Players to Watch in the 712 Area Code: War Eagle Conference!

The War Eagle Conference consists of Unity Christian, Gehlen Catholic, Akron-Westfield, MMCRU, South O’Brien, West Sioux, Hinton, Remsen St. Mary’s, Trinity Christian, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, and Harris-Lake-Park. Let’s look at who graduated and who will be back in the 2020 season! Unity Christian Unity Christian loses 3 seniors to graduation this year including Mali Kresschell, Erica Feikema, and Micah Byl. Returning players to watch this fall are Janie Schoonhoven (2021), second-best returning hitter, second-best blocker, and most service aces, Laura Bettman (2021), over 30 service aces and best serve efficiency, Emma Byker (2022), returning setter and in the top 5 for service aces, Jenna Bouma (2022), top returning blocker, and Gracie Schoonhoven (2023), top returning hitter, one of the top 5 blockers, and one of the top 5 aces. Gehlen Catholic Gehlen Catholic loses 5 seniors to graduation this year including Kate Hill, Josie Kolbeck, Sydney Livermore, Allison Ruden, and [player_tooltip player_id="78437" first="Chloe" last="Bunkers"]. Returning players to watch this fall are Abby Ruhland (2021), second-best in digs, Rachel Langel (2021), best-returning hitter and best blocker, Alyssa Kolbeck (2022), the best returning player in digs, best server, and third-best hitter, and Miyah Whitehead (2023), the second-best hitter, the second-best blocker, and in the top 5 with service aces. Akron-Westfield Akron-Westfield loses 7 seniors to graduation this year including McKenna Moats, Kailee Tucker, Melissa Meinen, Jaden Harris, Autumn Bundy, McKenna VanEldik, and Kayla Johnson. Returning players to watch this fall are McKenna Henrich (L, 2021), top returning player in digs, top services aces, best serve efficiency, and Natalie Nielsen (MH, 2022), top returning hitter and top blocker. At 6'2", it will be interesting to see how she shines with the graduation of such a large class this spring, providing opportunities this fall. MMCRU MMCRU loses 5 seniors this year to graduation including Taylor Schlenger, Faith Olson, Gretchen Ruba, Haley Schwarz, and Shana Ames. Returning players to watch this fall are Jaylen Bork (MH, 2021), top hitter, top in digs, top in blocking, and top 5 in serve efficiency, Emily Dreckman (MH, 2022), top 5 in aces, in the top 5 hitters, the top 5 in digs, and second in blocks, Taylor Harpenau (S/RS, 2022), top in assists, one of the top 5 in aces, one of the top 5 in digs, and one of the top 5 in serve efficiency. South O’Brien South O'Brien loses 8 seniors this year to graduation including Rachel Sohn, Skye Rehder, Anna Friedrichsen, Kaidee Weber, Taryn Hintz, Sydney Struve, Avarie Honkomp, and Sierra DeBoer. Returning players to watch this fall are Breana Bottjen (L, 2021) being one of the top 5 players in digs and Willa Sickelka (DS, 2022) being one of the top 5 players in service aces and one of the top 5 in digs. West Sioux West Sioux loses 7 seniors this year to graduation including Shayden Blankenship, Tasha Peterson, Cheriden Allen, Payton Schweisow, Esperanza Lopez, Emma McManaman, and Erika McKenney. Returning players to watch this fall are Emily Hulshof (S, 2021) with the most digs of the returning players and the most service aces, and Megan Waterman (MH, 2021) with highest hits and the most blocks. Hinton Hinton loses one senior to graduation, Alyssa Fischer. Returning players to watch this fall are Emily Small (MH, 2021), the player with the most blocks, Isabella Badar (OH, 2021), who is top 5 digs and the best-returning serve efficiency, Anna Coffee (MH, 2021), the top returning hitter, a top 5 player in digs, a top 5 player in blocks, and over 20 aces, Bailey Ard (OH, 2021), the second-best hitter, and Sara Schoenrock (S, 2021), credited with the most assists and the most aces. Remsen St. Mary’s Remsen St. Mary's loses 3 seniors this year to graduation including Samantha Saver, Ashley Willman, Maddy Feller. Returning players to watch this fall are Brittany Johnson (MH, 2021), who was top in digs, kills, and blocks, Sydney Schroeder (S, 2021), top assists and top server, and Carly Ortmann (RS, 2021), returns with top aces. Trinity Christian Trinity Christian loses two seniors this year including Hannah Baker and Abbie Kuiper. Returning players to watch this fall are Aubrey Van Briesen (S, 2021), one of the top two in assists and top 5 in digs, Alyssa Maassen (OH, 2021), top in kills, second in digs, and top in aces, Dana DeBoer (S, 2022), who was top in assists, Belle Schiermeyer (OH, 2022), top server and top 5 in digs, Paityn Brummel (L, 2023) top in digs, and Avery Van Maanen (MH, 2023) second in kills and top in blocks. Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Harley-Melvin-Sanborn loses 4 seniors to graduation this year including Kala Biggar, Hannah Jochims, Carley Vial, and Paige Dagel. Returning players to watch this fall are Taya Mason (S, 2021), top in assists, second in digs, and best server, Jessica Riedemann (OH, 2021), top in digs, and Jasmine Lux (MH, 2022), top returning hitter and top in blocks. Harris-Lake-Park Harris-Lake-Park loses 2 seniors to graduation this year including McKenzie Heikens and Kilyn Forbes. Returning players to watch this fall are Jocelyn Ehart (S, 2021), returning player with the most assists and top 5 in assists, Natasha Bremer (MH,2022), top returning player in blocks, Tessa Gunderson (DS, 2022), top in digs, top 5 in service aces, and top 5 in serve efficiency, and Zella Ingham (OH, 2022), second-best in digs, top in kills, and top 5 in aces.