Iowa Produces High Flying 'Birds' in Meester & Hayes

During National Letter of Intent Signing Day this Wednesday, two top-tier outside hitters from Iowa, Abbey Hayes and Chloe Meester, officially committed to Creighton University and the University of Louisville. Both born and raised in Iowa, are set to join top-10 programs and have the potential to make an immediate impact as freshmen.

Abbey Hayes: A Future Creighton Bluejay

Abbey Hayes, an outside hitter with a powerful PPV score of 252, will report to Creighton University this January. “It’s been a dream since I was a kid, so the fact that it’s two months away now, I mean I’m just so excited,” Hayes said during our live signing day show. “I loved club and high school, but I’m definitely ready for the next level.”

Abbey chose Creighton because of its positive team culture and the welcoming vibe she felt from the coaching staff, and this was quite the steal for the Bluejays! With seven seniors departing at the end of this season, one of which being All American outside Norah Sis, they are going to have some big shoes to fill. Lucky for them, Hayes might just be the one!

What makes Abbey so special, aside from her undeniable skill and consistency, is her strong mental game. She brings a fearless mentality, confident in her ability to bounce back from mistakes and keep pushing forward. “I’m not scared to take my chance and rip at a ball, and I feel like I can bounce back even if I make errors,” she shared.

The open spots on Creighton’s future starting roster mixed with Hayes’ consistent all-around play and confidence seem like a match made in heaven.

Chloe Meester: Flying off to Louisville

Chloe Meester, another high-flying outside from Iowa, has committed to The Ville, where she will join fellow Iowan, outside hitter Payton Petersen. (Boy, Iowa sure knows how to turn out some top-tier pin attackers!) Meester, who boasts an impressive 270 PPV, is a former multi-sport athlete who chose volleyball over basketball in high school.

Her mixture of athleticism and natural-born talent made her a highly sought-after recruit. At USAV Nationals this year, coaches swarmed around watching her put on a clinic, but she wasn’t worried about them. “When I was playing, I couldn’t focus on who was at my court and who wasn’t at my court…I had to really focus on the game,” stated Meester.

As she prepares for her collegiate career, she is focused on refining her back-row skills, a part of her game she began developing only a few years ago. With both of the Cards’ starting six rotation outsides, Anna DeBeer and Charity Luper graduating this year, the door of opportunity is wide open for Meester. If she keeps rolling like she is and works hard to improve her all-around skills, she will be an easy contender for one of those two starting spots.

But before heading to Louisville, Meester will have the opportunity to compete in the prestigious Under Armour All-American Match, showcasing her skills on a national stage. She will be the second Cardinal within two years to compete in the match, following Payton Petersen last year.

Hayes and Meester represent the next wave of Iowa volleyball talent, who with their skill, determination, and competitive spirit, are set to make immediate impacts on their programs. Congratulations to both athletes on their official commitments and best of luck as they take on volleyball at the next level.

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