I feel like you can’t talk about United’s success without bringing up this athlete. Ehler, the setter/ right-side on Iowa United 151, is a show-stopping player who can truly do it all. Not only does she do an amazing job leading her team as a setter, but she also uses her height and heavy arm as an asset on offense. You can tell she is always striving to better herself and the team around her.

If I were naming an MVP from the USAV 15U Iowa Regional tournament in late March, Ehler would be the pick. Despite playing with a painful foot injury, the Tipton freshman dominated the action whenever she was on the court. I didn’t get a chance to scout Tipton during the fall, meaning the last time I saw her was last club season. Ehler is tracking towards being one of the state’s best. That arrival is not far off. She brings a deep bag of talents to the court, starting with unusual height and long arms at the position. Ehler can accomplish feats physically that others cannot. The lefty puts the ball down on dumps to multiple locations and with a heavy lefty swing. If the pass is moving with momentum to the net and the defense is susceptible, it’s a kill. She’d be a heck of a right-side hitter. As far as her main job, Ehler consistently puts the ball on the money to the attackers with an advantage. Quick-twitch athleticism and explosion off of the court make her an excellent defender. The potential here is through the roof.

Zane Ehler plays with a confident edge, showing the ability to run a system that emphasizes both tempo and precision. Her footwork to the ball is efficient, allowing her to stay neutral and deliver consistent location across all zones. Ehler demonstrates strong connection with her middles, running quicks and slides with timing that forces opposing blockers to commit early.

She shows advanced decision-making in transition, recognizing when to speed up the offense versus when to reset and create a better scoring opportunity. Zane also incorporates setter offense effectively—whether it’s a well-timed dump or aggressive second contact—which adds another layer defenses must respect. Her ability to balance aggression with control gives her offense versatility and unpredictability. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas

Ehler has stood out as one of the state’s top club players in her age group for years. That’s why it’s no surprise seeing her shine as a freshman on the prep level for those that have watched her grow up. Through 59 sets, Ehler had accumulated an impressive 417 assists, 88 kills (.327), 204 digs and 20.0 blocks for the upstart Tigers. She can do everything needed at setter. Attackers receive the ball where they can end points, and she will do the honors if the defense yields an opening. That happens with dumps in the donut or via swings. Ehler could be an outstanding opposite pin if that was the focus. The lefty generates a lot of power.