Taking on the “Corridor” of the “319”

<p><span style="font-weight: 400">We took a look at the Northern part of the “319” around the Cedar Valley where plenty of the athletes play for high schools that are always a threat to raise some hardware at the state tournament and some of the top clubs in the state.  Now, we’ll dive a little deeper in the “Corridor” which is the Cedar Rapids to Iowa City area and we’ll cover a little more South too.  Again, many of these athletes are playing for high schools and clubs that are always among the top. </span></p> <p></p> <p><strong>Mount Vernon </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">There are too many athletes coming out of  Mount Vernon where we can’t just mention one.  The Mustangs are the defending Class 3A state champions and will return quite a dynamite Senior class which includes All-State outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="17217" first="Lauren" last="Schrock"], [player_tooltip player_id="79061" first="Camryn" last="Ellyson"], Natalie Welch, and Madi Cranston.  They will also return libero, [player_tooltip player_id="41296" first="Jorie" last="Randall"] and welcome the addition to one of the top defenders in the state in [player_tooltip player_id="41237" first="Sydney" last="Dennis"] who is an Iowa commit and recent transfer to Mount Vernon. This group will be one of the top teams in any class. </span></p> [caption id="attachment_92533" align="alignright" width="375"] Marion at State[/caption] <p><strong>Just In Class 4A Alone…</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">No matter how you split the region, Class 4A is loaded with talented athletes.  From Cedar Rapids Xavier, their Senior class has [player_tooltip player_id="17216" first="Eve" last="Magill"] (Creighton), [player_tooltip player_id="17241" first="Jaz" last="Yamilkoski"] (Tennessee Tech), [player_tooltip player_id="41251" first="Katy" last="Garrison"] (William Jewell), [player_tooltip player_id="17226" first="Elyse" last="Winter"] a top 2021 outside hitter, [player_tooltip player_id="41322" first="Kelsey" last="Koberg"], and Rylee Beardsworth.  They have experience and eyes are on the prize for a big season in 2020.  Marion will be looking to get back to the state tournament returning All-State libero [player_tooltip player_id="41281" first="Trinity" last="Zika"] as well as two setter/attackers in [player_tooltip player_id="79251" first="Elise" last="Mehaffy"] and Avery Van Hook.  Clear Creek Amana is another team who has some of the top athletes in the area with [player_tooltip player_id="41245" first="Hailey" last="Pollock"], a middle committed to Western Illinois and one of the top all-around athletes in the Class of 2022 in [player_tooltip player_id="17332" first="Calia" last="Clubb"] who is so physical and athletic, a pure point scorer from either pin. </span></p> <p><strong>West Liberty</strong></p> [caption id="attachment_92532" align="alignright" width="453"] Daufeldt[/caption] <p><span style="font-weight: 400">West Liberty and Mount Vernon had such a great match last year in the Class 3A quarterfinals in 2019, I could watch that match over and over again as a fan.  West Liberty has [player_tooltip player_id="17323" first="Macy" last="Daufeldt"] (Drake) and [player_tooltip player_id="17227" first="Martha" last="Pace"] (Upper Iowa) on the pin and their libero [player_tooltip player_id="79697" first="Monica" last="Morales"] is such a spark plug and was quite a standout in her Freshman campaign.  They will once again be a force to be reckoned with.  </span></p> <p><strong>Liberty Is No Secret</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">The cat is out of the bag on the Iowa City Liberty program when they made their first state tournament appearance as a school.  They will return strong athletes in libero, [player_tooltip player_id="41282" first="Addison" last="Schmierer"] and up and coming Class of 2023 attackers in [player_tooltip player_id="79685" first="Cassidy" last="Hartman"] and [player_tooltip player_id="79689" first="Shelby" last="Kimm"] along with upcoming 2022 athlete Sydney Woods. </span></p> <p><strong>More Athletes To Know</strong></p> <p><strong>Katherine Kouba - Iowa City West</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="79025" first="Gracie" last="Ehret"] - Williamsburg </strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="41264" first="Sydney" last="Marlow"] - West Burlington </strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="41324" first="Alia" last="Vanderhoef"] - Iowa City High </strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="79672" first="Allie" last="Barlow"] - Cedar Rapids Jefferson </strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="79679" first="Mara" last="Fluent"] - Cedar Rapids Kennedy </strong></p> <p><strong>Grace Embretson - Benton </strong></p> <p><strong>Hailey Ikeda - Cedar Rapids Prairie</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/PrepDigIA/photos/?tab=album&amp;album_id=774323616332630">Pictures from CR Jeff West Side Tournament 2019</a></p>