Volleyball Capsules: Taking a Quick Look at Your Prep Sports Area Volleyball Teams
City High
Coach: Carolyn Giese (2nd season)
Assistant coaches: Karen Meyer; Stacie Smith
Last season: 23-10
Returning starters: Emmy McComas, Sr., OH; Lila Howe, Sr., DS; Jessi Kucera, Jr., DS; Kaitlin Loria, Soph., OH; Hattie Galloway, Soph., MB
Other Returning letterwinners: Mackenzie Brown, Sr., RS; Georgia Sieben, Sr., DS; Halle Larew, Jr., MB
Newcomers to watch: Hazel Schluckebier, Fr., S; Lizzie Nolte, Soph., MB; Rainie Pfohl, Soph., MB
Headliner: Senior Emmy McComas is a four-year starter looking for a strong finish to what has been an impressive career. The 5-foot-11 McComas has led City High in digs each of the past three seasons and is coming off a junior season in which she had career highs in kills (237), hitting efficiency (.267) and blocks (30) to go with 23 ace serves and 236 digs.
Keep an eye on: Junior Jessi Kucera got the first extended varsity action of her career last season ranking fourth on the team with 158 digs and third with 28 digs while making 23 starts and should see an increase in production this season.
Ready for a breakthrough: Sophomore Hattie Galloway is poised for a major breakthrough after a freshman season in which she ranked in the top three on the team in kills, hitting percentage, blocks and ace serves. The 6-foot Galloway was among the top freshman in the state last season posting 128 kills on .270 hitting to go with 58 blocks and 33 aces.
Circle the date: October 3 at West High. City High travels across town for the annual Battle for the Spike seeking a second straight win in the series after sweeping West High in the annual cross-town showdown last season at City High.
Breakdown: City High went 23-10 and advanced to a Class 5A regional final in year one under head coach Carolyn Giese last fall.
With five players returning with starting experience the Little Hawks should once again be in the mix for a state tournament trip this season.
McComas, Galloway and Kucera headline the list of returning starters that also includes senior Lila Howe and sophomore Kaitlin Loria.
Loria ranked fifth on the team with 63 kills last season while Howe was sixth with 92 digs.
Junior Hallen Larew and seniors McKenzie Brown and Georgia Sieben also return while freshman setter Hazel Schluckebier is expected to make an immediate impact.
Liberty High
Coach: Allie Kelly (4th season)
Assistant coaches: Scott Sanders; Rachel Berkland; Madi Miller; Shishonee Hughes; Jeff Daugherty
Last season: 19-22
Returning starters: Asta Hildebrand, Sr., S/OH; Lucy Maassen, Jr., OH; Edie Miller, Soph., L; Hadley Miller, Soph., S/OPP; Sydney Van Heukelom, Soph., MB; Ellie Wilson, Soph., OH
Other Returning letterwinners: Peyton Liu, Sr., MB
Newcomers to watch: Ashlyn Nordell, Jr., MB; Ava Meidlinger, Soph., OPP/MB; Maya Sojka, Jr., DS.
Headliner: Senior Asta Hildebrand is one of the most versatile and top all-around players in the state. A second-team Class 5A all-state pick last season, the 6-foot Hildebrand had a team-high 361 kills on .239 hitting last season to go with 392 assists, 299 digs, 42 blocks and 22 ace serves.
Keep an eye on: Junior Lucy Maassen made an immediate impact in her first varsity action last season ranking second on the team with 252 kills while adding 86 digs, 40 blocks and 11 ace serves. Look for an even bigger season from the explosive Maassen this season.
Ready for a breakthrough: Sophomore Ellie Wilson is a prime breakthrough candidate after getting a taste of varsity action. Wilson ranked third on the team with 176 kills and 275 digs last season as a rookie while adding 22 blocks and 23 ace serves and should only see those numbers rise this fall.
Circle the date: September 3 at Cedar Rapids Xavier. Liberty High gets an early-season measure stick match as it travels to Class 4A preseason top-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier for its first Mississippi Valley Conference match.
Breakdown: After winning the Class 5A state title in 2022 the Lightning went 19-22 last season with four freshman in its starting lineup. Look for Liberty High to take a major step forward this fall after hitting stride late last year while advancing to a 5A regional title game.
Hildebrand returns to lead the way and has strong options around her in Maassen and Wilson.
Sophomores Edie Miller, Hadley Miller and Sydney Van Heukelom all return with starting experience from last season.
Edie Miller led the team in digs with 603 on her way to earning all-state honors and has established herself as one of the state’s best liberos. Hadley Miller led Liberty High with 515 assists last season in her first year leading the Lightning offense. Van Heukelom led Liberty High with 68 blocks to go with 87 kills last season.
Senior Peyton Liu also returns while juniors Ashlyn Nordell and Maya Sojka could be in the mix along with sophomore Ava Meidlinger.
Clear Creek Amana
Coach: Jackie Clubb (11th season)
Assistant coaches: Isabel Schminke; Natalie Fry; Jamie Stratton; Faith Henderson; Kailee Pfeiferling
Last season: 46-1 (Class 4A state semifinals)
Returning starters: Averie Lower, Sr., OH; Emily Henderson, Jr., S; Sariah Sherman, Jr., RS;
Other Returning letterwinners: Elizabeth Timmerman, Jr., OH; Kylie Koehn, Sr.; Kendra Eckrich, Sr.; Olivia Webb, Sr.
Newcomers to watch: Bailey Simpson, Soph., MH
Headliner: Junior Averie Lower steps into the role as go-to hitter after collecting 504 kills and 698 digs in her first two varsity seasons. The 5-foot-10 Lower is coming off the best season of her career last fall earning third-team Class 4A all-state honors after hammering 282 kills on .215 hitting to go with 311 digs and 47 blocks.
