First Observations Into the Missouri River Conference Race
Welcome to the best season of the year: volleyball season! With conference play starting this week, it’s time to take a look at what we’ve seen so far from NW Iowa’s top high school volleyball programs. Sergeant Bluff-Luton This powerhouse…
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Continue ReadingWelcome to the best season of the year: volleyball season! With conference play starting this week, it’s time to take a look at what we’ve seen so far from NW Iowa’s top high school volleyball programs.
Sergeant Bluff-Luton
This powerhouse is stacked with a considerable amount of talent and will be a fierce competitor in the Missouri River Conference this year. Capping off 2018 with the conference title and making it to the semifinals at state, there is much to be expected from this team. The Warriors begin the 2019 season with a 4-0 start.
Outside hitter, Kenzie Foley Kenzie Foley 5'11" | OH Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2020 State IA , is entering her senior season with 772 career kills. Foley is a fantastic all-around player with a heavy swing, great ball placement, and impressive serve receive skills. Senior leader Foley will be taking her talents to St. Cloud State University next fall.
Although Foley is off the college recruiting market, there is plenty of uncommitted talent that remains for the Warriors. Sophomore, Emma Salker, is already doing big things this season, recording nine kills and four aces against their 3-0 win over Council Bluffs-Thomas Jefferson on Thursday. As a freshman last year, the middle blocker recorded 63 kills and 65 blocks. Another star in the line-up is senior, Elle Sneller Elle Sneller S Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2020 State IA , who recorded five blocks and eight kills from the outside on Thursday. She has been an effective stat leader for the Warriors, notching 282 kills in the successful 2018 season. Other notable mentions are the setters for the team, Madison Wilcoxon (recorded 21 assists) and left-handed setter, Maddie Hinkel (recorded 17 assists).
Sioux City East
Sioux City East will be a force to be reckoned with this year with an experienced group of returners leading the way. The Raiders have been finding plenty of success already, starting the 2019 season with a 7-3 record, notching notable wins over in-conference rivals, Sioux City North and Bishop Heelan.
All of these talented players are up for grabs in the college recruiting scene! Lineya Wells (Junior MB) has incredible reach with her impressive vertical jump. Wells recorded 45 kills on the day at the Sioux City North Invite last Saturday. The offense is directed by two talented setters: Lucy Mehlhaff (sophomore) and Chloe Kramer (junior). Riley Donahue (junior OH/RH), Alex Radcliffe (sophomore OH/RH), and Josie Blake (senior libero) are other elite contributors to the squad.
Another talent within the conference is Sioux City North. The Stars are starting strong with a 7-2 record, only recording losses to Sioux City East and MOC-Floyd Valley at their home tournament Saturday. Junior setter, Olivia O’Brien, notched 74 assists on the day with 25 digs. Junior Ysabella Arredondo led the Stars with 26 kills followed by Isabelle Hesse with 18. Other notable mentions of the North Stars are strong junior MB Courtney Johnson, sophomore libero Avery Beller, and well-rounded talent Madison Craighead (sophomore MB).
Taking the conversation out of the Siouxland area, leading the way for Council Bluffs-Abraham Lincoln is senior Elaina Bohnet Elaina Bohnet 5'10" | OH Council Bluffs Lincoln | 2020 State IA , who recently committed to Iowa Western CC. Recording team best 444 kills in the 2018 season, Bohnet helped AL sweep LeMars last Thursday.
LeMars will be led this season by uncommitted junior outside, Pypr Stoeffler Pypr Stoeffler OH LeMars | 2021 State IA , and uncommitted senior OH/RH, Jecenta Sargisson Jecenta Sargisson OH Le Mars | 2020 State IA . Stoeffler, who led the team in kills with 12 on Thursday, is a phenomenal all-around player with an impressive volleyball IQ. Sargisson, who hits a killer line shot from the opposite pin, showcased her backrow talents by recording a team-high 22 digs against the Lynx. Setter for the team, uncommitted senior, Brooke Haage, recorded 33 assists.
MOC-Floyd Valley
Not a part of the Missouri River Conference, but worth noting in this article as they took down three Missouri River schools to secure the Sioux City North High Invite Championship on Saturday.
The Dutchman posted an impressive 21-6 record last year, ending the season with a quarterfinal finish in the Class 3A State Tournament. This year is looking like another promising run at the State Title with a loaded and experienced roster.
The Dutchmen return several of the state’s top uncommitted players. Junior outside hitter, Jazlin De Haan (2018 Second Team All-State), who’s heavy swing recorded 45 kills this weekend, will be a hard-to-stop offensive threat for the team. Kiernan Groendyke, junior libero, returns after posting 264 digs on the 2018 season. Fellow junior, Taryn Nothem will be another solid contributor from the outside along with sophomore MB, Brooklyn Leusink.