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.

I’ve scouted Van Heukelom matches for the last few seasons. Raw in volleyball terms at the beginning, she’s blossomed into a productive two-way middle. Van Heukelom has the height and length to be effective at the position. She’s sharpened her skills to take advantage of those natural gifts. More explosiveness has been added and resulted in Van Heukelom more consistently finishing points with her powerful swing, which is noticeably more consistent. A deterrent for opposing attacks as a defender, Van Heukelom’s block looked especially sharp at the LOVB Midwest Recruiting Showcase in June. Expect her to make a bigger impact in the MVC this season.