West High seniors Ali Tauchen, Emma Norris, Emily HalversonBy Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports

On Tuesday nine West High seniors saw their prep volleyball careers come to an end with a four-set loss to two-time defending state champion Ankeny Centennial at the state tournament.

Wednesday seven of those West High seniors officially cemented plans to continue their volleyball careers.

Seven players from the West High quarterfinal volleyball team were among 11 West High athletes to sign national letters of intent on Wednesday on the first day of the early signing period.

Gabi Delsing, Maddie Fay, Madi Ford, Emily Halverson, Emma Norris, Aubrey Sowers and Ali Tauchen all made their college plans official on Wednesday.

Ford, a 5-8 libero signed with Drake after leading West High with 406 digs this seasons while Delsing is headed to Mount Mercy after finishing second on the team with 253 digs.

A three-year varsity starter at setter, the 5-10 Fay signed with South Dakota State following a senior season in which she led West High with 722 assists and 38 ace serves.

Halverson, a 6-foot-1 middle had 198 kills and 71 blocks this season and will play at North Dakota State while Tauchen, a 6-0 middle that collected 201 kills and 25 blocks this season is head to Missouri Western.

The 5-foot-9 Norris led West High with 262 kills this season and added 232 digs on her way to first team all-conference honors and signed on Wednesday with Western Illinois.

A 5-foot-11 setter, Sowers had 151 assists this season and will play collegiately at Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Joining the seven volleyball players in signing letters of intent on Wednesday were Taleah Smith, Skylar Ryan, Leah Dusterhoft and Jordan Amelon.

Already a three-time all-state pick and two-time first team selection, Smith signed with Northern Iowa to play softball.

A career .485 hitter, Smith has scored 139 runs and has 142 stolen bases over the last three seasons. 

A centerfielder for West High, Smith earned first team all-state honors for the second straight season last summer after hitting .490 with 24 RBI, 47 runs scored and 47 stolen bases.

Teammate Skylar Ryan signed to continue her softball career at Kirkwood Community College.

Ryan batted .307 last season with eight doubles and 28 RBI.

A three-time medalist in the discus, Dusterhoft signed with South Dakota to continue her track and field career.

Dusterhoft placed fifth at the state meet last spring with a throw of 133-7.

Amelon will continue her golf career at St. Catherine’s University.

Already a three-year varsity letterwinner at West High, Amelon helped the Women of Troy to fifth place and seventh place team finishes at the Class 5A state meet as a freshman and sophomore.

Amelon placed 16th at the state meet as an individual last year as a junior with a 167.