Hawkeye X Conference Preview: St. Albert!

2020 SEASON RECORD: Conference record 6-4, overall record 15-14. The Saintes season came to an end in a Class 1A State Semifinal match against Gladbrook-Reinbeck in a sweep where the Saintes lost all three sets of the match 25-20, 25-23, and 25-17. They did beat the number one seed, Janesville, in a Class 1A State Quarterfinal match. It took the Saintes four sets to beat the Wildcats winning the first two sets 25-20 and 25-18, then dropping the third set 25-18, before finally winning the match in the fourth set 26-24 after being down 17-24. A-ha-a-mazing! COACHES: <table class="table table-sm"> <thead> <tr> <th>Position</th> <th>Name</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Head Coach</td> <td>Angie Lantz</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Assistant Coach</td> <td>Carlie Hively</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Assistant Coach</td> <td>Justine Olsen</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> GRADUATED: [caption id="attachment_113843" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-113843" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/IMG_4443-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="79012" first="Allie" last="Petry"], 2021, OH, St. Albert playing against Newell-Fonda.[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="79012" first="Allie" last="Petry"] (OH) Petry was an Iowa State volleyball recruit and begins there this fall. While playing for the Saintes in all 90 sets in 2020, she had 27 assists, a team-high 4.4 KPS(392), 28 total blocks, 3.1 DPS(278), and a team-high 36 service aces with an 83.3% serve efficiency. This is the player the Saintes will miss the most in the coming season as it is hard to get production like that out of two players, let alone one. Allie was a leader on the court in every sense of the word and took this team, who after early-season play didn’t seem to have much of a chance, all the way to the Iowa State Tournament until they lost in a semi-final match. She was a joy to watch play and I will miss her this season. [caption id="attachment_110446" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-110446" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Elizabeth_Elkins_1_d091920-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="93045" first="Elizabeth" last="Elkins"], 2021, OH, St. Albert.[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="93045" first="Elizabeth" last="Elkins"] (MH/OH) Elkins was a middle hitter most of the time, and outside or right side the rest of the time, as a player for the Saintes last fall, helping them win on the road to state and pretty much doing whatever Coach Lantz told her to do, all to the Saintes’ advantage. She played in all 90 sets for the Saintes last fall and had 3 assists, 1.1 KPS(102), 33 total blocks, 57 digs, and 22 service aces with an 84.8% serve efficiency. She scored three kills in a row, playing her one of two rotations as OH, against Red Oak on October 8th, 2020, giving the Saintes the lead in one of the sets against the Tigers, on the way to a conference win. This win by the Saintes caused Red Oak to have to share the conference championship with Glenwood. The Saintes really gelled that night and it was a turning point in their season, giving them the confidence to win all the way to the State Tournament semifinals. RETURNING PLAYERS: [caption id="attachment_137010" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-137010 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/03/DSC03153-e1616780997135-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="132845" first="Lauren" last="Williams"], RS/MH, St. Albert, class of 2022.[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="132845" first="Lauren" last="Williams"] (2022, RS/MH) Williams is an amazing player and she recently committed to Midland University this summer. Her blocking was a huge part of the reason the Saintes got as far as they did last year and her hits from the right are nearly indefensible. She played in 72 of 90 sets for the Saintes last year and had 6 assists, 2.7 KPS(197) with a .325 efficiency, a team-high 53 total blocks, 2.3 DPS(166), and 14 service aces with an 89.0% serve efficiency. I look for Lauren to take the lead in the coming season and help the Saintes fill the hole left by Petry. She could play outside this season or right as she has done in the past, but she could be most effective as a 6-rotation player for the Saintes. I expect her numbers to really jump now that she is the main threat and with the graduation of Petry and Elkins. [caption id="attachment_112186" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-112186" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/Allison_Narmi_hitting_d100820-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Allison Narmi, 2022, MH, St. Albert.