A Deep Dive Into The Iowa Region 17 and 18s Team Rankings
Having team rankings for the region is new, and can definitely be a challenge with a balance of talent across the state. For many of these athletes, they are juggling club volleyball, basketball, track is starting soon, and are taking…
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Continue ReadingHaving team rankings for the region is new, and can definitely be a challenge with a balance of talent across the state. For many of these athletes, they are juggling club volleyball, basketball, track is starting soon, and are taking a rigorous academic schedule that also includes their extra-curricular activities. In January and the first part of February, teams may not be at full strength due to all athletes not being there or just the fact that they haven’t had the repetition from full practices together. Here is a breakdown of the age groups and potential matchups that could be ones to watch over the next few weeks.
18U Rankings
- Six Pack 18U
- CIA 18 Black
- IPVA 18 Black
- Club Ignit 18 Blue
- Adrenaline 18 Austin
- Iowa Select 18 Mizuno
- Iowa Rockets 18R
- Iowa Power Plex 18 Black
- Platform Elite 18 Adidas
- SWI 18 Black
Six Pack 18s are the favorites coming into the season and after winning the USA Division at the Northern Lights Qualifier, they have continue to prove they are one of
Wills and Yates on the block.the top teams in the region again. Alayna Yates (Dayton) is so tough to stop in the middle and with Jaz Westmoreland (Chicago State) and Jada Wills (Drake) on the pin, they will provide plenty of scoring opportunities and are also really solid in serve receive.
When CIA 18 Black has a full team they are extremely dangerous. Morgan Weber (Wichita State) is one of the top outsides in the state who is currently one of the top players for the Dike-New Hartford basketball team who is ranked #1 in Class 2A. Their balance and ability to attack at all positions is what sets them apart with Sioux Falls recruit Jordan Kuper, Northern State commit Avery Kroll, and a solid addition in libero Kirsten Graves who has been the libero at Cedar Falls the past two years.
Central Iowa has plenty of athletes to sort through where they have all either played with or against each other since their youth club days. I saw IPVA play in Chicago, but was without Drake commit in Kara Peter who is a major contributor score points in the front row and providing a big block. IPVA has Dowling and St. Cloud State commit in Allena Shimon setting and new addition Kate Nelson who will be going to South Dakota State. Two new additions that stood out right away are Haleigh Hadley of Gilbert who will head to Iowa State and Amber Weltha out of Baxter, a 2020 Senior hidden gem who could play in the middle or right side, a really strong athlete. Club Ignit Select has an athletic bunch who made it to the Gold bracket in Chicago behind the likes of Omaha commit, Olivia Curry and her Valley High School teammate Jacey Spann (Grand View commit). Uncommitted Seniors Abbey Griffin and Liz Pierce are uber athletic and add quite a dimension to this squad.
Eastern Iowa seems to be one major coin flip. Adrenaline 18 Austin just got a bid to nationals in the 18 American division. So impressed with Rylee Fay (Missouri
Iowa Select 18 MizunoState) setting and Sydney Dennis (Iowa) as libero, I know these athletes have the accolades and honors, but seeing them live again reminds me of how strong they really are. Natalie Welch continues to be a rising Class of 2021 athlete where she can put up a big block, score on the right side, and had a dirty serve scoring plenty of points against FC Elite out of Wisconsin. Iowa Rockets 18R had a strong start to their weekend at the Chicago Qualifier, but was upset in the opening round of Gold bracket play. Abby Brunssen (Northwest Missouri State) provides a big arm as does Emily Kono (Upper Iowa). Iowa Select 18 Mizuno is such a gritty bunch. Can’t count them out of any match. Some of the top athletes out of the Quad Cities are led by Kirkwood commit Brooke Mulholland and Cornell commit, Illah Perez. Attackers Emma Powell and middle blocker and Kirkwood commit Hannah Weiskamp continue to add weapons to this offense.
SWI 18 Black is an absolute wildcard where they will have the ability to upset some teams along the way. There are plenty of athletes from the Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln squad that went to the state tournament that includes Elaina Bohnet (Iowa Western) and Sam Christiansen (Midland).
17s
- Six Pack 17U
- PowerPlex 17 Black
- Club Ignit 17 Blue
- CIA 17 Black
- Iowa Rockets 17 R
- Iowa Select 17 Mizuno
- Flight 17U
- Adrenaline 17 Doug
- Iowa Power Plex 17 Red
- Iowa Rockets 17-1
The depth! I can’t say this enough with this group. Plenty of these teams have already faced each other. PowerPlex recently defeated Club Ignit in three sets at Northern Lights, CIA defeated Iowa Select and Adrenaline at the Tour of Iowa. Right now Six Pack is the favorite with their power and depth with the likes of Elyse Winter, Dani Johnson, and Saari Kuehl on the pin, but their middles also bring another dynamic of defense and scoring with Ashlynn Kuhn (Drake), Hailey Pollock (Western Illinois), and McKenna Scheib. They took home the tourney crown at Six Pack and Rocket Blast.
Lauren Havlik attackingPowerPlex and Club Ignit will be back and forth all season. A lot of the players have played with or against each other through club and high school and the familiarity makes it all the more difficult, the margin of error is so slim. Plex is really deep in the middle with Layanna Green, Grace Evans, and Lauren Havilk. On the pin is North Dakota State Commit in Morgan Middleton who can take over a match. Club Ignit 17 Blue has balance and are so sound defensively with Anna Flynn at libero, Sophia Painovich setting, and the three pin tripod of Faith DeRonde, Alysen Dexter, and Emerson Thelen.
CIA 17 Black has a little bit of a different look this year with the addition of Corinne Meier. Meier is out of Dubuque Hempstead and is making a huge splash on the Iowa club scene where she can swing on the left side or right side. A great way to describe Meier’s swing is, “It just sounds different”. Yes, it sounds different with how square and hard she can hit the ball. Taylor Grinley at setter and Emmy Wedgbury are so solid at setter and libero, providing great leadership and intangibles that makes this team gel. An outside hitter to watch is Maddy Weber of Waukee and don’t forget about the two Class of 2022 athletes from Osage in Meredith Street, a high flying outside and Kaebre Sullivan in the middle.
CIA 17 Black celebrates at Tour of Iowa.Iowa Select 17 Mizuno is a team that will be hitting their peak come Regional time. This squad had a tough weekend at the Northern Lights Qualifier, but that was without setter Madeline Barickman and her twin sister on the outside Abigail Barickman – these two athletes are relatively new to the club scene and are two Class of 2021 athletes who will be sure to catch the eye of college coachces. Emma Schubert, a strong six rotation pin is also on the mend after having mono to start the season. Give this team time to gel and work together and it will be a dangerous combination.
Two teams that will provide a wildcard are Iowa Rockets 17R and Flighty 17U. Rockets always has provides teams who are competitive and this year they will rely heavily on the arms of Katy Garrison, Sydney Beasley, and Martha Pace. One libero to watch is Addie Schmierer who was key in Iowa City Liberty’s run to the state tournament. Flight 17U is a team to watch after picking up big wins at the Northern Lights Qualifier last weekend in the USA Division with their only losses coming to a team out of Kansas City in Friday pool play and again Sunday in Gold bracket play. Outside hitters Paige Kisley and Belle Weber are consistent go-to threats with Kisley being so physical on the pin and Weber being extremely solid in every rotation. They play loose, they have fun, and when teams like Flight gain momentum, they are more than happy to make the upset run.