Some kids bring a palpable positive energy to the court every time you’re fortunate enough to watch them play. Van Heukelom is one of those kids. The Liberty High senior keeps it positive when she’s lining up for the Lightning or when scouting her during the club campaigns. The Wisconsin-Platteville pledge smiles a lot and lifts up her teammates. She also can play a little volleyball. Actually, she can play pretty loudly with a game that’s become more consistently good over time. Van Heukelom has been an effective blocker going back to her younger years. She’s become more consistent in that endeavor. Tremendous strides have been made on the attack.

Van Heukelom is a student-athlete I’ve scouted frequently throughout the years with Iowa City Liberty and on the club circuit. She’s proven to be one of the more consistent players I watch on a regular basis, often making the smart volleyball play and delivering for her team. Van Heukelom also brings excellent energy to the court and stands out for celebrating teammates’ accomplishment as much as her own. I was reintroduced to that when watching her compete at the 2026 Nike President’s Day Classic in St. Louis with United 17-1 Premier. Van Heukelom leans on sharp skills and a keen sense for game flow to find success. She’d be a nice addition to plenty of programs on the next level.

Van Heukelom has made incredible strides with her game in the last few years. It’s formed her into a consistent two-way force in the middle of the net. That was on display early in the 2025 campaign. She led the team in blocks and ranked among its leaders in kills. Van Heukelom was hitting an impressive .350, highlighting her efficiency. She’s improved her side attack a ton during the last year. A read on the opposing attack and learning from the opponent’s tendencies with that has made her a more successful blocker.