Season Preview: MAC Teams, Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/07/season-preview-ciml-teams-players-to-watch/"><strong>CIML Teams, Players to Watch</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During the last three seasons, three different Mississippi Athletic Conference programs have won state volleyball championships. Pleasant Valley took gold in 2021, Davenport Assumption did the same a year later and North Scott secured a title last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expect those teams to factor into the race in their respective classes once again. And there are good teams and players beyond them in the MAC. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a closer took on the conference: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Scott</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>The [program_tooltip program_id='431978' first='Lancers' last=''] are looking to go back to back after winning their first state championship since 1985. They have a roster capable of being on top at season's end once again. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Creighton commitment [player_tooltip player_id='215406' first='Abbey' last='Hayes'] ranks among the best players in the state. She shines at the pin but does everything well. [player_tooltip player_id='215767' first='Emee' last='Allard'], [player_tooltip player_id='538930' first='Lainey' last='Wall'], Kenzie Moeller, [player_tooltip player_id='389007' first='Adalynn' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='785828' first='Paige' last='Coon'] are players with varsity experience and opportunities for expanded roles. [player_tooltip player_id='261052' first='Ainsley' last='Haedt'], [player_tooltip player_id='389005' first='Cadey' last='Bredar'], [player_tooltip player_id='376747' first='Reese' last='Jackson'], [player_tooltip player_id='389008' first='Addison' last='Allen'], [player_tooltip player_id='552866' first='Brooklyn' last='Flenker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493996' first='Sydney' last='Soppe'] are among a group of younger players competing for openings created by graduation losses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pleasant Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>PV is in a great place as a program. The Spartans reload with high-end talent every year, making them a regular state title contender. That certainly will be the case in '24. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pin [player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'] is Prep Dig's top-ranked player in the <a href="https://prepdig.com/iowa/rankings/2026-rankings/">2026 recruiting class</a>. She is joined on the front row by fellow all-stater [player_tooltip player_id='508627' first='Stella' last='Smith'], a Missouri-Kansas City commitment. Lauren Brohm is an advanced setter, and [player_tooltip player_id='215760' first='Gabriella' last='Ragins'] is a versatile middle hitter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='490015' first='Mazie' last='Sweers'] ranks among the Iowa's best sophomores, and [player_tooltip player_id='261085' first='Maren' last='Ouellette'] is poised for a breakout this fall. Abbie Staats returns as reliable back-row performer. [player_tooltip player_id='215754' first='Hailey' last='Asselin'], [player_tooltip player_id='389006' first='Carsyn' last='Kelley'], [player_tooltip player_id='538937' first='Olivia' last='Hoskins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493657' first='Addison' last='Allaman'] have varsity reps on their resumes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assumption</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>The Knights are looking to return to the state tournament for the seventh year in a row. With the talent returning in '24, don't bet against them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All-stater [player_tooltip player_id='230661' first='Ellah' last='Derrer'], a Kansas State commitment, is one of the top middles in Iowa, and [player_tooltip player_id='215761' first='Ellie' last='Schubert'] is a super setter. [player_tooltip player_id='215757' first='Alyssa' last='O'Neal'] and [player_tooltip player_id='215436' first='Dru' last='Dorsey'] are experienced hitters, and [player_tooltip player_id='215756' first='Elizabeth' last='Snyder'] and [player_tooltip player_id='512840' first='Nora' last='Remrey'] are sound in the back. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='555771' first='Emmy' last='Burkhart'] is a young player capable of helping out in '24.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bettendorf</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>Bettendorf should take a step forward this season with players returning from last season. The ' 23 team's leaders in kills, blocks and assists are back as are key back-row performers from a year ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Laelagh Allen paced the team in assists and ranked second in digs. Makenna Miller had a team-high 159 kills as a sophomore. [player_tooltip player_id='474884' first='Peyton' last='Nagle'] produced the most blocks, and [player_tooltip player_id='454218' first='Nina' last='Wade'] ranked second in kills and fourth in blocks. Kelsi Smith, Abby Reilly and Emma Hendershott started matches,&nbsp;and Anna Ostrom, Ava Booth and Chloe Szegda played. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Muscatine</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook</strong>: The Muskies are replacing their top four leaders in kills. Fortunately for them, the player who delivered the ball is back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='489998' first='Belle' last='Seaman'] heads into her sophomore season with 877 assists under her belt. Ella Maynard's role should expand after she worked in the rotation last year. That's the extent of returnees with varsity experience. Muscatine will be leaning on inexperienced players like Myla Halloran, Jaleyna Tompkins, Lilly Gray, Azara Van Nice and Jeni Jarrett, all of whom appeared on '23 varsity roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Davenport North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='538934' first='Gisele' last='Muhammad'] and [player_tooltip player_id='388991' first='Molly' last='Kemp'] are back for the Wildcats after producing as starters last season. Muhammad led the team with 249 digs, while Kemp's 116 kills represented the fourth most on the team. Makenna Posten handed out 282 assists, the second most on the squad. Emma Roth and Dominique Vella started matches in '23, and Alaina Zamora was a part of the rotation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Central DeWitt</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> The Sabers are only three years removed from playing in the regional finals. They can compete for another postseason run with key contributors returning in '24. That group is led by junior [player_tooltip player_id='503389' first='Briana' last='Clark'], who ranked second on the team with 152 kills and was tops with 37.0 blocks a year ago. Brynlee Shimp and Katlin Truelsen are back after sharing setting responsibilities last fall. Remi Ruggeberg, Sydney McNealy and [player_tooltip player_id='555777' first='Quinn' last='Schroeder'] have starting experience on varsity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clinton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>The River Queens are replacing six starters from a team that included all-around standout Amelia Tubbs. Olivia Glover and Maddy Hensel own starting experience on varsity, and Kaylee Moeller,&nbsp;Diana Pachuca, McKenna Schroeder and Maloree Byrns have varsity experience. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Davenport Central </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> Central is coming off back-to-back, five-win seasons. The Blue Devils will be trying to add to that total in '24 behind one of the state's more underrated '26s in Madison VanDerLeest, who led them in kills as a sophomore. &nbsp;Ellie Linehan is back after pacing the program in blocks. Delylah Graves and Kate Sveilg are experienced varsity starters. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Davenport West </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> The Falcons are looking to fly again after finding wins hard to come by the last several years. Varsity veterans Rachel Ehlers, Emmalynn Golinghorst, Ellie Holdorf and [player_tooltip player_id='523167' first='Natalie' last=''] Schertz are back to see if they can collect more in '24.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->