Missouri River Conference Preview: Sergeant Bluff-Luton!

<p><strong>2020 SEASON RECORD:</strong>  Conference record 6-1, overall record 23-7.  The Warriors season ended in 2020 in the 4A - State Quarterfinal against Western Dubuque in a 5 set roughly played match.  They only lost one senior to graduation this year and should be coming back as strong as they ever were after replacing an amazingly athletic libero.  </p> <p><strong>COACHES:</strong></p> <table class="table table-sm"> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Head Coach</strong></td> <td><strong>Renee Winkel</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Assistant Coach</strong></td> <td><strong>Noel Herbst</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Assistant Coach</strong></td> <td><strong>Brittni Olson</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Assistant Coach</strong></td> <td><strong>Dan Winkel</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Assistant Coach</strong></td> <td><strong>Janelle Woodbury</strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><strong>GRADUATED:</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="41249" first="Mia" last="Gamet"] (L) - </strong>Mia contributed a lot to Sergeant Bluff-Luton’s volleyball team in her four years on the court.  Her senior season she contributed 41 assists, 36 service aces with a 92.3% serve efficiency and 4.3 DPS.  She will leave a hole in the lineup for the Warriors so let’s see who will be returning and could potentially fill those big shoes.</p> <p><strong>RETURNING PLAYERS:</strong> </p> <p><strong style="font-size: 14px;">Madison Wilcoxon - (2022, S)</strong></p> <p>Madison played 73 sets for the Warriors last year and had 284 sets giving her 3.9 APS.  With [player_tooltip player_id="132902" first="Maddie" last="Hinkel"] returning as a setter, Wilcoxon will probably get more time as a setter alongside her.  They seem to work pretty well together and had a great season last fall so why mess with that?  </p> <p><strong>Addie Brown (2022, DS)</strong></p> <p>Addie played 40 sets for the Warriors last season and had 1.2 DPS.  With Gamet’s graduation, there is room for someone to step up in the back row and Brown could be one of the players taking those steps.</p> <p><strong>Makayla Grote (2022, OH)</strong></p> <p>Grote played in 61 sets last fall for the Warriors and contributed 1.7 KPS with a .190 kill efficiency, 14 total blocks, 38 digs, and 11 service aces.  </p> <p><strong>Isabelle Lenz (2022, MH)</strong></p> <p>Lenz played in 80 sets for the Warriors last year and had 1.1 KPS, 24 total blocks, 1.2 DPS, and 2 service aces.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="132902" first="Maddie" last="Hinkel"] (2022, S)</strong></p> <p>Maddie played in 71 of 81 sets for the Warriors last fall and 449 sets giving her 6.3 APS, 1.5 KPS with a .333 efficiency, 36 total blocks, 2.2 DPS, and 16 service aces with a 91.6% serve efficiency.  With at least one year under her belt as the primary setter, look for growth and maturity to make this a memorable season for her and the Warriors.  Her favorite target is back, as well, in outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="132900" first="Emma" last="Salker"].  </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="132900" first="Emma" last="Salker"] (2022, MH)</strong></p> <p>Salker is a 5'11" MH for the Warriors who had a team-high 3.4 KPS with an efficiency of .251, 60 total blocks, 1.5 DPS, and a team-high 49 service aces with an 88.4 % serve efficiency.  Maturity and growth are wonderful for high school players and this season should be even better for Salker and the Warriors.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="132903" first="Addy" last="Mosier"] (2022, OH)</strong></p> <p>Addy played in 78 sets last volleyball season and contributed 2.4 KPS with .183 efficiency, 35 total blocks, 59 digs, and 3 service aces with an 89.6% serve efficiency.  She is another good and productive player to be bringing back for the coming season.  </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="132901" first="Alivia" last="Wolf"] (2022, DS)</strong></p> <p>Alivia played in all 81 sets for the Warriors last year and had 6 assists, 2 kills, 2.3 DPS (second only to Gamet), and 43 service aces with a 94.5% serve efficiency.  Wolf seems to be the likely candidate to replace Gamet at libero in the coming season.    </p> <p><strong>Hannah Peterson (2024, RS)</strong></p> <p>Peterson only played in 3 sets for the Warriors last fall but got 8 kills out of 17 attempts giving her a .412 efficiency and 2 digs.  This is not a bad start on such a talented volleyball team and she got to finish her freshman season at state.  I definitely look for more of the same in the coming season.  </p> <p><strong>Elen Pruett (2023, DS)</strong></p> <p>Pruett played in 15 sets and had 2 assists and 18 digs.  There is strong competition in the back row here but it will be interesting to see the growth from this sophomore into her junior season.  </p> <p><strong>Cori Griebel (2023, S)</strong></p> <p>Griebel played in 11 sets and had 51 assists, 16 digs, and 2 service aces with a 96.6% serve efficiency.  Smart coaches don't wind up with no setters and this is a good setter by her numbers in the limited amount of time playing so far.  I look for more development and time on the court for this player in the coming season.</p> <p><strong>Payton Hardy (2023, MH)</strong></p> <p>Payton is a 5'11" middle for the Warriors.  She played in all 81 sets last year and had 66 kills, 51 total blocks, 7 digs, and 4 service aces with a 90.9% serve efficiency.  With four middles on the roster, two seniors, one junior and one a sophomore, it should be obvious that the Warriors have been investing their efforts into developing the position to be strong for their team going forward.  There are plenty of options for this team going forward and all of them look pretty good.  </p> <p><strong>Alexa Trover (2023, OH)</strong></p> <p>Trover played in 41 sets for the Warriors last season and had 1.1 KPS, 9 total blocks, 16 digs, and 5 service aces.  There is always a ton of growth between sophomores and juniors and I cannot wait to see what has been developing with this player over last year.  </p> <p><strong>Kamea Van Kalsbeek (2024, MH)</strong></p> <p>Kamea is a 6'1" MH who played in 15 sets, got 1 kill, and 7 total blocks.  With further growth and development, this player could be lethal in the coming years.  </p> <p>The point of writing about all of the returning players to the Warrior bench is to demonstrate how good they are at developing talent and filling their roster each and every year.  They always have good talent willing to step up and complete their team.  That is no accident so hats off to the coaches.  I think they will be in the running again for the Missouri River Conference title but will still have contention from Sioux City East and Abraham Lincoln.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>