3A Waterloo Columbus-Can They Continue Their Run?
The US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, home of the Iowa state high school volleyball tournament, has become known to Waterloo Columbus Catholic High School fans as “Columbus South”. Coach Hanna Nuss and her staff have done something very…
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Continue ReadingThe US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, home of the Iowa state high school volleyball tournament, has become known to Waterloo Columbus Catholic High School fans as “Columbus South”.
Coach Hanna Nuss and her staff have done something very few coaches can claim; a trip to the State Tournament in each of their first three years. With each trip, the Sailors gained valuable experience and improved on the success of the previous year. Last year, they brought home the ultimate prize-a 3A State Championship. A five-set thriller against Kuemper Catholic was possibly the most memorable match of the tournament, even more than when the Sailors took home the crown against Sioux Center in three sets.
Of course the question on everyone’s minds…can Nuss and her crew sail to state for a 4th straight year, and more importantly, do they have enough talent to win it again?
Photo Credit: WCF CourierNuss has historically filled the non-conference schedule with a difficult tournament schedule, facing off against some of the top 5A teams in Iowa to prepare her squad for the tough road to a championship. That’s why their 36-8 record in 2016 should be even more impressive than it looks. They went 7-1 in conference, and their only loss was in 4-sets at Dike. Not an easy venue to play in, especially on Senior Night. This year’s challenging schedule will be no different.
What is also no different is that this year’s Sailors will again lose valuable seniors, but once again, the Columbus cupboard is anything but bare.
Leading Columbus is the all-everything libero Kate Shannon, a Senior and an Iowa State commit. Shannon led Columbus in 2017 with 504 digs and was also the team leader in aces with 66. Shannon will once again shoulder the defense in 2018 and is prepared to take on a leadership role as a senior.
The Columbus offense will be on the big arm of Avery Kroll. Kroll, an uncommitted Junior was a force for Columbus for the 2017 season through the state tournament, tallying 319 kills, including 23 against a scrappy Wapsie Valley squad. Experience with CIA 16 Black and a summer of beach volleyball will put Kroll in a position to be one of the state’s top hitters in 2018 and likely a six rotation player.
Photo Credit: The GazetteAnother force for Columbus is the versatile and powerful Sydney Schultz, an uncommitted Senior and softball phenom. Schultz played middle in 2017, and led the team in blocks and had a team leading .965 serve percentage. Schultz provided the final block to win the 2017 championship.
With many tools at middle and right side, and great options at the setter position as well, Coach Nuss and staff have to be thrilled with all the options and combinations they can use to tweak the lineup. Always one of the best conditioned teams in the state, the Sailors could be running their way right back to a 4th straight trip to “Columbus South” this November in Cedar Rapids, and back-to-back 3A titles.