Mystery Teams: Ones Who Might Just Sneak Up
There are teams that are loaded with players who are committed, plenty of accolades, and they are sometimes always penciled in when it comes to the state tournament. However, there are some where they just tend to sneak up. They…
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Continue ReadingThere are teams that are loaded with players who are committed, plenty of accolades, and they are sometimes always penciled in when it comes to the state tournament. However, there are some where they just tend to sneak up. They might be full of all around athletes who just know how to really step up come game time. This is found especially with some of the smaller schools who have the same starting lineup for virtually every sport. Who are some of the mystery teams this season who could make a big impact?
Clinton
2018 Record: 27-11
Clinton graduated a really strong Senior class led by Grace Tubbs who will be at Iowa in 2019. However, they return Brooke Mulholland at setter who can do a little bit of everything. She can set, swing, and play a really strong backrow and block as well. Will they be able to get them back to where they were in 2018? I wouldn’t put it past this squad with Mulholland involved. This team will be one to watch with some up and coming players who will be ready to step up.
Indianola
2018 Record: 29-15
I really like this team. They are full of athletes and led by Anna Marvelli who can play any position on the court, a really solid athlete to have in the gym at any level. They will also have Lauren Blake returning from her Freshman campaign where she had close to 500 assists (while Marvelli had over 250). With a schedule full of top teams out of Central Iowa, they have a chance to turn some heads?
Beckman
2018 Record: 44-4
The Blazers will be returning Paige McDermott from their state tournament team that was dominated by Seniors. However, the biggest news in the Dyersville area other than the MLB coming to the Field of Dreams next year is Jada Wills has transferred from Hempstead to Beckman. Wills was a Class 5A All State outside hitter and is committed to Drake. How will her game translate over to Beckman as they will attempt to make a return to the Class 2A state tournament.
North Scott
2018 Record: 22-12
This team returns four attackers who had over 150 kills in 2018, led by Emma Powell who was one of the top players out of the Quad Cities with close to 250 kills. I believe the Lancers should be in Class 4A this fall which will give them a chance to make a run to Cedar Rapids. They will need to stay out of the region that has Xavier and Wahlert. With this balanced line up that is full of power, I think there is a chance to really make some noise in 2019.
Unity Christian
2018 Record: 32-7
As the saying goes, “Tradition Doesn’t Graduate”, and for the case with Unity Christian I don’t think it has the past twenty years or more. However they graduated Corinna Timmermans who was All Everything last year which was the Class 2A Player of the Year and Captain of the 2A All Tournament Team as well as their setter, Erin Wieringa who had nearly 1,000 assists. There have to be players just waiting to play and last year they would have practice everyday against one of the top teams in the state. Will they be strong enough to be outside of the region that Western Christian is in?
Algona
2018 Record: 21-20
Algona has always been a strong program. Sprinkle in some state tournament appearances and North Central Conference titles and they are always a program to respect no matter what. This upcoming season they will return their top two attackers in Abbey Holmes and Morgan McCauley who had over 650 kills combined. They will be a threat in the NCC and are in an area where they could be sent to a variety of directions for their regional. If they head West they will be in a regional with Spirit Lake and MOC-Floyd Valley. Or do they go South and face the likes of Carroll-Kuemper?