MVC Valley Division ’23 Season Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/07/central-iowa-metro-league-23-season-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CIML '23 Season Preview</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/07/mississippi-athletic-conference-23-season-preview/">MAC '23 Season Preview</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/07/mvc-mississippi-division-23-season-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MVC Mississippi Division Preview </a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the official start of the Iowa high school volleyball season hasn't arrived, teams around the state are already preparing for it. A new campaign is coming into focus as we hit mid-July.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In getting ready for a new season, it's good to look back. While we're sure to witness breakout performances from individuals and teams within our borders, plenty of familiar faces return.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I considered different ways to go about this process, landing on organization of evaluations by conference. Beating programs within close proximity of you has never gone out of style.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division contains programs with rich histories. Dubuque Hempstead's 19 state tournament appearances are tied for ninth most for all schools, while Cedar Rapids Kennedy's 18 are tied for 11th. Iowa City High, Iowa City West and Hempstead each has won the state championship twice. Kennedy (1979) and Western Dubuque (2021) both own one title. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It should be a fun race in the Valley Division this fall. Western Dubuque looks to defend its crown while multiple schools could challenge the Bobcats. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bobcats Lead Way </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Western Dubuque will be competing for its fifth state tournament appearance in the row. The Bobcats will do so without graduated IGCA elite all-state selection Ella Meyer and Class 4A first-team all-state pick Libby Lansing. Super setter Ava Demmer (855 assists in '22) and Erica Ernzen (248 digs) also graduated. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seniors Hailey Wulfekuhle (199 kills, 46.0 blocks), Brynn Walters (149 digs), Ally Reuter (106 kills, 43.0 blocks) and Ava Ramler return with valuable experience and a chance to step into larger roles. The program is sound. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Climbing Cougars </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cedar Rapids Kennedy pushed Western Dubuque in the division and reached a regional final last season. The Cougars must replace key pieces, but they also return some of them. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='215388' first='Adalyn' last='Hermanson'] comes back for her junior season after pacing them in kills (217). Her classmate, [player_tooltip player_id='215393' first='Jenna' last='Younge'], ranked second on the squad with 38.0 blocks. Senior Laikin Wood (130 digs) provides experience in the back row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Passmore Paces Linn-Mar</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Linn-Mar roster features one of the conference's top players in second-team all-stater [player_tooltip player_id='215410' first='Kate' last='Passmore'] (378 kills, 34.0 blocks, 122 digs). The junior is joined by classmate [player_tooltip player_id='447532' first='Kelsey' last='Klesner'] (131 kills, 53.0 blocks) and senior Tessa Casebolt (107 kills, 32.0 blocks) in forming a strong veteran foundation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ernst, McComas Lead Little Hawks</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>City High returns four key players from a year ago in all-5A East District Team member [player_tooltip player_id='251664' first='Claire' last='Ernst'], all-conference performer [player_tooltip player_id='215434' first='Emmy' last='McComas'], Haleigh Nelson (207 digs) and setter Sidney Slay (654 assists). Ernst and McComas combined for 495 kills on a team that lost a tough five-setter to Dubuque Senior in the regional semis last fall. New coach Carolyn Giese will be searching for the right combination. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Hempstead brings back one of the state's top juniors in Addison Wright (192 kills, 264 digs, 20.0 blocks) along with seniors Alyssa Jaeger (148, 159, 29.0) and Vivian Smith (111, 22, 31.0)...Waterloo West boasts a talented junior tandem in Jada Smith (161 kills) and [player_tooltip player_id='200917' first='Natalie' last='Schmadeke'] (268 assists, 42.0 blocks)...Iowa City West can claim an all-district selection in Melae' Lacy&nbsp;(280 kills, 218 digs, 29.0 blocks) and fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='168176' first='Emma' last='Stammeyer'] is a all-division honorable mention...Cedar Rapids Washington brings back Valley honorable mentions Mya Messenger, a senior, and junior, [player_tooltip player_id='490018' first='Selia' last='Stein'] (51.0 blocks). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->