Our Volleyball Lookout spotted the Western Iowa Conference and what a conference it is. With 60% of the conference at a .500 or better record, let’s break down the teams coming into the season. These are not rankings, just looking out for the season ahead, and are in alphabetical order.
AHSTW
The Vikings are returning two of their top hitters Saydi Paulsen and Delaney Goshorn this season. The seniors combined for 289 kills last year and both had over 250 digs combined. AHSTW is also returning their sophomore setter, Halle Goodman as she had 431 assists in her freshman season. As they have lost their best defensive specialist Grace Porter and hitter Kaleah Guyer, they will be a team that is returning the majority of their squad. With more experience and a good offense, this is a team to look out for this season.
Audubon
Audubon is returning their best outside hitter Mattie Nielsen from last season as she was just shy of 300 kills with 297. She is also their returning leader in digs as she had 142 for the Wheelers last season. Audubon is also returning their ace leader, Addie Hocker, as she had 53 last year with an 87% serving percentage. Coach Brandi Bueltel is anticipating on a more than successful season for the Wheelers.
IKM-Manning
The Wolves struggled offensively last season, but are looking to bounce back this year with returning senior Megan Williams who had 77 kills last season and a team-leading 12 solo blocks. They also have two very talented sophomores, Laura McCarville and Anna Stangl returning to the floor as they combined for 46 serving aces last season. As IKM-Manning is a younger team and will be developing a new setter, the Wolves will have a lot to work with this season to develop this young squad.
Logan-Magnolia
Logan-Magnolia will look a bit different this season when compared to previous seasons. They lost six seniors from last season, including their top-three hitters and two of their top-three leading diggers. However, the Panthers will be bringing back libero Marki Bertelsen who was their leader in digs last season with 249. Logan-Magnolia will also be returning their setter Jazmyn Guritz who played as the secondary setter in the rotation last season. They will have a young team with lots of raw talent this season, so expect the unexpected when it comes to watching the Panthers this season.
Missouri Valley
Missouri Valley is in a similar situation to losing a lot of key offensive components this season including Ella Myler and Ava Hilts who combined for over 600 kills last season. They are, however, bringing back setter Henley Arbaugh who played as the secondary setter last season with 381 assists for the Lady Reds. With a newer looking team on the floor this season, they will have to work defensively and collectively to compete this season.
Riverside
Riverside was a very successful team last season as they were led by Veronica Andrusyshyn and Mack Olmstead-Mitchell who combined for 584 kills last season. They may be missing those key players, but they are returning Elyssa Amdor, Sophia Taylor, and Elly Hendersen who all managed to still knock on over 100 kills each while sitting behind Andrusyshyn and Olmstead-Mitchell. On the front end, the Bulldogs will be more than successful with those three leading on the offensive end. Defensively, they are bringing back senior Carly Henderson who had 251 digs last year and 32 aces. Speaking of aces, Ayla Richardson is coming back as she had a team-high 67 aces last season while maintaining a 91% serving percentage. Coach Brooke Flathers has a lot of talent on her hands this season which could go far in the long run.
Treynor
Treynor is in a very good position this season, just as they were last year. They are returning their top-three hitters from last season. Senior Ella Tiarks led the team last year in kills with 232 and in solo blocks with 30. Sophomore Nora Konz had a breakout freshman season last year with 226 kills and had 267 digs. Aubree James also had 206 kills last year for the Cardinals. Haley Swanson and Maili McKern also will help fill in the role that libero Delaney Simpson was in last year as Swanson and McKern combined for over 300 kills last season. Haley Swanson was also the team-leader in the serving game with 49 aces and had a 95% serving percentage. Treynor will be a very good team this season and a fun team to watch on the court.
Tri-Center
The Trojans are losing two out of their three top hitters last season, but they are bringing back team-best Mikenzie Brewer as she had 274 kills last season. The senior also was second on the team in solo blocks with 12. Leading blocker from last season, Alexis Flaherty, had 20 solo blocks last year and had 111 kills. Tri-Center will be set with junior setter Meya Wingert as she had 750 assists last season and was the leading defender in digs with 205. The junior also had a team-leading 61 aces last season. Alongside Wingert will be Avilyn Killpack and Taylor Kenkel who had over 350 digs combined last year. They will be under new leadership this season with Elizabeth Thielen taking over the coaching duties, but is a team that can bring some damage to the floor this season.
Underwood
Underwood is bringing back one of the conference’s best hitters this season with Alizabeth Jacobsen. The senior hit a conference-high 431 kills last season and had a .294 hitting efficiency rating. Jacobsen also led the team in aces with 54 and was second in solo blocks with seven. While they are bringing back Jacobsen, they are losing their libero and three best defensive specialists from last season, so we will see some younger talent put into the back row this season. They will also have to develop a new setter this season after a career-breaking season for Delaney Ambrose as she had 667 assists last year. Elizabeth Stein will have a mixture of tenured talent and young talent on her team this upcoming season.
