WaMaC 2023 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>Believe it or not, the Iowa high school volleyball season begins Monday 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>That's certainly true in the WaMaC, where the East Division looks like it could be hotly contested. Clear Creek Amana heads into the campaign as a heavy favorite in the West. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three conference teams reached the state tournament last season in Marion, Mount Vernon and CCA. West Delaware, Solon, Center Point-Urbana and Vinton-Shellsburg all lost in regional finals. Six teams in the league finished with at least 26 wins a year ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clippers Going for 'Ship</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clear Creek Amana lost to Xavier in the 4A state title match last November. The Clippers entered the tournament as the sixth seed, and knocked off No. 2 North Scott and No. 3 Marion, both in five sets, on the way to the final. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They return a very talented core of players led by first-team all-state middle [player_tooltip player_id='168155' first='Bliss' last='Beck'] (399 kills, 153.0 blocks in '22), who is committed to Drake. Standout libero, [player_tooltip player_id='168156' first='Meg' last='Berkland'], is coming off a second-team all-state campaign that saw her post 540 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those seniors will receive plenty of help from classmates Kenadi Wood (436 assists, 170 digs), [player_tooltip player_id='432378' first='Sam' last='Schrage'] (165 kills, 79.0 blocks) and Addison Gisleson (158 kills, 332 digs, 31.0 blocks). Sophomores Averi Lower (222 kills, 338 digs, 50.0 blocks) and [player_tooltip player_id='243457' first='Emily' last='Henderson'] (513 assists, 203 digs) provide more firepower for CCA. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 4A Class should be very competitive again in '23. The Clippers boast a lineup capable of winning it all. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mustangs Have Horses</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mount Vernon reached the 3A state semifinals last season, finishing 35-6 overall. It included wins against state tournament teams Pleasant Valley, CCA, North Scott, Dike-New Hartford, Denver, Marion and Dowling. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs must replace super setter Madeleine Miller (1,013 assists), top digger Kameron Brand (323 digs), Kyla Vaughn (86.0 blocks) and second-leading hitter Emma Meester (217 kills), but return first-team all-state middle [player_tooltip player_id='215385' first='Chloe' last='Meester'] (514 kills, 25.0 blocks), a Louisville commitment. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='168177' first='Brooke' last='Ellyson'] (167 kills, 176 digs) should take another step forward in '23 as should juniors [player_tooltip player_id='215431' first='Jaden' last='Rolland'] (211 digs) and Eryn Jackson (152 digs). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mount Vernon will be seeking its sixth state tournament bid in a row and 11th trip in the last 12 seasons. It's a program that reloads. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wolves on the Prowl</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Mount Vernon, Marion is an outfit with a seemingly endless pipeline of proficient performers. The Wolves are done licking their wounds from last season's five-set loss to Clear Creek Amana in the first round of the state tournament and are ready to chase down their first Iowa title since winning their lone crown in '08. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marion is similar to Mount Vernon in that it must replace excellent players from '22. The group includes elite all-state selection Avery Van Hook, a freshman at South Dakota. Honorable mention 4A all-stater Peyton Johnson is a freshman at Kirkwood. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's the bad news. The good news is that first-team all-stater [player_tooltip player_id='168178' first='Michaela' last='Goad'], returns for her senior season after stacking up 407 kills and 77.0 blocks with 148 digs last fall. Her classmate, [player_tooltip player_id='168180' first='Natalee' last='Hartman'], is coming off a year that saw her post 381 digs and 142 assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wolves are chasing their third state tournament berth in a row and their fourth trip in the last five years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Spartans Seek Next Step</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Solon won the first set at West Liberty, 25-15, before falling to the Comets in a 3A regional final last October. The Spartans dropped the fourth set, 28-26. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spartans hope to take the next step in reaching the state tournament for the first time since '14, when they had made it four years in a row. They welcome back most of their key players from '22. That group includes senior Brynn Deike (678 assists), juniors Aly Stahle (189 kills, 196 digs, 64.0 blocks), [player_tooltip player_id='215435' first='Grace' last='Erwin'] (191 kills, 169.0 blocks) and [player_tooltip player_id='215430' first='Yasmine' last='Sell'] (145 kills, 140.0 blocks), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='373682' first='Kennedey' last='Whitford'] (245 digs). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Solon will be looking to build on its 26 wins last season, which included a triumph against 4A state finalist Clear Creek Amana. The Spartans' strong collection of talent now has the experience component needed for a state run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kolbet, Krogmann Key Hawks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Delaware saw its streak of consecutive state tournament appearances end at four last season. The Hawks won it all in Class 3A in '21. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The foundation remains strong in Manchester. Juniors Kirstyn Kolbet (805 assists, 192 digs) and [player_tooltip player_id='508649' first='Brooke' last='Krogmann'] (288 kills, 44.0 blocks) anchor a squad capable of getting to Coralville in late October. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Center Point-Urbana fell in four sets to Union in a 3A regional final last season. The [program_tooltip program_id='428931' first='Storm' last='']in Pointers received high-end play from sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='730773' first='Addy' last='Tupa'] (148 kills, 263 digs), [player_tooltip player_id='215389' first='Sydney' last='Maue'] (177 kills, 49.0 blocks) and [player_tooltip player_id='457484' first='Logan' last='Keller'] (418 assists, 244 digs)...Vinton-Shellsburg's Ashlyn Murray (211 kills, 263 assists, 250 digs) stood out as one of the WaMaC's top all-around performers last season. The Vikings were hit hard by graduation but do get senior Julia Johnson (300 digs) back as well...Benton boasts a pair of super seniors in Emma Townsley (432 assists, 214 digs) and Piper Nelson (429 kills, 358 digs)...senior Marie Gorman (203 kills, 276 digs, 36.0 blocks) leads the way for an Independence program looking to climb the standings...South Tama's [player_tooltip player_id='261078' first='Kayleah' last='Laughlin'] (127 kills, 37.0 blocks) returns for her junior year, while Williamsburg's Averi Nielson (191 assists, 128 dogs) is back for her sophomore season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->