2023 Iowa Star 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><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/08/2023-iowa-alliance-conference-preview/">[program_tooltip program_id='431974' first='Iowa' last='Alliance'] 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 Iowa Star Conference sent a pair of teams to the Class 1A State tournament last season. League champ North Tama reached Coralville as did runner-up Don Bosco. Riceville, Dunkerton and Waterlooo Christian also won at least 20 matches in '22. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It shapes up to be another competitive campaign in the ISC. We very well could see multiple teams make runs at reaching Coralville. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Redhawks Rise</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Tama finished unbeaten in Iowa Star play last fall. It ended up 39-5 overall after a five-set loss to AGWSR in the 1A state tournament opening round. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Redhawks will be replacing a lot of talent lost to graduation. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='389932' first='Addison' last='Hochstetler'] (516 digs), senior Izzy Hallett (208 digs) and junior Briar Blake (110 kills) provide a strong foundation for '23. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='389013' first='Kruiz' last='Ewoldt'] could take a big step forward after gaining experience a year ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dons Are On</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Don Bosco returned to the state tournament for the first time since '09. It lost to eventual champion Ankeny Christian in the opening round of 1A play, finishing up with a 28-13 record. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dons return their top three hitters from last season in Alexis Even (292 kills, 315 digs), Kennedi McGarvey (272 kills, 293 digs) and [player_tooltip player_id='261065' first='Emily' last='Naughton'] (212 kills, 52.0 blocks). That trio could make North Tama's quest for another conference crown difficult. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wildcats Want More</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riceville reached the 1A regional semifinals in '22, losing to state-tournament finalist Gladbrook-Reinbeck there. Riceville ended the season at 26-17. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior Camdyn Orth (122 kills, 43.0 blocks) along with juniors Tillotti Fair (175 kills, 187 digs) and Samantha Wilberding (130 kills, 67.0 blocks) should make sure the Wildcats remain high in the conference standings. Senior Taylor McElroy (223 digs) provides them with a back-row presence. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Raider Nation </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dunkerton defeated Ankeny Christian in straight sets last season en route to a 23-15 overall record. Its season ended with a tough loss to Gladbrook-Reinbeck in a regional championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Raiders will be relying on new faces in '23 after some of their top players graduated. The building blocks are there in senior Peyton Smith (44.0 blocks), junior Reese Tisue (117 digs) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='555778' first='Daisy' last='Fettkether'] (141 digs, 89 kills). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Regents Ready</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waterloo Christian ended up at 20-17 after losing to North Tama in the 1A regional semifinals. It posted victories against Ankeny Christian, Waterloo East and Riceville during the regular season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Regents should be formidable again this fall. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='251670' first='Reagan' last='Wheeler'] (285 kills, 170 digs, 83.0 blocks) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='261099' first='Trinity' last='Renaud'] (174 kills, 251 digs, 32.0 blocks) furnish them with a strong 1-2 punch. Jillian Reisetter (61 kills, 27.0 blocks) could be ready for a larger role in '23. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hailing Comets</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>BCLUW posted a 6-1 record in the ISC last season, including a win against Waterloo Christian in the conference tournament. It won sets against state tournament teams Gladbrook-Reinbeck and Sumner-Fredricksburg as well </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A solid group of returnees give the Comets high hopes this fall. They welcome back senior setter Sydney Anderson (583 assists, 258 digs) along with her classmates Mallori Jones (177 kills, 58.0 blocks), Callie Swanson (418 digs) and Kailan McEwen (152 kills, 49.0 blocks). [player_tooltip player_id='455739' first='Grace' last='Farnsworth'] (191 kills, 205 digs, 31.0 blocks) is one of the ISC's better sophomores. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>...Senior setter Natalie Lobeck (725 assists) and junior Isabel Bernard (147 kills, 237 digs) lead the way for Tripoli...GMG can compete with junior Olivia Maddux (489 assists, 217 digs) and senior Adelyn Sienknecht (213 kills, 265 digs)...Junior Liz Hovenga (606 assists, 245 digs) and senior Kendall Thompson (202 kills, 244 digs) give Janesville reason for optimism...senior Katie Kampman (458 digs) stands out for Clarksville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->