Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Volleyball season officially opened for teams around Iowa on Monday with the first day of practice.

Practice may have just started but season openers are looming just 15 days away for several area teams.

Before matches get underway later this month here are six area players to keep an eye on this season.

Ellie Evans

Senior, City High

A four-year starter, Evans is an important leader on a young but talented City High squad seeking to improve on last year’s 16-16 finish.

A 5-foot-11 hitter with nearly 300 kills to her credit the past two season Evans is capable of a strong senior season.

Evans ranked third on the team with 169 kills a year ago while leading the Little Hawks with 186 digs and adding 30 ace serves.

Abbey Fryauf

Senior, West Branch

Fryauf followed up a strong sophomore season with a breakthrough junior campaign last fall.

The 6-foot-2 Fryauf led West Branch with 289 kills a year ago and ranked second on the team with 189 digs and 45 blocks.

A South Dakota State recruit, Fryauf will attempt to improve on those numbers this season as West Branch looks to build on last season’s 10-23 record.

Shauntina Williams

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

Williams has impressed with athletic ability since her freshman season but put everything together during a breakthrough junior campaign last fall.

The 5-foot-10 Williams led Clear Creek Amana in kills, blocks and hitting percentage on her way to being a unanimous first-team WAMAC West Division pick and Class 4A honorable mention all-state selection.

Williams hit .326 and ranked 11th in Class 4A with 353 kills to go with a team-high 58 blocks.

Rachael Nelson

Senior, Solon

Solon is in a position for a breakthrough season and its versatile senior setter is a big returning piece to build around.

A four-year starter, Nelson led Solon in assists for the third consecutive season last fall with a career-high 487.

The 5-foot-7 setter also ranked third on the team with 148 kills and 42 blocks and had 211 digs to help Solon to a 15-21 mark.

Jaedynn Evans,

Senior, Regina

In her first season at Regina Evans helped the Regals to a 28-9 record and a trip to the Class 2A state tournament.

The 5-foot-9 Evans ranked second on the team with 275 kills and was third with 369 digs while being named to the River Valley Conference Elite team and earning honorable mention all-state honors.

A Central Michigan recruit, Evans averaged 3.2 kills per set and had 31 ace serves and 29 blocks last season.

LeeAnn Potter

Junior, Liberty High

Liberty High was immediately competitive in its first season of varsity action and the play of Potter was a big reason why.

The 5-foot-9 Potter hammered a team-high 307 kills and led the Lightning with 345 digs to help Liberty High to a 13-20 record in its debut season.

Potter was a Class 3A all-district pick last season and will be a key figure this fall as Liberty High embarks on an always-challenging Mississippi Valley Conference schedule.