2023 Iowa Alliance Conference 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><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/07/mvc-valley-division-23-season-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MVC Valley Division Preview</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/08/missouri-river-conference-23-season-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Missouri River Season Preview</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/08/wamac-2023-season-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WaMac Season Preview</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/08/2023-little-hawkeye-season-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Little Hawkeye Season Preview</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/08/2023-racoon-river-season-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Racoon River Season Preview</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/08/north-iowa-cedar-league-23-season-preview/">North Iowa Cedar League Preview</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/08/2023-south-central-conference-preview/">South Central Conference Preview</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/08/2023-bluegrass-conference-preview/">Bluegrass Conference Preview</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/08/2023-rivery-valley-conference-preview/">River Valley Conference Preview</a> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Believe it or not, the Iowa high school volleyball season tips off next week. It's shaping up to be another exciting fall around the state.</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 newer [program_tooltip program_id='431974' first='Iowa' last='Alliance'] Conference covers a lot of real estate within the borders. It stretches from Des Moines to Waterloo to Ottumwa. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Des Moines Roosevelt dominated the league last year. The Roughriders posted a 13-0 record in conference play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waterloo East kept the heat on Roosevelt. The Trojans went 10-1 in [program_tooltip program_id='431974' first='Iowa' last='Alliance'] contests. Ottumwa, Mason City and Fort Dodge also played above .500 last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Not A Rough Ride </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roosevelt reached a 5A regional final in '22, when it fell to Ankeny Centennial, a state semifinalist. The Roughriders outlasted Sioux City for a five-set road victory in the regional semis. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='251666' first='Asialin' last='Powell'] has been one of the better kept secrets in the state when it comes to standout players. She pounded out 218 kills last season to go with 232 digs and 22.0 blocks. I was impressed with her skills at a recent Prep Dig showcase in Grimes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='390369' first='James' last='Steinbach'] is coming off a freshman campaign during which she handed out 770 assists with 192 digs. Morghan Harvey and Julia Stewart also return after playing well last fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trojan Horses</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waterloo East fell to Roosevelt in the IAC Tournament championship match in '22. Iowa City West topped it in four sets in the 5A regional first round. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans graduated all six starters. They brought back Miah Norman and Savanah Payton, who need to step up if East wants to finish high in the standings again. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>...Ottumwa will lean heavily on a quartet of juniors - Miya Fuller, Makayla Brown, Camdyn Crouse and Rylea Hinebaugh...Senior Megan Tobin led Mason City in kills in '22...Ames features a pair of formidable juniors in Jude Spillers and Sophia Timmermans...LJ Maehl led Fort Dodge in blocks as a freshman last fall...seniors Amaya Moore and Ella Roush are solid two-way players for Marshalltown...Nasya Phoenix (Des Moines East) and Alyssa Bird (Des Moines Lincoln) are key players for their respective programs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->