Coaching Staff 2025-26: Coach Jay Van Vark Leads Iowa Rockets 17R
Iowa Rockets is thrilled to announce Coach Jay Van Vark will be coaching Iowa Rockets 17R this year. Jay brings a wealth of knowledge from his many accomplishments at the International, National, Collegiate, Club, and High School levels.
- 10 years coaching in Division 1 as both an assistant and a head coach, including Ohio State.
- Over 30 programs for USA Volleyball including 7 Collegiate National Teams and U20 World Championships.
- Head coach for USA Armed Forces including at the World Championships in Wuhan China
- Head coach for 2 developing countries trying to raise their volleyball to compete in the Olympics – Myanmar and Morocco
- Speaker at the AVCA coaches convention 5 times on various topics.
- Many seasons as a high school and club coach.
This will be his third season with Iowa Rockets, having previously coached 18R, 17R, and 16R. Last season, Jay’s 16R team competed in the AAU National Championship in the Premiere division where they finished in the Gold Bracket and captured 9th place overall. In addition to coaching Iowa Rockets 17R, Jay is instrumental in coaching Rockets top setters, leading position-specific practices, and helping to mentor our Iowa Rockets coaches.
Iowa Rockets Summer Tryout Registration is now OPEN
Please visit the Rockets Tryout page. Please read the valuable information about Rockets & about tryouts. Click to go to Rockets Tryouts page.
Also, catch up on some Interesting info about Rockets.
The actions of your past guide your direction for the future…see What Others Say…
Kudos to Iowa Rockets Seniors – Class of 2025
Congratulations to Iowa Rockets SENIORS!! We are so proud of you and wish you the best as you continue your academic and volleyball journey. Your leadership and accomplishments will be remembered by those players who are following in your footsteps! Please come back and visit your Rockets Family and teammates when you are back in Iowa City.
Katelynn Toft (18R)
Durant HS
Katelynn will be attending Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne, IN to study graphic design and continue her volleyball career for the Warriors.
Abbie Staats (18R)
Pleasant Valley HS
Playing volleyball and studying business at Kirkwood College
Great to have a Rockets teammate, Yaz Sell, as my roommate!!
Yasmine Sell (18R)
Solon HS
Yasmine Sell has played for the Rockets for 4 years and we’ve had an amazing 4 years!
She is going into Kirkwood to do their Dental Hygiene program and play volleyball.
Lola Holub (18-1)
Anamosa HS
I was on Rockets for 3 years and have made lifelong friendships. The coaches were always pushing me to be better and supported me throughout my high school career.
Attend Mount Mercy University to study nursing and play volleyball.
Joslynn Mehaffey (18-1)
Marion HS
I have been a part of the Rockets family since I was 13 and will forever be grateful for all the memories and support!
I will be continuing my academics and volleyball career at Aurora University
Callie Huber (18-1)
Mid-Prairie HS
Played for Iowa Rockets for 6 years. Made so many great friends and loved every minute.
Attending Iowa State University and majoring in Ag Business.
Lauren Brohm (18-1)
Pleasant Valley HS
I’ve been in the the Rockets family for the past 5 years. Favorite Rockets memories are placing 5th at AAU Nationals in Florida and earning a bid at MEQ in Indianapolis my 18’s year.
I am attending Purdue Northwest University and continuing my volleyball career.
Emmy McComas (18R)
Iowa City City HS
Best experience from Rockets are the lifelong friends that were made who will now be lifelong family.
Going to the University of Iowa to study Sports and Recreation Management
Stella Smith (17R)
Pleasant Valley HS
We can’t thank the Rockets enough for their incredible program and for helping blast her way to success!
We have been with Rockets since Jr High. Rockets helped me and my High School teammates win the 5A state championship. I will attend U of Missouri Kansas City majoring in Medical Arts and playing volleyball.
Addie Huffman (18-1)
West Delaware HS
Rockets has made me into a more outgoing person and has given me life-long friendships!
Attending Wartburg College and majoring in Exercise Science/ Physical Therapy and continuing my volleyball career.
Maddie Determan (18R)
Moline HS
Playing for Rockets was amazing! I got to meet some of my favorite people through Rockets! I also got to have some amazing coaches to help me grow as a person and player!
