NICL East Preview
Iowa volleyball is loaded with talent year after year, and the many conferences in the state bring forward many great teams. But few conferences can possibly lay claim to the title of “top conference” like the NICL East. It definitely…
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Continue ReadingIowa volleyball is loaded with talent year after year, and the many conferences in the state bring forward many great teams. But few conferences can possibly lay claim to the title of “top conference” like the NICL East. It definitely makes a tough argument…
Consider this-last year, the conference yielded TWO state champions in 3A Columbus Catholic from Waterloo, and Dike-New Hartford with the crown in 2A. Wapsie Valley also joined the party in Cedar Rapids by qualifying for the state tournament.
Go back to 2016, and an astonishing FIVE teams qualified for state (Hudson-1A, Sumner-2A, Columbus-then 2A, Dike-then 3A, and Union-3A). Four of those five played in their class championship game, and Dike and Union played each other for the championship in 3A (Dike won). Needless to say, when conference play begins in the NICL East, it’s time to put on your “big girl spandex”.
Difficult to predict where things will shake out with this conference for 2018, with the departure of some of the best players in the state (or country for that matter). So to be safe, this preview will go in order of last year’s finish:
DIKE-NEW HARTFORD (7-0, 50-3) CLASS 2A CHAMPIONS: What can you say about this program that hasn’t been said? Who can graduate one of the top players in the country (Syd Petersen to Texas), a top D1 prospect (Baylee Petersen to UNI), a setter (Madison Hedges) who dished out almost 1300 assists and STILL be among the favorites in the conference and 2A? When the “who” is Dike, that’s how you do it. Dike comes back STRONG in 2018 with Junior Morgan Weber (if you haven’t seen her, you’re missing out) who spent her winter playing against the top u18s in the country for CIA 18 Black. Morgan might be the best all-around player in the state. Also back is the other hammer-senior Amber Rickert who looks great coming back from back surgery (332 kills/72 blocks in 2017) and Carlee Dove (220 kills/69 blocks) who is a terror in the front row. Feel bad for all that talent Dike lost in its Senior class? Coach Diane Harms and squad will be just fine in 2018-it’s reload mode once again.
WATERLOO COLUMBUS CATHOLIC (7-1, 36-8) CLASS 3A CHAMPIONS: Lauren Hansen of recently did a comprehensive review of Columbus recently, but here is the quick summary of the Sailors, who return to the court in 2018 as the 3A champs. Despite losing some key Seniors, Columbus will once again have plenty of talent on the court. Back for her 4th varsity season is the ultra-talented Kate Shannon (Iowa State commit) at libero. Shannon’s “touch every ball” attitude has garnered her a reputation as one of the top defensive players in the state (504 digs in 2017). Providing nightmares for defenses will be a 1-2 punch in the front row. Avery Kroll (Junior) is a heavy-armed and springy OH who spreads her infectious enthusiasm to this squad on the court and will be taking flight in 2018 after her 319 kill output as a Sophomore. The other half of that duo is Sydney Schultz who is extremely high flying and powerful herself in the middle and as OH (174 kills in ’17). Watch out for Freshman Faith Freshwater (Six Pack 14s) in the middle. Columbus girl’s sports always seem to find a way to state tournaments and 2018’s squad looks for its 4th straight.
UNION (6-2,19-18): This will be an interesting squad to follow this year in the NICL. There is much youth across this squad as Union returns bouncy Belle Weber at OH (410 kills) who’s just a Sophomore, Jasmyn Bush (211 kills as a Junior) as well as Megan Carty’s 130 kills, ready for her Senior year. They bring in a Freshman, Lexi Nolan (CIA 14 Black) who will be hard to keep on the bench. Throw in a Sophomore Allie Driscol (528 assists) and players who can be big contributors like Sophie Winklepleck (CIA 15 Silver) as a Sophomore, and Union will be a team that may be ready to do big things now, rather than in the future. Keep an eye on the kids on the NICL East from LaPorte-will they have the defense to go with their solid offense to compete in this strong-hitting division?
DENVER (6-7, 16-18): The core of this crew has been playing together since 4th grade, so there is no one has the bond that Denver does. Add to that that Denver lost no Seniors off its team from 2017, its Senior core of Allison Waterman (240), Julia Vervaecke (217), Lila Meyer (196), Marissa Stock (140) and Abby Sheridan (136) share the wealth regarding kills, and Gabby Corday (777 assists), another Senior, will have lots of options on where to distribute the ball. Along with a core of underclassmen, Denver will have a mix of new and old to give their new head coach a chance for optimism and improving on 2017’s record.
photo credit: KCRRWAPSIE VALLEY (4-5, 21-15) CLASS 2A STATE QUALIFIER: As gritty as they come, this Wapsie valley team came out of nowhere to fight their way into a trip to Cedar Rapids. This year, Wapsie will sneak up on no one as they have a dangerous Senior in Mikenna Joerger (345 kills) in the front, and a USA-National champion (Six Pack 16s) Kaci Beesecker (Junior) patrolling any ball that might be in a ten-mile radius. Wapsie thrives on defense, adding McKenna Miller as another tough defending Junior, and this style will wear on enough teams to make them a major contender in this difficult division.
THE REST OF THE NICL EAST:
JESUP (3-5, 19-14): Heads up for the second-coming of Piper Thomas (Bobbi Thomas) readies for her Freshman year. Alexis Harris (Sophomore) and Jaima Tonne (Senior) are players to keep an eye on.
HUDSON (3-5, 17-15): Chasing down the records of Kylie DeBerg? Ashlynn Kuhn is ready for her Sophomore debut.
SUMNER (3-5, 14-19): Never an easy “out”, Sumner girls are always ready to compete. Opposition won’t be sorry to see the departure of superstar Jenna Brandt, but Junior Jordan Burrows will be once again hammering from the outside in 2018. This may be the 2018 version of the 2017 Wapsie Valley.
APLINGTON/PARKERSBURG (0-8, 6-23): This squad was very youthful in 2017, giving Freshmen and Sophomores valuable experience. Would be surprised to see A/P not get into the win column in the conference for 2018.
Predicted Finish:
1.) Dike, 2) Columbus, 3) Wapsie, 4) Union, 5) Denver, 6) Jesup, 7) Sumner, 8) Hudson, 9) A/P