and beats the ball to the spot rather than reacting late — a detail that separates her from many in the field.

Defensively, Bryan read attackers well, particularly in cross-court seam situations. She absorbed pace without overextending her arms and transitioned immediately into coverage responsibility. What stood out most was her consistency — minimal platform breakdown, disciplined positioning, and controlled digs that created real transition opportunities rather than just keeping the ball alive. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas