Top Players In Iowa’s 99 Counties – The Northern Border

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm featuring all of Iowa.&nbsp; Yes, going through each county and finding the top player.&nbsp; This will be a series over the next week working from Lyon County in Northwest Iowa all the way down to Lee County in the Southeast tip.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How did this come together?  I used this link to look at what school districts are in what counties.  I knew some school districts covered plenty of area, but some represented four counties so I opted for where the high school was located.  I even reached out to some old friends native to that part of Iowa to clarify what county a specific school would be associated with.  A great way to catch up and talk about Iowa geography. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://educateiowa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/2023-2024IowaPublicSchoolDistrictMap24x36.pdf">Iowa Counties and School Districts</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Being a Winnebago county native, I actually lived across the street from Hancock county.&nbsp; Looking through all of the school districts and remembering some of the “old high schools” that have now been consolidated.&nbsp; Going through these areas on paper and remembering some of the old RAGBRAI routes I was able to be on.&nbsp; Writing articles like this are always a reminder of how grateful I am to be an Iowa native and grow up with that small town atmosphere when it comes to supporting the schools.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're starting with the Northern border, essentially Highway 9 across the state.  Here are the best of the county. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":482673,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/iowa-county-map.gif?w=750" alt="" class="wp-image-482673" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lyon County </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jordyn Aeschliman - West Lyon - Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're starting in the corner of Iowa where there is always plenty of talent between West Lyon, Central Lyon, and George-Little Rock.&nbsp; Lyon county always has basketball power and football teams here know the way to “The Dome”.&nbsp; Aesschliman is a college prospect I had never seen until doing some research for this article.&nbsp; 6'3, left-handed, and a really smooth swing, she is a big time scorer and shut down blocker.&nbsp; She was named Class 3A All District and would be an impact player at the next level, and quite frankly a steal.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Osceola County </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grace Sayler - Sibley-Ochedan - Class of 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sayler is only a sophomore and had nearly 100 kills and 200 digs for the Generals while being named Honorable Mention All Siouxland.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dickinson County </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fran Travis - Spirit Lake - Class of 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spirit Lake has had some strong teams out of the Lakes Conference.&nbsp; Travis was a dominant player for the Indians where she had 324 kills on the season and hit nearly .400.&nbsp; She will continue volleyball and track at Dordt University.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emmet County </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='489415' first='Haley' last='Nissen'] - Estherville-Lincoln-Central - Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ELC, The Midgets.&nbsp; ELC had a huge season with over 30 wins and that was large in part to [player_tooltip player_id='489415' first='Haley' last='Nissen'].&nbsp; She is a 6'2 attacker who can score from anywhere and I'm so excited to see her compete live at the Iowa Top 250 on December 10.&nbsp; This past season, Nissen was 1st Team All Lakes and was an All District pick with nearly 400 kills and over 200 digs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kossuth County </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='257715' first='Najolie' last='Price'] - Algona - Class of 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Price was the top player for Algona where she was All NCC and was a Class 3A West District pick.&nbsp; She was a force at the net with over 200 kills and nearly 100 blocks.&nbsp; She is an uncommitted 2024.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Winnebago County </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jalyn Hovenga - Forest City - Class of 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forest City and Hovenga had a big season where she helped lead the Indians to a Top of Iowa West crown and a regional final appearance.&nbsp; She was named TOI West Player of the Year, All District, and 4th Team All State where she had nearly 300 kills and 200 digs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Worth County </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zari McDonough - Central Springs - Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Worth County, home to the final stop before Minnesota, the casino with the barn.&nbsp; Central Springs is located in Manly which is in Worth County.&nbsp; Zari McDonough was a do it all setter for Central Springs where she was named Top of Iowa East Player of the Year with over 600 assists.&nbsp; This was a balanced conference with the likes of Osage and St. Ansgar who was a state tournament participant.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mitchell County </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aspen Falk - St. Ansgar - Class of 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mitchell County has been dominated by Osage with plenty of hardware throughout the years including a state title in 2020.&nbsp; The Green Devils won the conference, but it was St. Ansgar advancing to the Class 1A state tournament and a huge reason behind that was Aspen Falk who was named Class 1A 1st Team All State where she had over 650 assists and 76 kills.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Howard County </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Olivia Johnson - Cresco - Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cresco, great memories of when RAGBRAI went through here.&nbsp; Olivia Johnson was a big time player for the Cadets where she had over 250 kills and 250 digs where she was named 1st Team All NEIC.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Winneshiek</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ellie Rolfs - Decorah - Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Decorah has made some strides in their program the past couple of years and in 2023, they have a scrappy libero in Ellie Rolfs.&nbsp; Rolfs had nearly 300 digs and was 1st Team All NEIC.&nbsp; Seeing highlight videos of her, she shows a really controlled platform and was able to show consistency from serve receive to taking pace off a hard swing. Definitely one to have on the radar.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Allamakee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Willa Troendle and Elle Wilkins - Waukon - Class of 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This sophomore duo teamed up for plenty of assist to kill combinations with Wilkins notching over 350 assists and Troendle who averaged over four kills per set.&nbsp; They were both 2nd Team All NEIC.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->