[/caption] Allison Narmi (2022, MH) Narmi played in all 90 sets for the Saintes in 2020 and had 3 assists, 79 kills, 39 total blocks, and 10 digs. The majority of the sets went to Petry last year but it is Narmi’s turn this year to take more swings than she has had a chance to in the past. With the graduation of two good hitters, the younger players now have their chance to shine. I look for a much more aggressive and confident stance from Narmi in her senior season and I cannot wait to see it. She is always good, but now is her chance to lead and I am excited to see her do it. [caption id="attachment_110447" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-110447" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Mia_Allmon_2022-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Mia Allmon, 2022, RS, St. Albert.[/caption] Mia Allmon (2022, RS) Allmon played in 30 sets for the Saintes last fall and had 16 kills, 3 total blocks, and 13 digs. The same thing I said earlier in this article applies again. It is wonderful to see girls who have not always had a chance to shine get their due. She should get more time than ever before and more sets than she could ask for. [caption id="attachment_110449" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-110449 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Lainey_Sheffield_SA_d09192020-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Lainey Sheffield, 2022, RS, St. Albert.[/caption] Lainey Sheffield (2022, RS/OH) Sheffield played in 87 of the 90 sets played by the Saintes in 2020. She had 5 assists, 1.3 KPS(116) with a .101 efficiency, 23 total blocks, 1.3 DPS(112), and 25 service aces with a 96.1% serve efficiency. She will be counted on to be a leader this year as well and she is more than capable of leading this team to a great season. [caption id="attachment_110443" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-110443" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Maddy_Horvath_d091920-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Maddy Horvath, 2022, Setter, St. Albert.[/caption] Maddy Horvath (2022, S) Horvath was the primary setter for the Saintes last season with 6.2 APS(561), 11 kills, 1.3 DPS(121), and 19 service aces with a 96.3% serve efficiency. One of the most consistent servers for the Saintes, Horvath can put the ball anywhere she wants to on the opposing court. Horvath is a determined and confident athlete with great parity on the court. She had to set at least six different hitters on the court last season so she can set anyone. That is a wonderful skill to have in an athlete. Now she will be leading the offense as a senior with a whole new group, as well as last year’s group, to get the ball to. [caption id="attachment_112198" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-112198 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/Landry_Miller_d100820-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Landry Miller, 2024, Libero, St. Albert.[/caption] Landry Miller (2023, L) Miller was a great libero last year for the Saintes after winning the position early on in the season. She played in all 90 sets for the Saintes and had 20 assists, 3 kills, a team-high 3.5 DPS(317), and 16 service aces with an 89.8% serve efficiency. She will be back stronger and more confident than ever before. Multi-sport athletes are like that. They are always ready for whatever comes their way. [caption id="attachment_112187" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-112187" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/Georgie_Bohnet_hitting_d100820-e1602655396989-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Georgie Bohnet, 2024, OH, St. Albert.[/caption] Georgie Bohnet (2024, OH) Bohnet played in 72 of 90 sets for the Saintes last season and had 68 kills, 14 total blocks, and 34 digs. She will take on more playing time and more sets this season to help fill up the 5.5 KPS the Saintes lost to graduation. Last season was only Bohnet's freshman season and that maturity and growth that comes with age will have Bohnet with one more year of club volleyball, one more year of physical growth, and another year of confidence under her belt. She has already played at a state tournament and I cannot wait to see what she does this season. [caption id="attachment_112178" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-112178" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/Ella_Klusman_setting_d100820-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Ella Klusman, 2024, Setter, St. Albert.[/caption] Ella Klusman (2024, S) Klusman is a beast. From the soccer field to the volleyball court, this girl has skills. She played in 70 of 90 sets for the Saintes in 2020, her freshman outing, and had 4.0 APS(282), 1 kill, 1.2 DPS(84), and 17 service aces with an 87.0% serve efficiency. I look for big things this year as she grows more both as a person and an athlete. Also returning this year for the Saintes is Anna Helton (2023, DS), Lydia Sherrill (2023,MH), Missy Evezic(2024, MH), Lily Krohn(2024, S), and Grace Manz (2024, MH).