Seven Your Prep Sports Area Volleyball Players Ready For A Breakthrough Season
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
The volleyball season officially got underway on Monday with the first day of practice for teams across the state of Iowa.
Competition will begin later this month with the first Your Prep Sports area teams opening the season on August 27.
Every team is seeking the same thing, a spot at the 2024 state tournament that is scheduled for November 4-7 at Xtream Arena in Coralville.
Last week Your Prep Sports highlighted some of the top returning players in the area this season.
Today Your Prep Sports turns the spotlight on to seven area players that could be poised to take the next step with breakthrough seasons.
Addie Bollier
Sophomore, Regina
Is Bollier really a breakthrough candidate after already posting an impressive debut season last fall.
As good as Bollier was last season as a freshman the answer to that question is yes, as she should cement her status as one of the top liberos in the state this season.
Bollier made big strides in her first prep season, ranking second on the team with 367 digs while helping Regina to a 26-11 record.
The more Bollier played the better she got, as evidence by a school-record 42 digs against West Branch in a season-ending Class 2A regional quarterfinal loss.
Expect even more from the 5-foot-3 Bollier this season who will be a key leader in a Regina backrow that should be among the best in Class 2A.
Alyssa Vargason
Junior, West Branch
West Branch must replace its top five hitters from last season with the graduation of a strong senior class that accounted for 86 percent of the Bears’ kills a year ago.
That loss of production equals opportunity for Vargason who already has two seasons of varsity experience.
Vargason showed her potential last season racking up 111 kills on .183 hitting and finishing third on the team with 28 blocks.
All of those number should rise this season for the 5-foot-9 Vargason who will take on a much larger role in the West Branch attack.
Hattie Galloway
Sophomore, City High
Galloway impressed as a freshman ranking in the top three on the team in kills, hitting percentage, blocks and ace serves while helping City High to a 23-10 record.
Expect much more from Galloway who seemed to just be scratching the surface of her massive potential in her varsity debut season.
Galloway racked up 128 kills on .270 hitting as a freshman while leading the Little Hawks with 58 blocks and ranking second on the team with 33 ace serves.
With two of City High’s top three hitters from last season lost to graduation the opportunity for a massive season awaits for the 6-foot Galloway who is an impressive athlete for her size.
Ellie Wilson
Sophomore, Liberty High
In a Liberty High lineup filled with fresh faces it was somewhat easy to overlook the freshman season that Wilson put together.
The more Wilson plays the harder it will be to ignore her production.
Wilson ranked third on the team in kills and digs last season in her varsity debut and should be even better this season on a Liberty High team that returns nearly intact.
The 5-foot-9 Wilson is a crafty hitter that posted 176 kills last season to go with 275 digs.
Wilson also added 22 blocks and was second on the team with 23 ace serves a year ago.
The number may not skyrocket for Wilson this season with Liberty High returning plenty of talent but look for a more efficient and all-around better season for Wilson after she flashed impressive potential last fall.
Elle Barnett
Senior, West High
West High must replace five graduated senior starters including a trio of players that led the Trojans in kills, blocks and assists.
Those losses leave plenty of opportunities for players to step up and break out this season.
Barnett is one of the prime candidates for a breakthrough season after performing well in her first varsity action last fall.
The 5-foot-7 Barnett had 196 assists, 102 digs and 22 ace serves while starting 31 matches last season as a junior.
With a year of experience under her belt and an expanded role this fall look for a breakthrough season for Barnett.
Kennedey Whitford
Junior, Solon
If you aren’t familiar with Whitford you likely will be soon as the backrow specialist continues to emerge as one of the best in Class 3A.
Whitford has already accumulated 682 in her career and is coming off a strong sophomore season in which she ranked 13th in Class 3A in digs and digs per set.
The 5-foot-5 Whitford was excellent last season when she led Solon with 435 digs to go with 18 ace serves.
However, the best is yet to come for Whitford who will look to take another step forward this season and solidify herself as one of the best in the state.
Sariah Sherman
Junior, Clear Creek Amana
Gone from the Clear Creek Amana roster are three of the top four hitters from last year’s state semifinalist and 10 total seniors that accounted for 60 percent of the Clipper kills and 54 percent of the hitting attempts last season.
That is a lot of swings up for grabs this fall.
Enter Sherman, who showed impressive potential in a limited role last season on a 46-1 Clear Creek Amana squad loaded with veteran talent.
The 5-foot-11 Sherman had 92 kills a year ago and ranked third on the team with 52 blocks while playing in all 47 matches.
Expect those numbers to skyrocket this season for Sherman who will join returning all-stater Averie Lower as one of go-to options for the Clippers.
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