Keep an eye on: Junior Emily Henderson is coming off a breakthrough sophomore season in which she led Clear Creek Amana with 535 assists while adding 101 kills on .202 hitting to go with 238 digs, 49 blocks and 25 aces.
Ready for a breakthrough: Junior Sariah Sherman showed her potential last season why playing a supporting role to a strong senior class. Now look for the 5-foot-11 Sherman to take on a bigger role after posting 92 kills while ranking third on the team with 52 blocks a year ago.
Circle the date: October 17 WAMAC Tournament at Marion. Clear Creek Amana will look to defend its WAMAC Conference title after winning the tournament for the first time last fall.
Breakdown: Clear Creek Amana will look to continue what has been the most successful stretch in program history. The Clippers are 80-12 with a pair of state tournament appearances over the past two seasons after going 46-1 and advancing to the 4A state semifinals last season.
Clear Creek Amana certainly has the firepower for another state tournament run led by returning starters Lower, Sherman and Henderson.
Junior Elizabeth Timmerman and seniors Kylie Koehn, Kendra Eckrich and Olivia Webb are all poised to take on larger roles this season along with 6-foot sophomore Bailey Simpson.
Regina
Coach: Lauren Hansen (3rd season)
Assistant coaches: Colby Greene; Katherine Kouba; Caitlyn Smith; Emma Willenborg
Last season: 26-11
Returning starters: Reese Naeve, Jr., OH; Caitlin Martin, Sr., OH; Addie Bollier, Soph., L.
Other Returning letterwinners: Ella McLaughlin, Sr., DS; Ruby Greving, Jr., OPP
Newcomers to watch: Nora Wilhelm, Soph., S; Adalee Klein, Soph., MH; Ella Keune, Jr., MH
Headliner: Junior Reese Naeve has already established herself as one of the best hitters in 2A after hammering over 1,000 kills in her first two varsity seasons. An Iowa State commit, Naeve ranked third in the state last season with 600 kills on .341 hitting on her way to earning third-team Class 3A all-state honors.
Keep an eye on: Senior outside hitter Caitlin Martin is poised for a strong final season after ranking third on the team with 107 kills on .244 last season. Martin added 19 blocks and 84 digs last season but should be in for a stellar senior season.
Ready for a breakthrough: Sophomore Addie Bollier made a splash last season ranking second on the team with 367 digs but should be even better this season with a year of experience under her belt.
Circle the date: September 14 at Live Like Line Volleyball Extravaganza at West High. Regina will get a look at where it stacks up against some of the best teams in the state as it faces a tournament field that features six top-10 ranked teams including a trop of teams in the 5A top-10.
Breakdown: Regina enjoyed a breakthrough season last fall going 26-11 and posting the most wins in a season for the program since 2017.
After an early postseason exit a year ago, falling to West Branch in the 2A regional quarterfinals, Regina is seeking another season of growth this fall.
Regina returns one of the top players in all of 2A in Iowa State recruit Naeve and has an emerging star in the back row in Bollier.
Martin is poised for a strong senior season and returns with starting experience.
Sophomore Vinton-Shellsburg transfer Adalee Klein will be in the mix along with senior Ella McLaughlin and juniors Ella Keune and Ruby Greving.
Sophomore setter Nora Wilhelm is set to lead a Regal attack that will be filled with hitting options.
West Branch
Co-Coaches: Monica Tylee (3rd season), Becky Hosier (3rd season)
Assistant coaches: Jamie Tucker
Last season: 18-17
Returning starters: MadeLynn Falco, Sr., L; Alyssa Vargason, Jr., RS
Other Returning letterwinners: Danielle Crutchley, Jr., OS; Kennedy Simpson, Jr., OH/S; Alyssa Pierce, Sr., RS; Jordan Waters, Sr., OH
Newcomers to watch: Lyla Popkes, Soph., S; Briley Kaalberg, Jr.; Lilah Pedersen; Ava Burnett; Addi Finley
Headliner: Senior libero Madelynn Falco emerged as one of the top back row players in Class 2A last season earning first-team all-River Valley Conference South Division honors after collecting a team-high 360 digs to go with 16 ace serves.
Keep an eye on: Junior Kennedy Simpson got a little bit of playing time last season collecting 23 kills while playing in 11 matches but will be a much bigger piece of the puzzle for the Bears this season and has impressed early with her ability to play different positions.
Ready for a breakthrough: Junior Alyssa Vargason finds herself in a perfect spot for a breakthrough season as West Branch looks to replace its top five hitters from last season. The 5-foot-9 Vargason should help fill those positions left by graduated seniors after posting 111 kills last season.
Circle the date: September 19 vs. Regina. West Branch hosts River Valley Conference rival Regina in a rematch of last year’s Class 2A regional quarterfinal match won by West Branch in five sets.
Breakdown: West Branch peaked at the right time last season, closing an 18-17 season by advancing all the way to the Class 2A regional title game.
With the graduation of six seniors all with at least 122 kills there is no question there are holes to fill in the lineup but West Branch has showed over the past several seasons it is developing depth in the program under third-year co-head coaches Monica Tylee and Becky Hosier.
Falco will be a key leader for the Bears in the back row and Simpson and Vargason will be important pieces of the puzzle.
Senior Jordan Waters should step into a spot in the front row along with senior Alyssa Pierce.
Junior Danielle Curtchley saw some backrow time last season and should be in for a more extensive role this year while Lyla Popkes, Briley Kaalberg, Lilah Pedersen, Ava Burnett and Addi Finley could all be in the mix for a new-look West Branch team.
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