What Iowans Will Be Competing in the NCAA Tournament?
If any team is playing volleyball in December, its a great sign. With the D3 national title wrapped up with UW-Eau Claire taking the crown there is still plenty of hardware left to capture for D2 and D1 squads who will be starting their national tournaments this week. I took a deep dive into all the rosters of the teams who will be playing. The Midwest is heavily represented. There are matches everywhere that even if you don’t know the teams, you might know one of the players.
When I have spoken at various events and I say this often that when athletes are competing in the Midwest, it truly is some of the best high school and club volleyball in the country. College coaches love recruiting Midwest athletes obviously for their skill, but there is also the package of being a strong student and that true Midwest work ethic that any team would welcome into their gym.
As for Iowa? There are plenty of storylines among the players who are playing in this tournament. Some high profile names and programs with the likes of Sydney Petersen at Texas and Devyn Robinson at Wisconsin, both of these teams could stay home if they win out until they have to go to the final four with a top four seed. Iowans will heavily represent Iowa State and South Dakota. South Dakota is a program who has been steadily on the rise and has built a pipeline of Iowa players as well as commits from the Class of 2022 and 2023 who have already given their verbal there.
Some of the best to ever put on a Dubuque Wahlert Catholic jersey will be in the NCAA tournament as players and coaches. Mac May is finishing a stellar career at UCLA where she has also found plenty of success with their beach program as well. Aliyah Carter has been doing what she always does scoring points from everywhere on the court. Head Coach of Ole Miss, Kayla Banwarth has completely turned the program around for the Rebels. She was a star for Wahlert Catholic, Nebraska, and Team USA.
Did I miss someone? Email chris@prepdig.com
Give a share and a shoutout! Happy Tournament Time!
Wisconsin
Devyn Robinson – Ankeny Centennial
Ok @BadgerVB fans, meet your incoming Class of 2020 middle @Devyn_Robinson_ of @acgcchargervb – so fun, energetic, and will no doubt be a fan favorite! pic.twitter.com/xAcIqCxx13
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) October 12, 2019
Creighton
Eve Magill – Xavier
Utah
Sommer Daniel – Tipton
This @AdrenalineVB team looks so different from when I saw them in Omaha in January, coming off an Iowa Regional title, they are just playing so smooth, and finding ways to win. Plus it’s fun to see Sommer Daniel set this weekend! She’s heading to @UtahVolleyball pic.twitter.com/WtyxjE8nZU
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) March 22, 2019
Dayton
Alayna Yates – Cedar Falls
Purdue
Megan Renner – Linn-Mar
Texas
Sydney Petersen – Dike-New Hartford
South Dakota
Aimee Adams – Kuemper Catholic
Claire Gerdes – Cedar Falls
Madison Harms – Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Jadyn Jondle – Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
Lolo Weideman – Center Point-Urbana
Iowa State
Kenzie Mantz – Belle Plaine
Kate Shannon – Waterloo Columbus
Abby Greiman – Dallas Center-Grimes
Allie Petry – Council Bluffs St. Albert
Mariah Mitchell – Wapello
Texas Tech
Kenna Sauer – Ankeny Centennial
Baylor
Hannah Sedwick – West Des Moines Valley
UCLA
Mac May – Dubuque Wahlert
Southeast Missouri
Elissa Moylan – Pleasant Valley
Colby Greene – Iowa City West
Nebraska
Madi Kubik – West Des Moines Valley
Kansas State
Aliyah Carter – Dubuque Wahlert