(Anita, IA) – The CAM volleyball team finished their season on a very successful note. CAM finished 26-10 and 7-1 in the Rolling Valley Conference this season, their most wins since the 2018-19 season. The success came from the seniors who came into the season ready to play and hit the court. Meredith Rich, Jenna Platt, Emma Follmann, Natalie Behnken, Payton LaPorte, and Eva Steffensen all played on the floor for CAM this season and helped to lead a successful year.
Speaking of the seniors, Meredith Rich led the team in digs with 491 this season. She took a bit of a transition role, going from playing all-around and hitting in the front row to a primarily defensive role in the back row. Head coach Jenna McDonald knew that Rich’s quickness helped the Cougars get the job done in the back row to lead to their success in the front row.
Speaking of that success in the front row, Eva Steffensen kept her presence well-known for opposing teams. The senior led the team in kills with 374 and in serving aces with 47 while serving over 90% as she was so good that teams struggled to defend against her this season. Emma Follman sat right behind her with 191 kills and was second on the team in blocks with 32. When these two were playing their best, so was the team as a whole.
The thing about the success is that you’d think that the Cougars’ would be starting a senior setter. Rather, the Cougars utilized Courtney Follmann who earned 653 assists this season as a freshman. The freshman also earned 32 kills and had nine blocks. Coach McDonald didn’t know what she was going to get out of Follman this season, and the surprise was a good one as she was not only a leader on the floor, but she continued to get better all season.
Looking forward to next season, the Cougars are losing six seniors and many teams would think that CAM would be hitting the reset button, but rather the Cougars will just be filling in the spots left by the seniors.
Coach McDonald is looking forward to next season and thanks the athletes, community, and coaches for all the fun and success this season.
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