Iowa Player Matchups We Love To See
In basketball, two top players could guard each other. In softball there might be a top pitcher going head to head with someone who poses a threat to get a big hit. In volleyball, there are definitely matchups that are…
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Continue ReadingIn basketball, two top players could guard each other. In softball there might be a top pitcher going head to head with someone who poses a threat to get a big hit. In volleyball, there are definitely matchups that are fun to watch. Two top outside hitters going swing for swing for middles facing off where they are taking control of the net offensively and defensively. Here are some matchups we could potentially see on the road to state.
The Class of 2021 is so deep in talent. Jazlin De Haan of MOC-Floyd Valley is one! pic.twitter.com/VlsziiYUuF
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 7, 2018
Jazlin De Haan (MOC-Floyd Valley) and Reagan Jansen Reagan Jansen 6'1" | OH Sioux Center | 2023 State IA (Sioux Center)
De Haan, a Wayne State commit, made her first state tournament appearance as a Sophomore. The now Senior is leading the way for the Dutch and will do what it takes to get them back. Jansen is a Sophomore and rising attacker, one to watch in the Class of 2023. Most recently MOC took down Sioux Center 3-1 Monday night, but this might not be the last meeting between the two as they could see each other in regional play or could be sent different directions for the regional and both end up in Cedar Rapids.
Marissa Pottebaum (Boyden-Hull) and Stella Winterfeld Stella Winterfeld 5'10" | OH Western Christian | 2023 State #172 Nation IA (Western Christian)
Two great teams, one town. Boyden-Hull and Western Christian are both in Hull in Sioux County which by far has the most top teams per capita in the state, they always do. Pottebaum has been a defensive force at the net with nearly 50 blocks on the season where Sophomore, Stella Winterfeld Stella Winterfeld 5'10" | OH Western Christian | 2023 State #172 Nation IA is leading the Wolfpack in kills.
Lily Dykstra Lily Dykstra 6'0" | OH Urbandale | 2023 State #127 Nation IA (Urbandale) and Hayden Kubik Hayden Kubik 6'1" | OH West Des Moines Valley | 2022 State #11 Nation IA (West Des Moines Valley)
The #1 prospect in 2023 vs. the #1 prospect in 2022. These two top athletes are pivotal for their team’s success. Valley most recently got the best of Urbandale sweeping them 2-0. Dykstra has nearly 200 kills on the season while Kubik is leading the Tigers who have played a gauntlet of a schedule. Big swings from the outside give every team a chance to win.
Martha Pace Martha Pace 5'11" | OH West Liberty | 2021 State IA and Macy Daufeldt Macy Daufeldt 5'10" | OH West Liberty | 2022 State #74 Nation IA (West Liberty) and Kelsey Drake Kelsey Drake 5'7" | OH Wilton | 2022 State IA , Carly Puffer Carly Puffer 6'0" | MB Wilton | 2022 State IA , and Ella Caffery Ella Caffery 5'9" | S Wilton | 2022 State IA (Wilton)
These athletes are all too familiar with each other with many of the West Liberty and Wilton squads playing for Iowa Rockets. Pace and Daufelldt just surpassed 1,000 kills for the Comets and will soon be facing across the net from another undefeated team in Wilton who has been blazing the competition. When they aren’t playing each other, they can most likely be cheering for each other as they are state returners from different classes. Drake and Puffer lead the attack for the Beavers while Caffery is primarily setting after doing a little bit of everything last year.
Saari Kuehl Saari Kuehl OH Gladbrook-Reinbeck | 2021 State IA (Gladbrook-Reinbeck) and Kalvyn Rosengarten Kalvyn Rosengarten 6'3" | MB Wapsie Valley | 2023 State IA (Wapsie Valley)
GR and Wapsie Valley are top teams to contend with in their class and then throw in Janesville and there is a lot of Class 1A power in a small area. Kuehl is one of the top Class 1A attackers. She will head to Southwest Minnesota State next year. Rosengarten showed the state what she could do when WV finished as state runner up posing a big block in the middle and be a highly efficient attacker. This will be interesting to keep tabs on to see if all three of these teams (Janesville, WV, and GR) are separated with their regionals or if one will have to square off before CR.