Iowa’s Top Returning Statistical Performers: Class of 2024
It’s time to round out our recap of some big producers that are returning to the Iowa high school volleyball scene. There have been plenty of great candidates for these features, and I look forward to adding more to the…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIt’s time to round out our recap of some big producers that are returning to the Iowa high school volleyball scene. There have been plenty of great candidates for these features, and I look forward to adding more to the list in the future.
And now, the 2024s!
Molly Romano – 5’9 S – Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln
My first look at Romano came a year ago at our Prep Dig Summer Bash high school tournament in Omaha. At that time, she had yet to play a regular-season match for Abraham Lincoln. By the time the 2020 season ended, Romano was second among Iowa freshmen in total assists. This talented setter has come a long way and has so many great matches in her future.
Payton Petersen – 5’10 OH – Dike-New Hartford
I recently gave Petersen a shoutout for the work she did during the recently concluded club season, but her debut with Dike-New Hartford is also worth a second look. Petersen put her stamp on several statistical categories; she led Iowa freshmen in kills and placed second in both digs and total blocks. Jadyn Petersen was equally productive and led all freshmen in service aces by a wide margin. It’s double trouble at Dike-New Hartford, and the coming years look very promising.
Jessica Gergen – 5’11 MB – Denver
Gergen is Iowa’s “block champion” among freshmen in the 2020 season. Her 113 total stuffs last year were unrivaled in her class, and that production lifted Denver to several dominant performances en route to the state title match.
Maggie Johnson – 5’10 MB – Assumption
Johnson is another 2024 who showed up on a variety of leaderboards by the end of last season. In addition to finishing fourth among freshmen in total blocks, this imposing middle blocker was also third in year-long hitting efficiency at .348. Assumption is currently a team defined by its young talent, and Johnson is another impressive player in that pipeline.
Meg Berkland – 5’4 DS/L – Clever Creek-Amana
Berkland is far from a one-dimensional libero. Her serve receive is stout. Her floor defense, meanwhile, was good enough to place her fifth in total digs among Iowa 2024s. Berkland can also deliver behind the service line, as she also appears in the top five for total aces.
Natalie Lobeck – 5’5 S – Tripoli
Lobeck has been racking up assists from the very beginning. As a freshman, she appeared in every set for Tripoli and compiled an unparalleled 733 assists over the 2020 season. It’s a testament to Lobeck’s determination and her ability to help make her teammates shine.
Finley Schelhaas – 5’4 DS/L – Des Moines Christian
Des Moines Christian has stat leader in a few different classes, and Schelhaas leads their group of 2024s. Her 438 digs led all Iowa freshmen last year, and this is only the beginning for this talented libero. Schelhaas’s quickness on the floor and willingness to lay out for any ball will ensure her place atop the leaderboard for the next few years.
Carlie Willis – 5’10 OH – Grundy Center
We’ve seen a lot of great athletes from the Cedar-East and Cedar-West conferences throughout this series, and Willis is another one to add to the list. This Grundy Center outside hitter’s kill total last year was fourth-highest in her class, and she added a healthy dog total to her credit, too.
Reagan Wheeler – 5’11 MB – Waterloo Christian
We end this feature with another blocking machine from Waterloo Christian. Wheeler made a living off of solo stuffs, finishing the year with 49 roofs on her own. Adding over 200 kills to that defensive dominance wasn’t bad, either.