Hawkeye X Conference Preview: Red Oak!

2020 SEASON RECORD: Conference record 9-1, overall record 30-5. Red Oak was a co-conference champion team last season sharing the honor with Glenwood. Their season ended in a Class 3A State Quarterfinal in 2020, being swept 25-13, 25-22, and 25-19. GRADUATED: [caption id="attachment_110425" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-110425 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/UnderwoodvRedOak_d091920-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="79039" first="Peyton" last="Cook"], 2021, Setter, Underwood, [player_tooltip player_id="79018" first="Zoe" last="Rus"], 2021, OH, Underwood, and #4 Kamryn Wendt for Red Oak, class of 2021, RS.[/caption] Kamryn Wendt (RS) Wendt played in all 89 sets for the Tigers in the 2020 season and had 11 assists, 1.5 KPS, 15 total blocks, 75 digs, and 1 service ace with an 88.0% serve efficiency. [caption id="attachment_110432" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-110432" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Chloe_Devries_2_d091920-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Chloe DeVries, 2021, Setter, Red Oak.[/caption] Chloe DeVries (S) Chloe is a really good setter. I have had the privilege of watching her work for years both in high school and for her club team. She had 9.9 APS(880), 47 kills, 21 total blocks, 2,3 DPS, and 19 service aces with a 96.1% serve efficiency. The Tigers are really going to miss her leadership of this team and how she ran the offense. This is going to be one of the hard spots to fill for the Tigers in 2021. [caption id="attachment_101815" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-101815" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/AbbeyJones-rotated-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="93046" first="Abbey" last="Jones"], class of 2021, Libero, Red Oak High School.[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="93046" first="Abbey" last="Jones"] (L) Jones is a firecracker that will be missed by her Red Oak team immensely in 2021. She played in every set in 2020 for the Tigers and had 79 assists, 58 kills, 5.4 DPS(480), and tied for a team-high 48 service aces with an 89.1% serve efficiency. RETURNING PLAYERS: [caption id="attachment_112188" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-112188 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/Lexi_Johnson_backrowhitting_d100820-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="79272" first="Alexis" last="Johnson"], 2022, OH, Red Oak.[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="79272" first="Alexis" last="Johnson"] (2022, OH) Johnson has been in the varsity rotation at Red Oak since her freshman year. She has also played up an age group for her club team since 5th grade. In other words, she is a really good outside, with tons of power, and a high volleyball IQ. She played every set for the Tigers in 2020 and had 15 assists, 4.4 KPS(389), 31 total blocks, 3.1 DPS(274), and 37 service aces with a 97.1% serve efficiency. She is ready to lead the Tigers in her senior season. [caption id="attachment_110429" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-110429" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Ashlyn_Blackman_Tori_Carrick_d091920-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Ashlyn Blackman, 2022, DS, Red Oak, Tory Carrick, 2022, RS, Red Oak.[/caption] Ashlyn Blackman (2022, DS) Blackman played in 86 of 89 sets last season for the Tigers and had 15 assists, 3 kills, 2.8 DPS, and 33 service aces with a 93.7% serve efficiency. <img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-147448" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/07/Liz_Carbaugh_d062021-crop-891x585-1625188150-150x150.jpg" alt="Liz Carbaugh, MH, Red Oak, 2022" width="150" height="150" />Liz Carbaugh (2022, MH) Carbaugh played in every set last season for the Tigers and contributed 4 assists, 2.3 KPS(203), a team-high 55 total blocks, and 42 digs. Great to have her in the middle for the Tigers again this season. She is the top returning hitter for the Tigers so will definitely have more of a leadership role this year. Tory Carrick (2022, OH/RS) I have also watched Tory play since she was in elementary school and have always been impressed with her poise and confidence on the court. Last season she played in every set and had 28 assists, 1.7 KPS(148), 18 total blocks, 2.9 DPS(254), and 32 service aces with a 92.8% serve efficiency. She will take on more of a leadership role next year as well. [caption id="attachment_110431" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-110431" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Lennon_ONeal_3_d091920-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Lennon O’Neal, 2022, RS, Red Oak.[/caption] Lennon O’Neal (2022, MH) O’Neal played in all 89 sets in 2020 for the Tigers and had 10 assists, 1.2 KPS(104), 41 total blocks, 48 digs, and tied for the team-high service aces at 48, with an 89.3% serve efficiency. She is a great player to have returning for next year as well. Also returning this year for the Tigers are Payton Bass (2022, MH), Lainey DeVries (2023, MH), Merced Ramirez (2024, S), Macy Bozwell (2022, OH), Olivia Bozwell (2024, RS), Reese Jackson (2022, DS), and Jordan Carlson (2022, S). Even though Red Oak is only losing three seniors it is important to realize they are losing 970 assists, 249 kills, 36 blocks, 556 digs and 68 service aces with those three seniors. They really need a new setter and libero if they plan to compete at the same level as they did last year. At least they have one of the top hitters in southwest Iowa and one of the better middle hitters around, they just need to take care of that back row to do as well as last year. Good luck!