CIA, Iowa Clubs Have Great Success at Mizuno Dells Showcase
Leading up to Iowa Regionals is always an important time for Iowa clubs and the Mizuno Showcase at the Dells is a great event for these clubs where its a three day event with some top teams out of Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. For Iowa clubs, they had plenty to celebrate after this weekend with CIA 17 Black taking home the title of the 17s Division and plenty of other highlights. Here is a quick recap of Iowa clubs and their success in the Dells as they build up to Iowa Regional time!
Congratulations to CIA 17BLACK for winning the 17 Open division of the Mizuno Showcase tournament at the Dells this weekend. They went 8-1 on the weekend. Way to go team, we are super proud of you! 👊🏼🤙🏼💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/VIDGmn3IER
— Club Iowa (@ClubIowa) March 7, 2022
The CIA 17 Black squad came home with the championship trophy. A balanced, athletic squad that can come after teams with solid ball control and a variety of attackers. After dropping their opening match of the tournament they went on to win the eight, avenging their loss to Kokoro (St. Paul, MN) and winning a three set thriller against one of the top teams out of the Badger Region in Capital 17 Adidas out of Wisconsin.
17 Black wasn’t the only CIA team who found success this weekend with the following finishes:
15 Black – 11th
16 Black – 6th
17 Silver – 16th
17 Black – 1st
18 Black – 2nd in Premier (19th overall)
RVA 18U Parma
Roots Volleyball Academy out of Central Iowa was able to take home the Premier Division at the Showcase in the Dells. What does that mean and how did they do it? This tournament was formatted with power pools meaning they put the top teams in one pool while the other teams must finish first in their pool in order to advance to the open division. For teams like RVA and CIA 18 Black, there’s no room for error on day one. Both teams suffered close day one losses which sent them to the Premier Division. Parma had a tight three set loss to VC United 182 Elite in opening pool play, but would go on to win the next six matches, four of those in three sets and their last two with wins 16-14 in set three.
Notable Iowa Performances
Huge fan of Kayla Knowles Kayla Knowles 5'11" | OH Denver | 2023 State #161 Nation IA of CIA 17 Black and @CycloneDenver – super physical outside. Game continues to improve. Approaching with a purpose and jumping higher. 2023 pin pic.twitter.com/5cRcVitNtX
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) March 5, 2022
Kayla Knowles Kayla Knowles 5'11" | OH Denver | 2023 State #161 Nation IA – CIA 17 Black
Knowles was a major point scorer for 17 Black enroute to their championship. An All State outside hitter for Denver, Knowles has evolved where she can score from all parts of the court, but her bread and butter is definitely a mix of shots from the outside. She can cut the corners roll with the finesse shot, and isn’t afraid to take a big rip.
Alayna Finucan Alayna Finucan 5'5" | DS/L Webster City | 2022 State IA – RVA 18 Parma
Committed to Denver
Was so fun to see Finucan back on the court this past weekend. She just glides on the court and knows how to get to the right spot. Her presence is major on this team where she takes control of the first touch and get in system. She will head to Denver with other Iowa athletes that include Lauren Carter Lauren Carter 5'11" | S Winterset | 2022 State #43 Nation IA and Ava Reynolds Ava Reynolds 5'11" | OH Ankeny | 2022 State #155 Nation IA .
Shelby Kimm Shelby Kimm 6'0" | OH Iowa City Liberty | 2023 State IA of @IowaRockets 📈📈📈 – major stock riser on the pin for 2023. Took over for Rockets against Madtown to snag set one. She’s had a big day pic.twitter.com/6Y2ENAYSxm
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) March 5, 2022
Shelby Kimm Shelby Kimm 6'0" | OH Iowa City Liberty | 2023 State IA – Iowa Rockets 17R
I have seen Kimm on the high school level and her versatility is one of the big bonuses to her game. She was versatile in what she was doing for Rockets, but she was a major point scorer from the outside and even on the pin. She is long, athletic, and has such a high ceiling. Kimm and Jesse Julius were swinging big this weekend where Rockets finished 5th overall in the 17s division. They will be in the hunt this upcoming weekend for aa bid to nationals from the Iowa Region.
Bailey Van Voorst Bailey Van Voorst 5'10" | MB Pella | 2022 State IA – RVA 18 Parma
Van Voorst is extremely dynamic where she plays on the pin and can score from anywhere in the front row. She made a solid combination with Madison Geise Madison Geise 6'0" | S Roland-Story | 2022 State IA who was setting for RVA and played in the girls state basketball tournament early in the week.
Teagan Sullivan – CIA 16 Black
Sullivan is a six rotation outside hitter who is extremely scraggy and high IQ. This CIA 16 Black team plays with a lot of fire and intensity where Sullivan is one of their steady, consistent athletes who can always better the ball. She also has a big swing and knows how to score points.
Meg Berkland Meg Berkland 5'6" | DS/L Clear Creek Amana | 2024 State IA and Monica Morales Monica Morales 5'4" | DS/L West Liberty | 2023 State IA – Iowa Rockets 17R
Berkland and Morales are the defenders of the back row where the two are a really solid combination. Berkland wears the libero jersey, but with these two, its like having two liberos on the court. With their ability to get standout setter, Avery Van Hook in system, she can swing on the second contact or feed their middles who had a big weekend.