I will be attending Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to play volleyball and study Business Marketing
Logan Keller (18R)
CPU HS
I will be continuing my academic and volleyball career at Northwest Missouri State University.
Sophie Buysse (18R)
West Liberty HS
Part of the Iowa Rockets family since Jr High School. Thanks to all her Rockets coaches and teammates for helping her reach her dreams to play volleyball in college. What a fun ride it has been!
Will attend University of Northern Iowa to continue playing volleyball.
Maddy Falco (18-1)
West Branch HS
Attending Cornell College in Mt Vernon to continue my volleyball career.
Asta Hildebrand (18R)
Liberty HS
Attending St Cloud State University to continue my academic and volleyball career.
Hannah Cantewell (18-1)
West Deleware HS
I had a fun season with the Rockets! Club volleyball has created many memories and lasting friendships!
I will attend Cornell College to continue playing volleyball and study elementary education.
Grace Erwin (18R)
Solon HS
Continuing my academic and volleyball career at Louis University.
Kenzie McClelland (18R)
Grinnell HS
It’s been so much fun with my Rockets teammates over the years!! I will be continuing my education at University of Iowa.
Dana Ballenger (18-1)
Pleasant Valley HS
Played for the Rockets for 4 years. Favorite memory is the AAU national tournament her 15’s season! I made so many great friends & Greg Allen was a very positive influence on my life!
Attending Scott CC, then on to Iowa State University majoring in Marketing.
Iowa Rockets Recruiting
Browse the list of Iowa Rockets players on the Unsigned Players recruiting page. Contact us anytime for more information on these players!
And check out our RECENT COLLEGE COMMITMENTS!
Recent College Commitments
Congratulations to Iowa Rockets players on their recent commitment to play in college!!
Iowa Rockets Finish STRONG at Regionals
Congratulations to Iowa Rockets teams this past weekend. We were playing from Davenport to Des Moines.
Rockets 15 Black captured 1st place at the Iowa Select tournament in Davenport !!
Rockets 11 Black captured 2nd place at Regionals!!
Rockets 12 Black capture 1st place in Silver after a nail-biter challenge match.
13R are REGIONAL CHAMPIONS, to up their Liberty bid to a National bid at USAV Nationals.
13-1 finished 1st in Flight 1.
14-1 finished 1st in Silver.
15-1 finished 3rd in Silver.
15R finished 5th place overall at Regionals.
Check out the Reels on Iowa Rockets Instagram for some fun highlights!! https://www.instagram.com/iowarocketsvolleyball/reels/
This increases the number of Rockets teams attending Nationals in June. 18-1 going to Salt Lake City. 17R going to Dallas. 16R going to Orlando. 14R going to Orlando. 13R going to Kansas City. Stay tuned…
Iowa Rockets 18-1 Qualifies for USAV Nationals
Congratulations to Iowa Rockets 18-1 !! They attended Mideast Nationals Qualifier in Indianapolis this past weekend. From the pool of 84 teams at MEQ in the 18 American division, Rockets 18-1 qualified for the USAV National tournament to be held in April in Salt Lake City, UT. It was an amazing team effort over the 3-day event! (see highlights below)
Iowa Rockets Crowns 3 Queens this weekend
And…how about the MVP of these divisions!!
Congratulations Iowa Rockets 13R MEQ Champions
Congratulations to Iowa Rockets 13R for winning the MidEast National Qualifier in 13 Liberty!! This championship win qualifies 13R for USAV National Championship tournament in Kansas City in June. Rockets 13R went 10-0 in matches over the 3-day tournament. They defeated teams from Indiana, Kansas City, Dallas, St Louis, Cincinnati, and Iowa City.
Alumni Profile: Avery Van Hook
Meet Avery Van Hook, a volleyball rockstar who’s been with the Iowa Rockets family since she was 5 years old (thanks to her older sister Sammy).
This setter extraordinaire has been a key part of winning three Regional Championships for the Rockets, and even went national with a super impressive runner-up finish at 16s and a awesome 3rd place at 13s in the USAV National Championships!
As a 4-year starter at Marion High, she led her team to a whopping 3 State Tournaments and holds the school record for most assists. Talk about dishing it out! Her team’s win-loss record? A crazy good 124-39.
