Western Iowa Conference Preview: Underwood!
In this article:
2020 SEASON RECORD: Conference record 6-0, overall record 26-6. Underwood’s season came to an end in a Class 2A – Region 3 Championship against Van Meter in a 5 set duel that went against them. They lost the first set…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading2020 SEASON RECORD: Conference record 6-0, overall record 26-6. Underwood’s season came to an end in a Class 2A – Region 3 Championship against Van Meter in a 5 set duel that went against them. They lost the first set against Van Meter 25-22, won the second set 25-23, won the third set 25-17, lost the fourth set 25-23, and then lost in a heartbreaker the fifth set 15-10.
Coaches in 2020:
Position | Name |
---|---|
Head Coach | Paula Carman |
Assistant Coach | Lea Crouse |
Assistant Coach | Rachel Teten |
Assistant Coach | Karman Vanfossan |
GRADUATED or GONE:
Head Coach Paula Carman has switched to Glenwood High School.
Underwood lost Taylor Nelson (DS), Allie Robertson (DS), and Haylee Seidler (OH) to graduation.
Peyton Cook Peyton Cook 5'8" | S Underwood | 2021 State IA (S)
Cook played in 65 of 89 total sets for the Eagles and produced 9.4 APS(609), 27 kills, 18 total blocks, 2.8 DPS(180), and 31 service aces with an 87.9% serve efficiency.
Brianna Justsen (MH)
Justsen played in all 89 sets for the Eagles in 2020 and had 1.1 KPS(100), a team-high 68 total blocks, and 22 digs.
Zoe Rus Zoe Rus 5'10" | OH Underwood | 2021 State IA (OH)
Rus played in all 89 sets for the Eagles last season and had 32 assists, 2.7 KPS(238), 19 total blocks, 1.1 DPS(96), and a team-high 85 service aces with an 88.1% serve efficiency.
Allie Robertson (DS)
Robertson played in 88 of 89 sets for the Eagles last year and had 1.6 DPS(143).
Macy Vanfossan Macy Vanfossan OH Underwood | 2021 State IA (OH)
Vanfossan played in all 89 sets for the Eagles last year and had 30 assists, a team-high 3.5 KPS(313), 33 total blocks, 3.7 DPS(327), and 32 service aces with a 93.2% serve efficiency.
Underwood lost seven seniors, three of them in our rankings, to graduation and their head coach to another school. I think it is fair to assume this will be a rebuilding year for Underwood. Let’s see who we think will be coming back and who they will need to replace.
RETURNING PLAYERS:
Leslie Morales-Foote (2022, L)
Morales-Foote played in 80 of 89 sets for the Eagles in 2020 and had 43 assists and 3.4 DPS(275).
Aliyah Humphrey (2023, OH)
Humphrey played in 86 of 89 sets for the the Eagles last season and had 4 assists, 15 kills, 3 total blocks, 2.6 DPS(220), and 24 service aces with an 87.6% serve efficiency.
Delaney Ambrose (2023, RS)
Ambrose played in all 89 sets for the Eagles last season and contributed 68 assists, 1.4 KPS(128), 15 total blocks, and 84 digs.
Alizabeth Jacobsen Alizabeth Jacobsen 6'3" | MB Underwood | 2024 State IA (2024, MH)
Jacobsen is a 6’2″ MH returning for Underwood this year and after watching her in Summer League in June, I think she is up to the challenge of taking over some of the major hitting responsibilities for her team. She had 3 assists, 1.2 KPS(105), 45 total blocks, and 33 digs.
Also returning for the Eagles will be Leah Hall (2023, DS) andAlly Leaders (2023, S), Taylor Krueger (2022, OH), Chloe Clawson (2022, MH),
It looks like Underwood will only need a couple of DS’s and maybe another right-side hitter, but the losses they suffered in the seniors who graduated are severe. I am not sure they can be made up that easily. And with the loss of their head coach, this could be a major learning curve for Underwood so let’s wish them luck and good health in the coming season.