New Sophomores To Have Big Impacts In Iowa
The Sophomore year can be kind of an enigma. There are players who had the experience of playing as a Freshman on the varsity level and there are other athletes who have had to wait their turn with Seniors who…
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Continue ReadingThe Sophomore year can be kind of an enigma. There are players who had the experience of playing as a Freshman on the varsity level and there are other athletes who have had to wait their turn with Seniors who may have been in front of them. After a big club season and more camps, there are some Sophomores who could really have a breakout year. What goes into a list like this? If they were All-State, All-District, or even All-Conference I think qualifies the athlete as “On The Radar” (Sorry Hayden Kubik, Lauren Carter, Macy Daufeldt, Calia Clubb, Morgan Brandt, and Kora Ruff – I know these athletes will all have an amazing season based on their club performance and first year on the high school scene in 2018). Who is next in line to make the big splash at the high school level?
Ella McLaughlin – North Scott
Active arm, athletic, and a whole lot of upside to her game and she will continue to become a go to outside hitter. She has an aggressive approach where she is able to go cross court or down the line while mixing in a roll or offspeed shot to keep the defense honest. The Lancers are going to be one of those teams to keep an eye on this season out of the Quad Cities and McLaughlin definitely has put herself in a place where she can emerge as a top pin hitter in the state.
Bridget Stover – Winterset
Thea Banning – Winterset
These two will be swinging off of one of the top setters in the Sophomore class in Lauren Carter who has already committed to Denver. Stover and Banning combined for over 200 kills and were the top two blockers on the team with nearly 90 total blocks between them. With a strong performance at the Central Team Camp and another year or experience this Sophomore class will be fun to watch develop as they continue to strengthen their chemistry along the way.
Alexis Moses – Cedar Rapids Prairie
Moses had a major breakout club season which landed her committing to South Dakota, an up and coming program building off an NCAA Tournament in 2018. South Dakota has deep connections to Iowa with their staff in Michale Runde and Shelly Stumpff. Runde coached at Iowa Rockets while Stumpff played for Iowa Rockets and won a state title with Iowa City West. Moses is extremely dynamic and active on the net with a big impact to score points offensively and defensively.
Alayna Finucan – Webster City
Finucan is one of the top Freshman liberoes in the state with a strong all around game. She was a key part in the CIS run to USAV 15 Open this past club season and will be looking to carry that momentum into the high school season. The Lynx will be looking to break into the tops of the North Central Conference with the likes of Algona, Humboldt, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, and Iowa Falls-Alden.
Ella Caffery – Wilton
Ella CafferyKelsey Drake – Wilton
Caffery ran a 5-1 as a Freshman enroute to Wilton’s run to the state tournament, highlighted by a big upset over Grundy Center in the Regional Final. Drake was a part of this team where as a Freshman she had nearly 150 kills and 200 digs. With the graduation of some key Seniors, the Sophomore class for Wilton will become a big bulk of the defensive and offensive output for this squad. They may take their lumps early, but will be a dangerous team come postseason.
Emma Salker – Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Kenzie Foley has been a name for SBL since she first set foot on the varsity court. With this being her Senior year, she will have an incoming Sophomore to mentor in Emma Salker. Salker is the third leading returner in kills for SBL and is primed for a solid season. The Warriors have asserted themselves as the team to beat in Northwest Iowa in Class 4A with multiple trips to the state tournament. Salker will be a key piece to the puzzle (along with Foley and Elle Sneller) to get back to Cedar Rapids.
Sullivan with the swing.Meredith Street – Osage (Title Photo: Mason City Globe Gazette)
Kaebre Sullivan – Osage
Street and Sulliivan have been teaming up for a while, this past winter for CIA playing up on the 16 Black team. They also were a force on the beach playing together this summer with hopes to carry their momentum in the high school season. Osage will have to replace some big pieces due to graduation, but they do have the likes of Street and Sullivan to step up in their Sophomore year.
Shae Dillavou – Forest City
Dillavous is the third Dillavou sister to come through the Forest City program with her older sisters being standouts for the Indians who are always competing to be one of the top programs in the North Iowa area. A long, athletic outside hitter, this year Dillavou will be one of the go to athletes along with Kaylee Miller to score points. The Indians also return All Conference setter in Emma Hovenga.