Class 4A – Who Can Dethrone Dubuque Wahlert?

Class 4A &#8211; Who Can Dethrone Dubuque Wahlert?

Chris Fitzgerald May 17, 2019 @ 04:09 PM

Photo Cred: Dubuque Telegraph Herald Last year could have been the year. Dubuque Wahlert wasn’t necessarily the favorite heading into the Class 4A, however any team that Aliyah Carter is on will always have a chance. With Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Cedar Rapids Xavier, and Independence would have been a tough way to repeat. Wrong. Wahlert won a five set marathon against Independence in Round 1, a tough four set win against Sergeant Bluff-Luton, and the title in four sets against Cedar Rapids Xavier where those two teams were all too familiar with each other with some of them playing on the same club team the year before. Carter is back for her Senior season, but will not have standout middle blocker Carolyn Conlon back who went on a tear offensively and defensively at the net at the state tournament. Conlon was named to the All-Tournament Team along with Carter, with Carter being named Captain of the All-Tournament Team. Carter is back, but her setter Lauryn Montgomery, who had over 1000 assists in her Sophomore season is back as well. Dubuque Wahlert with their history alone, the Golden Eagles on the jersey is sure to add a little pressure across the net in big game situations. Who has the best shot to dethrone the reigning champs? Cedar Rapids Xavier The Saints were the Class 4A runner-up behind Dubuque Wahlert where they actually split during the regular season. Xavier will be losing their second and third leaders in kills in Akeela Jefferson and Olivia Richards due to graduation, however the cupboard is far from bare along with adding a major piece to the puzzle. Eve Magill, the 6’5 Creighton commit will be back on the outside as well as her club teammate from Six Pack, Jazmine Yamilkoski setting. Katy Garrison has been a big hitter for Iowa Rockets this past club season and will be entering her Junior year. One major addition to Xavier will be Elyse Winter, a rising Class of 2021 outside hitter who previously played for Cedar Rapids Kennedy. Winter contacts the ball extremely high and provides a solid block while really developing into a solid six rotation player. With this be what can get Cedar Rapids Xavier over the hump and on the top of the state at the end of the year? Sergeant Bluff-Luton SBL will be graduating their setter in Maya Schmidt and attackers Madison Harms (South Dakota commit) and Abby Wisecup. However, they will be returning one of the top players in the Class of 2020 in St. Cloud State Commit in Kenzie Foley who was a 1st Team All State outside hitter with nearly 500 kills and just under 300 digs. Foley has the power and finesse to score points in a variety of ways from the front court and back. Elle Sneller will be returning for her Senior year where she had over 280 kills as a Junior. Waverly-Shell Rock The Go-Hawks won 40 matches last year and fell one match short of state when they ran into West Delaware in the regional final. They will return Jaz Westmoreland, a six rotation outside who can score in a variety of ways with just under 300 kills in 2018. They will also return key positions with their setter and libero with Maddie Rodenbeck who had over 1000 assists in her Junior season and libero Britney Young who had almost 400 digs last season will be back as part of a strong Senior class. West Delaware The Hawks will be without top kill leader in Claire Demmer, but have a really strong core of all around athletes who will be able to make big contributions. In 2018 West Delaware had six attackers with over 100 kills, they will return four of them in 2019 with Allison Collier and Macey Klietsch. That's not all Klietsch can do, she is one of the top setters in the state as well with 928 assists and over 300 digs.