Observations from Johnston Quad

JOHNSTON, Iowa - The annual Johnston quadrangular took place Thursday with Council Bluffs Lincoln, Iowa City High and Marion the guests. The Little Hawks finished 3-0 after going the distance against the host school.   It still being the first week of the season, coaches were working on their lineups and student-athletes were build chemistry with each other. That said, very good volleyball was played throughout the evening.   SENIOR PINS SHINE   All four teams brought at least one standout senior to the gym. They showed at least all-district ability with potential for more.   City's [player_tooltip player_id='215434' first='Emmy' last='McComas'] is settling in with new faces around her. The Little Hawks benefit from the four-year starter's all-around ability. She's one of the team's top hitters and probably its most consistent back-row player. She even showed off some setting skills here.   Johnston's [player_tooltip player_id='538919' first='Jaida' last='Bell'] proved she's more than just a track star. She swung it as well as anybody in the quad, pounding the court with kills throughout it. Bell hit it well from both pins and also consistently defended the net.   Marion's [player_tooltip player_id='447490' first='Carlee' last='Webber'] resembles McComas in that she contributes wherever needed on the court. A two-way presence all along the front row, the Gannon University commitment can hammer the ball or dig it out. The Wolves will rely heavily on her production in '24.   RS/MH Lydia Dix from Lincoln brings a whole lot of power to the floor. She enjoys a good connection with her setters and positions herself well for optimizing her swing. Dix sees the court clearly and can find the holes in the defense.   CITY YOUNGSTERS   City finished the week at 4-0 with a Tuesday win at Waterloo West also on the ledger. The Little Hawks went deep into the roster and looked connected in doing so.   A big reason for the success is the underclassmen trio of [player_tooltip player_id='493658' first='Hattie' last='Galloway'], Kaitlin Loria and [player_tooltip player_id='531752' first='Hazel' last='Schluckebier']. It not only bodes well for the program this fall but well into the future.   Galloway made her presence felt as a freshman in '23. The long-limbed, athletic middle hitter has raised the level of her game, adding to it and appearing way more comfortable in executing. Galloway is realizing her immense potential, which is bad news for City's opponents.   The improvement of Loria is eye-opening. She contributed as a freshman last season, but she's a go-to pin now. Loria succeeds with explosive athleticism and a nasty whip at the end her swing.   There's no doubt Schluckebier ranks as one of the state's top freshmen and most promising setters. The best compliment one could pay her is that she doesn't look like a ninth-grader. She's comfortable and confident. It also helps that she's immensely skilled.   DRAGON FIRE   Johnston is experiencing growing pains after graduating a pair of all-staters plus more. The Dragons also look like a squad that could be a lot better in October than it is now.   Bell is consistently in the minds of the competition with the ability to pound the ball off someone's head. MH [player_tooltip player_id='389078' first='Norah' last='Hany'] affects the game with her swing and in blocking attempts by others. That duo along with RS Kendall Haxton are especially effective defensively.   The Dragon revelations, however, were sophomores Lila Shaw, Cora Shaw and [player_tooltip player_id='730385' first='Allison' last='Ricke']. Lila Shaw is an all-around dynamo, her sister produces power at the pin and Ricke shares setting duties with talented senior Claire Holub.   With new faces and roles increasing with the graduation losses, it's a group with potential that must gel. You can see the path to a successful campaign.   LYNX LURKING   Lincoln is another outfit with talented pieces capable of rising up throughout the year. It returns a lot of production from '23 and looked very connected in this event. It led to a victory against Marion after tough losses versus City and Johnston.   The Lynx have a chance at victory most times out with the impressive senior front-row trio of Dix, Hutson Rau and Aubrey Sandbothe leading the way. Rau and Sandbothe also aid reliable senior libero Preslie Girres in the back row. [player_tooltip player_id='555107' first='Jasmine' last='Shields'] and Kamryn Hamilton can be counted on, too.   MARION MESHING   An annually strong Marion team mirrors Johnston as a program that's replacing stars from last year's lineup. Also like the Dragons, Marion could become a big problem for the opposition as the season advances.   Webber is the foundation, the light that everyone else on the team feeds off of. She receives plenty of support on the floor and in leadership from [player_tooltip player_id='215432' first='Joslynn' last='Mehaffy']. [player_tooltip player_id='538925' first='Chelsea' last='Goudzwaard'] is a sound libero, and [player_tooltip player_id='489995' first='Addison' last='Parker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='754002' first='Braelin' last='Wieseler'] are important juniors. [player_tooltip player_id='753986' first='Grace' last='Whalen'] and Katelyn Allison team up to get it done at setter, and Claire Lantermans and Kenzie Lovell are reliable DSs.

JOHNSTON, Iowa - The annual Johnston quadrangular took place Thursday with Council Bluffs Lincoln, Iowa City High and Marion the guests. The Little Hawks finished 3-0 after going the distance against the host school.