2023 Top of Iowa 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 18-team Top of Iowa Conference is deep and talented as evidence by Osage making the state tournament in Class 3A last season. Other league teams enjoyed a strong '22 as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Green Devils Dance</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Osage tied Lake Mills at 8-0 atop the TIC last season. It then swept its way to the state tournament with three regional victories. It fell in four sets to state champion Davenport Assumption in its first state match. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Green Devils lost top players to graduation but also return some key performers from a year ago. Jenna Scharper produced 186 kills and 52.0 blocks as a sophomore last season, while Jacey Johnston chipped in with 126 kills and 66.0 blocks during her freshman campaign. Taylor Klobassa (97 kills, 206 digs) started all but one match as a junior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Got That Dog in Em </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Mills won 30 of 38 matches a year ago. Its season ended with a Class 2A regional semifinal loss to Grundy Center. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Osage, the Bulldogs graduated important players and return experience, too. Senior Dottie Byars delivered 191 kills in '22, while classmate Taylor Vanek accumulated 244 digs. Another senior, Ava Moen, produced 84 kills and 18.0 blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Forest City Sticks Out</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forest City finished in third place last season. It posted a 7-1 record in conference play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='251679' first='Jaden' last='Jerome'] (250 assists, 232 kills, 266 digs) and Jalyn Hovenga (202 assists, 262 kills, 199 digs, 31.0 blocks are two of the best all-around players in the TIC. Their classmates, Jalyn Hovenga (357 digs) and Jenna Walker (180 assists), also are returning starters. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>They're Golden</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bishop Garrigan won a pair of 1A regional matches before falling at Newell-Fonda in the semifinals. The Golden Bears finished 6-2 in conference competition. Senior Violet Bode and sophomore Emmi Bartolo, the teams most experienced players in '23, combined for 250 digs last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prowling Panthers </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>...Central Springs brings back key pieces from a squad that was 5-2 in league play last fall. Juniors Azaria McDonough (721 assists, 178 digs, 24.0 blocks) and Kaci Crum (261 kills, 53.0 blocks) lead that group...Seniors Olivia Merrill (207 kills, 76.0 blocks) and Libby Stevens (592 assists, 222 digs) form a strong 1-2 punch for North Union...Seniors Aspen Falk (583 assists) and Kinsey Anderson (335 digs) are the same deal at Saint Ansgar...North Iowa boasts a couple of standout juniors in [player_tooltip player_id='483992' first='Ashlyn' last='Bechler'] (219 kills, 213 digs) and Lily Beckman (428 assists, 145 digs)...Hannah Hillman and Danika deBuhr are promising sophomores at Rockford...Juniors Quinn Gabrielson and Adasyn Lamb provide hitting for Belmond-Klemme...Garner Hayfield Ventura can count on seniors Gretta Gouge, Kenedee Frayne and Ali Hess...Nashua-Plainfield will lean on senior Jalynn Pratt...Audrey Jaspersen contributed 43.0 blocks as a Newman Catholic sophomore last fall...Olivia Dralle (183 kills, 134 digs, 26.0 blocks) returns for her junior campaign at North Butler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->