Prep Volleyball- The Iowa Girls Coaches Association (IGCA) released the All-District teams today and southeast Iowa was plenty populated throughout the classes.
Class 4A
For the East district, Burlington’s Annalise Buxton earned a spot on the team. The senior helped the Grayhounds collect 31 wins on the season as she led the team with 283 kills and 45 aces. Buxton had a kill efficiency of 0.196 and 11 blocks for the season.
Class 3A
The Southeast team was dominated by Mid-Prairie after the Golden Hawks made the state tournament. Callie Huber, Dakota Mitchell, Harper Pacha, and Jovi Evans all earned a spot as Sherry Evans was named District Coach of the Year.
Leighton Messinger of Washington, who also earned Southeast Conference Player of the Year, made the team as she totaled 285 kills on a 0.251 kill efficiency as a junior. Messinger also added 35 aces and 244 digs as the Demons claimed the conference crown.
Lastly, another junior made the list as Central Lee’s Taylor Jones led the Hawkes with 233 kills on a 0.204 kill efficiency. The fearsome middle hitter blocked 93 attacks, tabbed 28 aces, and collected 216 digs.
Class 2A
West Burlington has now put together four straight seasons of 30 or more wins and finished a game shy of making the state tournament, losing to #2 Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont. Finding a spot on the list was their main attacker, their setter, and a defensive specialist.
Brenna Beggs, a senior, was unstoppable at the net with a kill efficiency of 0.418 and leading the team with 351 kills. Beggs also blocked 44 attacks.
The second senior, Taryn Snodgrass, finished the season with 1,018 assists and 30 kills. She also tallied 356 digs and 46 aces.
Lastly, Carli Cline, the final Falcon of the list, kept plays alive for the squad with 746 digs on the year. Cline provided a presence from the service line as well with 47 aces for the year.
Class 1A
The Southeast team featured five members (four players) of Holy Trinity Catholic, two athletes from Burlington Notre Dame, and two players from Wapello.
Starting with the regional champion from the area, the Crusaders made it to the state tournament for the 14th time in the last 15 years after a 29-win season.
A big reason for their success was setter Anna Bendlage. The senior set her talented teammates up perfectly as she tallied 582 assists for the season and added 144 kills to present a dual threat. Bendlage had 19 blocks, 227 digs, and a team-leading 44 aces for the season.
Another senior to make the team was Teagan Snaadt. The libero dug out 444 balls, created 31 aces, and assisted on 102 points.
Holy Trinity Catholic has always provided dominant attackers, and this year was no different as Presley Myers finished the season with a team leading 347 kills, 0.326 kill efficiency, and 82 blocks. The junior also sits at exactly 1,000 kills for her career and has finished with a kill efficiency north of 0.315 every season.
Joining her was Adalyn Kruse as the sophomore collected 310 kills on a 0.217 kill efficiency. Kruse also proved formidable on defense with 357 digs and added 33 aces for the season.
Holy Trinity Catholic head coach, who currently sits at 1,101 career wins, Melissa Freesmeier was named District Coach of the Year.
A young Burlington Notre Dame managed to put up an impressive 24 wins on the season before being upset in the postseason. Despite the sour note to end the season, the Nikes had plenty to be excited about.
One of the points is the return of junior Addi Brockway, who earned a spot on the team. Brockway was efficient with her swings, attacking with a 0.217 kill efficiency, nabbing 271 kills. The junior grabbed 30 blocks, 236 digs, and 30 aces.
The one they will miss next season is Madalynn Knapp. The senior led the team with 286 kills and 457 digs. Knapp also collected 18 blocks and 27 aces to help the Nikes.
Lastly, the team to upset Burlington Notre Dame was Wapello, who had two underclassmen make the team.
Annaka Greiner had the Arrow offense running smoothly with 619 assists on the season. The sophomore was also the best at scoring with serves, totaling 34 aces—if she can improve the serve efficiency of 73.4%, she can be even scarier.
Another sophomore taking a spot on the team was Mya Wagner. The defensive specialist tallied 468 digs for the season, while complementing her defense with 27 aces from the service line.