2023 South Central 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>Believe it or not, the Iowa high school volleyball season is underway with preseason practices across the state tipping off this week. Matches will be here in just weeks.</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 South Central Conference sent Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont to the state tournament in Class 2A last season. The Rockets reached the semifinals, where it fell to eventual champion, Western Christian. They also cruised to the league crown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knoxville ended its season with a 4A regional final setback against Marion. The Panthers along with conference mates Davis County and Clark won more than 20 matches in '22. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ROCKETS ROCKING</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont returned to the state tournament last year for the first time since '15. As the sixth seed there, it knocked off No. 3 Wapsie Valley, 3-1, before falling to eventual champion Western Christian. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>EBF featured two of the state's top players in twins Kate and [player_tooltip player_id='215426' first='Molly' last='Shafer']. The former set and dished out 860 assists to go with 168 digs and 60.0 blocks. The latter crushed 545 kills with 286 digs and 38.0 blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rockets must replace the graduated Whitney Klyn (246 kills, 258 digs, 43.0 kills). They do welcome back senior Aliya Wagamon, Kaylee Helm, a junior, and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='753892' first='Lacey' last='Taylor'] all starters from a year ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Panthers Primed</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knoxville should be a tough out in '23. The Panthers return a very talented player in senior [player_tooltip player_id='168157' first='Brittany' last='Bacorn'] (386 kills, 258 assists, 283 digs). And she has plenty of help. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='290030' first='Ella' last='Breazeale'] delivered 192 kills and team-best 61.0 blocks last season. Junior Hannah Dunkin paced the squad with 464 assists and added 215 digs. Her classmates, Rylyn McCarty and Payton Horn, combined for 65.0 blocks and 101 kills. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clarke Climbing</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clarke could give Knoxville a run for its money in being Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont's top challenger. Clarke returns most of its top performers from '22. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior setter Alissa Henry leads the way after delivering 496 assists with 158 digs. Fellow 12th-graders, Victoria Henry (253 digs, 172 kills), Ava Hagen (99 kills, 138 digs) and  Bridgette Henry (154 digs, 60 kills), are returning starters. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>________</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>...Davis County is replacing its leaders in kills, assists, digs and blocks, all lost to graduation. The Mustangs are rebuilding around senior Sydney Utt (115 kills, 33.0 blocks)...Seniors Sydney Hoskins (163 kills, 103 digs) and Giulia Cocci (136 kills, 110 digs) along with junior Morgan Teno (99 kills, 38.0 blocks) are back and provide Albia with a strong starting point...Matty Kovacevich led Centerville with 140 kills in '22 and her 239 digs ranked second...Addie McGee is back for her senior campaign at Chariton after pacing the Chargers with 355 digs a last year...Brenna Guiter produced 143 kills and 67.0 blocks as a Cardinal of Eldon 10-grader a season ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->