Western Iowa Conference Preview: Underwood!

<p><strong>2020 SEASON RECORD:</strong>  Conference record 6-0, overall record 26-6.  Underwood’s season came to an end in a Class 2A - Region 3 Championship against Van Meter in a 5 set duel that went against them.  They lost the first set against Van Meter 25-22, won the second set 25-23, won the third set 25-17, lost the fourth set 25-23, and then lost in a heartbreaker the fifth set 15-10.</p> <p><strong>Coaches in 2020:</strong></p> <table class="table table-sm"> <thead> <tr> <th>Position</th> <th>Name</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Head Coach</strong></td> <td><strong>Paula Carman</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Assistant Coach</strong></td> <td><strong>Lea Crouse</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Assistant Coach</strong></td> <td><strong>Rachel Teten</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Assistant Coach</strong></td> <td><strong>Karman Vanfossan</strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><strong>GRADUATED or GONE:</strong></p> <p>Head Coach <strong>Paula Carman</strong> has switched to Glenwood High School.</p> <p>Underwood lost<strong> Taylor Nelson (DS), </strong><strong>Allie Robertson (DS), </strong>and <strong>Haylee Seidler (OH) to graduation.</strong></p> [caption id="attachment_110434" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-110434 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Underwood_d091920-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="79039" first="Peyton" last="Cook"], 2021, Setter, Underwood, [player_tooltip player_id="79017" first="Macy" last="Vanfossan"], 2021, OH, Underwood.[/caption] <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="79039" first="Peyton" last="Cook"] (S)</strong></p> <p>Cook played in 65 of 89 total sets for the Eagles and produced 9.4 APS(609), 27 kills, 18 total blocks, 2.8 DPS(180), and 31 service aces with an 87.9% serve efficiency.</p> <p><strong>Brianna Justsen (MH)</strong></p> <p>Justsen played in all 89 sets for the Eagles in 2020 and had 1.1 KPS(100), a team-high 68 total blocks, and 22 digs.</p> [caption id="attachment_110424" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-110424" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Zoe_Rus_d091920-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="79018" first="Zoe" last="Rus"], 2021, OH, Underwood High School.[/caption] <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="79018" first="Zoe" last="Rus"] (OH)</strong></p> <p>Rus played in all 89 sets  for the Eagles last season and had 32 assists, 2.7 KPS(238), 19 total blocks, 1.1 DPS(96), and a team-high 85 service aces with an 88.1% serve efficiency.</p> <p><strong>Allie Robertson (DS)</strong></p> <p>Robertson played in 88 of 89 sets for the Eagles last year and had 1.6 DPS(143).</p> [caption id="attachment_110413" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-110413" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Macy-Vanfossan-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="79017" first="Macy" last="Vanfossan"], OH, 2021, Underwood Eagles.[/caption] <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="79017" first="Macy" last="Vanfossan"] (OH)</strong></p> <p>Vanfossan played in all 89 sets for the Eagles last year and had 30 assists, a team-high 3.5 KPS(313), 33 total blocks, 3.7 DPS(327), and 32 service aces with a 93.2% serve efficiency.</p> <p>Underwood lost seven seniors, three of them in our rankings, to graduation and their head coach to another school.  I think it is fair to assume this will be a rebuilding year for Underwood.  Let’s see who we think will be coming back and who they will need to replace.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>RETURNING PLAYERS:</strong> </p> [caption id="attachment_110439" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-110439" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Leslie_Foot_Morales_d091920-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Leslie Morales-Foote, 2022, Libero, Underwood.[/caption] <p><strong>Leslie Morales-Foote (2022, L)</strong></p> <p>Morales-Foote played in 80 of 89 sets for the Eagles in 2020 and had 43 assists and 3.4 DPS(275).</p> <p><strong>Aliyah Humphrey (2023, OH)</strong></p> <p>Humphrey played in 86 of 89 sets for the the Eagles last season and had 4 assists, 15 kills, 3 total blocks, 2.6 DPS(220), and 24 service aces with an 87.6% serve efficiency.</p> <p><strong>Delaney Ambrose (2023, RS)</strong></p> <p>Ambrose played in all 89 sets for the Eagles last season and contributed 68 assists, 1.4 KPS(128), 15 total blocks, and 84 digs.</p> [caption id="attachment_110435" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-110435" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Alizabeth_Jacobsen_d091920-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Delaney Ambrose, 2023, MH, Underwood.[/caption] <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="168167" first="Alizabeth" last="Jacobsen"] (2024, MH)</strong></p> <p>Jacobsen is a 6’2" MH returning for Underwood this year and after watching her in Summer League in June, I think she is up to the challenge of taking over some of the major hitting responsibilities for her team.  She had 3 assists, 1.2 KPS(105), 45 total blocks, and 33 digs.</p> <p>Also returning for the Eagles will be <strong>Leah Hall (2023, DS) </strong>and<strong>Ally Leaders (2023, S), Taylor Krueger (2022, OH), Chloe Clawson (2022, MH), </strong></p> <p>It looks like Underwood will only need a couple of DS’s and maybe another right-side hitter, but the losses they suffered in the seniors who graduated are severe.  I am not sure they can be made up that easily.  And with the loss of their head coach, this could be a major learning curve for Underwood so let’s wish them luck and good health in the coming season. </p>