She just finished her freshmen season at the University of South Dakota (majoring in Exercise Science, no surprise there!). Early in the 2023 season she snagged the starting setter position for the Yotes and helped them reach the national tournament.
But her favorite Rockets memory? That time at the 2021 National Tournament in Vegas where her Iowa Rockets 16R team clawed their way back in FIVE come-from-behind matches to reach the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH!
Rockets Reach Top Honors
Congratulations to the Iowa Rockets players who have received top honors for their outstanding contributions. From freshmen to seniors. From west to east, these players have been identified for exceptional performance for their high school teams.
Various governing bodies throughout the state have recognized the outstanding contributions by these players. They have given consistently exceptional performance throughout the entire 2023 high school season. Also, see below for a the full list of 70 players who received awards and recognition throughout eastern Iowa.
Mattie Determan, Sr. – Player of the Year for the Western Big 6 Conference (Illinois)
Emily Henderson, Jr. – Player of the Year for the WaMac Conference
Leighton Messigner, Jr. – Conference Player of the Year for Southeast Iowa Super Conference
Holy Trinity Catholic School
Congratulations Iowa Rockets Players in Their High School Season
We are proud of our many, many Iowa Rockets players who helped their high school teams. Along the way they received many awards and recognitions!! Here is a list of the Iowa Rockets players and their accolades. (Please contact Iowa Rockets if you have additional recognition which we may have missed.)
| Addy Allen | North Scott HS | Jr |
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| Elli Barickman | Geneseo HS | Jr |
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| Katherine Barickman | Geneseo HS | Fr |
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| Lilly Bergren | Fairfield HS | Sr |
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| Lilee Boriskey | Edgewood-Colesburg HS | Jr |
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| Payton Busch | Linn-Mar HS | Jr |
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| Sophie Buysse | West Liberty HS | Sr |
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| Hannah Cantwell | West Delaware HS | Sr |
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| Addie Clark | Mt. Pleasant HS | Jr |
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| Maddie Determan | Moline HS | Sr |
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| Daniela Diaz | Columbus Junction HS | Jr |
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| Grace Erwin | Solon HS | Sr |
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| Madelynn Falco | West Branch HS | Sr |
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| Hattie Galloway | Iowa City High HS | So |
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| Ava Gibbs | Anamosa HS | Sr |
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| Layla Green | Washington HS | So |
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| Annaka Greiner | Wapello HS | So |
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| Lexi Haller | Jefferson HS | So |
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| Emily Henderson | Clear Creek Amana HS | Jr |
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| Asta Hildebrand | Liberty HS | Sr |
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| Lola Holub | Anamosa HS | Sr |
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| Callie Huber | Mid-Prairie HS | Sr |
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| Kylie Koehn | Clear Creek Amana HS | Sr |
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| Isabelle Kremer | Pleasant Valley HS | Jr |
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| Jozie Lahr | Solon HS | Jr |
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| Macie Lupkes | Cedar Rapids Xavier | Jr |
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| Kenzie McClelland | Grinnell HS | Sr |
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| Emmy McComas | Iowa City High HS | Sr |
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| Joslynn Mehaffy | Marion HS | Sr |
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| Leighton Messinger | Washington HS | Jr |
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| Edie Miller | Liberty HS | So |
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| Hadley Miller | Liberty HS | So |
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| Gabby Morales | West Liberty HS | Sr |
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| Ava Morrison | West Liberty HS | Sr |
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| Reese Naeve | Regina Catholic HS | Jr |
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| Reese Neuhaus | Anamosa HS | Sr |
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| Averi Nielsen | Williamsburg HS | Jr |
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| Ashlynn Nordell | Liberty HS |
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| Lizzie Rapps | Geneseo HS | Jr |
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| Taylor Ray | Cedar Rapids Prairie HS | Sr |
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| Hazel Schluckebier | Iowa City High HS | Fr |
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| Yasmine Sell | Solon HS | Sr |
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| Georgia Sieben | Iowa City High HS | Sr |
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| Stella Smith | Pleasant Valley HS | Sr |
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| Kylee Suhr | Willamsburg HS | Fr |
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| Katelyn Toft | Durant HS | Sr |
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| Kennedey Whitford | Solon HS | Jr |
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