WaMaC East Division Preview

<p>The WaMaC East Division is going to be tough this season after the departures of Anamosa and Western Dubuque and the addition of WaMaC West Division conference runner-up 4A Marion. It is sure to make for some great competition! Here is a recap of last year’s leaders in the conference.</p> <p><strong><u>Mount Vernon (7-0, 26-11)</u></strong></p> <p>Coached by Maggie Willems, the Mustangs were the undefeated WaMaC East Division champions last season and were ranked 4^th in 3A. They ended their season with a hard fought 3A Regional Final loss to Iowa Falls-Alden in 5 sets. Mount Vernon returns a talented team even after graduating some key players including OH Catherine Yeoman, S/RH Bailey Sullivan, and DS Grace Pettinger.</p> <p>The Mustangs will be led at the net by 1^st Team All-Conference selection <strong>Rory Light</strong> who had 298 kills and 95 blocks last season. She’ll be helped out by fellow senior <strong>Annie Rhomberg</strong> and sophomore <strong>Natalie Welch</strong>. Another senior this year, setter <strong>Ella Brase</strong>, returns after posting 448 assist and 108 kills for Mount Vernon.  </p> <p><strong><u>Dyersville Beckman (6-1, 31-13)</u></strong></p> <p>Ranked 9^th in 3A last season, the Blazers came in 2^nd in the WaMaC Conference East Division with coach Todd Troutman at the helm. They made it to the State Tournament but lost first round to the eventual 3A State Champions, Waterloo Columbus. They return almost their entire line-up, 5 of which are incoming seniors that received All-Conference honors. This team did a fantastic job defensively with multiple players contributing with triple digit kills and digs. This next season should be even better with this talented squad.</p> <p><strong>Isabelle Bennett</strong>  – 1^st Team All-Conference, 3A All-State Team Honorable Mention, Bennett is a 6 rotation player that tallied a team high 290 kills and 295 digs for the Blazers.</p> <p><strong>Sydney Steffen</strong> – 1^st Team All-Conference, 3^rd Team 3A All-State selection, the returning setter led her conference in assists with 898. Steffens also added 77 kills, 40 blocks, and 145 digs to the Blazers stats.</p> <p><strong>Heather Boeckenstedt</strong> – 2^nd Team All-Conference, racked up 201 kills, 56 blocks, and 295 digs.  </p> <p><strong>Ellie Bildstein</strong>, MB – 2^nd Team All-Conference, a force at the net Bildstein contributed 241 kills and had 146 total blocks last season. Even more impressive is that 113 were solo blocks, the most of any player in the state.</p> <p><strong>Caroline Kluesner</strong> – Honorable Mention All-Conference, added 185 kills, 28 blocks, and 281 digs for the Blazers.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>East Standing:</u></strong></p> <p>Mount Vernon                      7-0</p> <p>Beckman Catholic              6-1</p> <p>Western Dubuque             5-2</p> <p>West Delaware                    4-3</p> <p>Solon                                          3-4</p> <p>Anamosa                                  2-5</p> <p>Maquoketa                             1-6</p> <p>Central DeWitt                    0-7</p>