Defensive Players on a Roll!

<p>I just love a great defensive play.  Keeping the ball up is the name of the game for these players making a mark early on for the 2021 volleyball season.  Below is a list of the top defensive players in Iowa after the first week of regular season play.  Let’s see who they are, where they play, what impact they have made, and who they face next.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="132852" first="Jaidyn" last="Teske"] (2022, L)</strong></p> <p>Jaidyn is a 5’5" libero for South Hardin who had 137 digs in 19 sets for the Tigers.  She has also had 13 assists, 4 kills with a .333 efficiency, and 8 service aces to start off her senior season.  South Hardin has an 8-0 record so far with wins over Fort Dodge, Kuemper Catholic, Spirit Lake, Humboldt, South Central Calhoun, and Grand View Christian on their way to winning the Humboldt Tourney, then South Hamilton and Gladbrook-Reinbeck.  They face Grundy Center, at Grundy Center, after returning from the holiday weekend.  </p> <p><strong>Dakota Whitman (2023, L/DS)</strong></p> <p>Dakota is a 5'6" libero for Independence and had 124 digs in 21 sets (5.9 DPS), 5 assists, 2 kills with 100% efficiency, and 8 service aces with a 94.1% serve efficiency to top it off.  The Mustangs are off to a 5-4 start with wins against Wapsie Valley, Oelwein, Union Community, Janesville, and Center Point-Urbana.  Their losses were to Dike-New Hartford, West Delaware, Starmont, and again to West Delaware in the Independence Tournament Finals.  The Mustang's next match is at home against Williamsburg following the holiday weekend.   </p> <p><strong>Kenya Prescott (2022, DS)</strong></p> <p>Kenya is a DS for Kuemper Catholic and has had 124 digs in 22 sets so far, that is 5.6 DPS, 10 assists, 1 kill, and 4 service aces.  So far Prescott's efforts have helped the Knights maintain an even record with 4 wins and 4 losses.  They have beat Spirit Lake, South Central Calhoun, Grand View Christian, and Fort Dodge in the Humboldt Tournament then lost to Humboldt and South Hardin.  They then faced Glenwood and Red Oak, conference heavy hitters from the West, and succumbed to them as well.  They took Glenwood to 5 sets and Red Oak to 4 so they definitely put up a fight and avoided a sweep.  Prescott was a huge part of that struggle and really excelled in her position during all of these matches.  Nicely done!   </p> <p><strong>Alana McDermott (2022, DS/L)</strong></p> <p>Alana is a 5'4" DS/L for Dubuque Senior and had 120 digs in the first 28 sets for the Rams this season.  She also had 20 assists and 7 service aces with a 92.8% serve efficiency.  McDermott's play has helped her team open with a 6-3 record so far this season.  The Rams have recorded wins against Waterloo West, East Buchanan, Monticello, two wins against Waterloo East, and Springville.  Their three losses came at the hands of Western Dubuque, Beckman Catholic, and Dubuque Hempstead.  The Rams play this weekend against Johnston, Solon, and Cedar Rapids Kennedy in the Warrior Invitational Tournament at Washington High School. </p> <p><strong>Maci Higgins (2022, DS/OH)</strong></p> <p>Maci plays for Spirit Lake and has had 113 digs in 25 sets played so far this season, giving her 4.5 DPS to start her senior season.  Higgins has also had 11 assists and 4 service aces with a 92.7% serve efficiency to help the Indians attain their three wins this season against LeMars, Grand View Christian, and Fort Dodge.      </p>