Season Preview: MVC Teams, Players to Watch Part I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mississippi Valley Conference has produced two of the last five state champions in Class 5A, equaling the count from the Central Iowa Metro League. Pleasant Valley of the Mississippi Athletic Conference claimed the other crown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All that is to say, keep an eye on the MVC when looking for a potential champ. The conference is home to programs capable of making noise in 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a closer look at half of the league in Part I of our season preview:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa City Liberty</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> A year after winning the school's first state title in '22, the Lightning succumbed to heavy graduation losses. It finished below .500 last season, albeit against a very tough schedule, and lost in straight sets to Ankeny in the regional finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liberty is poised for a major step forward after a young and inexperienced roster look its lumps while learning. Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='215429' first='Asta' last='Hildebrand'], a St. Cloud State commitment, keeps the operation moving smoothly and, by the way, also leads the team in kills. &nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='497594' first='Lucy' last='Maassen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='273001' first='Ellie' last='Wilson'], who ranked second and third in kills last season, also return as do twin sisters [player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller'],&nbsp;who paced the squad in assists and digs, respectively. [player_tooltip player_id='493985' first='Sydney' last='Van Heukelom'] is back after starting as a freshman in '23. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's a lot of talent, folks. The outfit in North Liberty has a clear claim as a preseason favorite in the MVC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedar Falls</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>The Tigers were the 5A runners-up two years ago after claiming state titles in '17 and '19. They lost a first-round, four-setter to eventual-champion Waukee Northwest in last season's state tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cedar Falls is a sound program, usually with a chance to be really good. That puts them in title contention. This Tiger group will see how it develops around a solid core that includes all-staters [player_tooltip player_id='215408' first='Grace' last='Hannam'] (MH) and [player_tooltip player_id='389010' first='Annistyn' last='Wedgbury'] (DS/L) along with outstanding setter [player_tooltip player_id='261058' first='Brynn' last='Bakula'] and powerful hitter [player_tooltip player_id='523167' first='Natalie' last=''] Schmadeke. Kya Bradfield and Emily Beneke are a reliable, two-way contributors with room to grow, and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='389853' first='Kennedy' last='Krecklow'] showed promise during her first varsity season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Liberty might be considered the favorite on paper, the Tigers will be a worthy opponent, one capable of being the best of the bunch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Linn-Mar</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>The Lions are looking for their first state tournament berth since '17. They do so led by first-team all-state hitter [player_tooltip player_id='215410' first='Kate' last='Passmore'], who helped Adrenaline win a national championship this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Passmore paced Linn-Mar in kills last season, while fellow returnee [player_tooltip player_id='552873' first='Karsyn' last='Michael'] led in assists. Emma Barnes ranked second in digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions also return a deep roster with varsity experience beyond the aforementioned. That group includes all-around contributors [player_tooltip player_id='447579' first='Kelsey' last='Klesner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='730856' first='Kira' last='Klesner'] as well as [player_tooltip player_id='215762' first='Emily' last='Brunson'] in the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the experienced production and chemistry in place, include Linn-Mar when discussing the MVC's top contenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waterloo West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>If you're looking for an MVC sleeper team to reach the state tournament, Waterloo West could be your squad. It won't be easy getting back there for the first times since '97, but plenty of reasons abound for optimism in the 'Loo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Any outfit running [player_tooltip player_id='508686' first='Jada' last='Smith'] onto the court has a chance. Allyson Landers is a rising star that can set and defend in the back and front. [player_tooltip player_id='261074' first='Isabelle' last='Rand'] defends the back row well, and [player_tooltip player_id='495803' first='Ava' last='Jones'] and Lila Homolar are experienced sophomore poised for more production in '24.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dubuque Hempstead</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> The Mustangs lost to Waterloo West in last year's regional semifinals. They finished with 19 wins, notching victories against Liberty and Linn-Mar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hempstead brings back one of the conference's best all-around players in [player_tooltip player_id='508685' first='Addi' last='Wright'], an all-district honoree in '23 after leading her team in kills and digs. [player_tooltip player_id='454583' first='Gabbi' last='Smith'] returns after pacing the team in digs last season. Luci Weber is an experienced setter, and Lexi Kuhle has varsity time on her resume.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Western Dubuque</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> The Bobcats' 15 victories in '23 tied for its fewest in a season dating back '15. The '21 Class 4A state champions graduated a lot of production off of last year's squad. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They return one of the better sophomores in the conference, [player_tooltip player_id='493984' first='Kyla' last='Ramler'], a middle who racked up 77.0 blocks during her first high school campaign. Seniors Carley Hillebrand and [player_tooltip player_id='215403' first='Kate' last='Harbaugh'] contribute all around the court, and Grace Coyle and Gabbie Demmer can be relied upon in the back row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedar Rapids Wasington</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>Washington's 10 triumphs a year ago were its most since '17. It provided hope for even better days ahead in Warrior Nation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='490018' first='Selia' last='Stein'] enters her senior season after ranking second on the team in kills last year. [player_tooltip player_id='216899' first='Kamiyah' last='Elders'] is a two-way contributor up front, and Samantha Becker and Hailey Becker can make contribute more as juniors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedar Rapids Jefferson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>The J-Hawks are looking to get the program heading in the right direction after a tough several years. They're not that far removed from winning 30 matches a season in '17 and '18. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seniors Ava Erger, Danielle Boche and Carlee Deam are experienced varsity starters hoping to be the foundation of the turnaround. [player_tooltip player_id='555785' first='Lexi' last='Haller'] is poised for a big sophomore season after leading Jefferson in assists and ranking second to Boche in digs as a ninth-grader. Seniors Chaley Sacora and Morgan Hewitt have varsity experience and are looking for bigger roles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->