North Iowa Cedar League ’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><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>Believe it or not, the Iowa high school volleyball season begins today with the official start of practice. 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>Fellow members of the North Iowa Cedar League will once again be chasing Class 2A state runner-up Dike-New Hartford. Overtaking the Wolverines shapes up as an enormous challenge. They'll be seeking their ninth Iowa title since '11. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the odds of winning the league are long, the NICL consists of strong programs outside of DNH. Union (3A), Wapsie Valley (2A), Denver (2A), Sumner-Fredricksburg (2A) and Gladbrook-Reinbeck (1A) all are coming off state tournament appearances in '22. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dominant Dike-New Hartford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wolverines entered last year's state tournament as the No. 1 seed and heavy favorite in 2A. They dropped a five-set heartbreaker to Western Christian in the championship match, falling 16-14 in the fifth set. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They're built for avenging that crushing setback. [player_tooltip player_id='168149' first='Payton' last='Petersen'], a Louisville commit, and her twin sister, [player_tooltip player_id='168150' first='Jadyn' last='Petersen'], who's committed to Northern Iowa, are ranked first and fifth, respectively, in the state's '24 Class by Prep Dig. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Petersens combined for 830 kills, 625 digs and 89.0 blocks last season. Their classmate, [player_tooltip player_id='251662' first='Maryn' last='Bixby'], contributed 201 kills and a team-best 109.0 blocks, while [player_tooltip player_id='389014' first='Abby' last='Jensen'] chipped chipped in with 211 digs as a freshman a year ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cougars Ready to Roar</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sumner-Fredricksburg might be best equipped to challenge DNH after giving Western Christian all it wanted in the state quarterfinals last year, winning the first set 25-21 before losing the second and third sets, 26-24. The Cougars return some serious talent. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='168172' first='Isabelle' last='Elliott'] hammered 677 kills (.454), worked out 293 digs and added 32.0 blocks last year. Her classmate, [player_tooltip player_id='168173' first='Morgan' last='Block'], recorded 193 kills, 240 digs and 20.0 blocks. [player_tooltip player_id='389011' first='Alexa' last='Buhman'] emerged with 778 assists, 186 digs and 33.0 blocks as a freshman in '22. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Knight Riders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Union Community topped a strong Center Point-Urbana squad in the regional finals last season. The Knights played in the state tournament for the third time in the four years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While replacing the graduated Aubrey Gates (599 kills in '22) will be challenging, Union brings back an excellent core. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='508642' first='Avery' last='Knoop'] (1,172 assists, 294 digs, 40.0 blocks) leads the group of returnees. She'll be setting up seniors Gracie Klima (359 kills, 267 digs, 24.0 blocks), Dena Robb (175 kills, 84.0 blocks) and (115 kills, 65.0 blocks). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Consistently Successful at Wapsie Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors were hit pretty hard by graduation. They've reloaded before as evidence by five state tournament berths since '15. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They'll be building around [player_tooltip player_id='389936' first='Taylor' last='Buhr'], who collected 232 kills and 279 digs as a ninth-grader last season. Wapsie Valley will need even more from returning starters Anna Curley (181 kills, 62.0 blocks) and Reagan Barnes (95 kills, 45.0 blocks) for another run to Coralville. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Denver Chasing Another State Trip</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cyclones are shooting for their fourth trip to state in as many years. Like Wapsie Valley, they'll need to make up for significant graduation losses, including the exit of the dominant Kayla Knowles (Houston). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Luckily for Denver, the foundation is solid. Back from last year's state team are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='168174' first='Jessica' last='Gergen'] (387 kills, 98.0 blocks) and Elaina Hildebrandt (137 kills, 258 digs, 47.0 blocks) along with sophomore setter [player_tooltip player_id='389012' first='Channing' last='Johnson'] (1,219 assists, 178 digs, 35.0 blocks). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rebel Repeat</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gladbrook-Reinbeck is seeking its fourth consecutive appearance at the state tournament and fifth trip in the last six years. The Rebels have benefitted from facing bigger schools during the conference slate. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They'll be replacing four starters from a year ago but the cupboard is not bare. Juniors Jaden Hansen (115 kills) and Lily Dripps (109 kills, 37.0 blocks) as well as sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='753899' first='Kennedy' last='Brant'] (186 kills, 55.0 blocks) represent strong building blocks to keep the streak alive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>...Grundy Center won 34 matches before losing against Denver, 3-1, in a regional final. The Spartans feature four fabulous seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='168170' first='Carlie' last='Willis'], [player_tooltip player_id='168171' first='Ellery' last='Luhring'], Shirley Monaghan and Lucy Lebo...South Hardin will lean heavily on a strong junior class, which includes [player_tooltip player_id='538921' first='Abby' last='Teske'], [player_tooltip player_id='215400' first='Ava' last='Paige'], Alli Sheldahl and [player_tooltip player_id='215401' first='Ava' last='Salvo']...Senior Avery Meyer and [player_tooltip player_id='215411' first='Peyton' last='Klooster'], a junior, provide Aplington-Parkersburg with a solid 1-2 punch...Hudson features a pair of already-accomplished juniors in Addie Rhoades and [player_tooltip player_id='204582' first='Amelia' last='Klenk'] to go with senior setter Lila Langham...AGWSR setter [player_tooltip player_id='508672' first='Trevyn' last='Smith'] leads a squad that also features rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='389856' first='Brylea' last='Metzgar']...Senior Isabel Weber stands out for a Jesup team looking to move up in the standings...Morgan Bradley, a senior, and sophomores Sophia Keys and [player_tooltip player_id='455725' first='Lilly' last='Fereday'] make Columbus Catholic interesting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->