This report is from:
By Kerry Kahl
The Hawk Eye
• Five high schools ranked in 1A's top-25.
If preseason rankings are any indication, volleyball fans in the SEI Superconference will be in for one whale of a season.
The conference fields five teams ranked in the Class 1A top 25. Fort Madison Aquinas High School is the highest at No. 7. New London, the league's lone state qualifier a year ago, is No. 11 followed by No. 13 Iowa Mennonite School and No. 24 Keokuk Cardinal Stritch. Mediapolis is ranked No. 16 in 2A, but its enrollment has dropped, putting them in 1A for the first time since the beginning of the three-class system in the 1970s. It likely will be near the top 10 in the next 1A poll.
SOUTH DIVISION
Fort Madison Aquinas
The Lady Dons will reload after a sparkling 21-4-3 record and second-place finish in the South Division. New London edged Aquinas by a game for the division crown and halted the Lady Dons' season in a regional semifinal. Aquinas hopes to return the favor this season with seven letterwinners back.
"If things fall into place, this could be a strong season for us," said second-year coach Mike Helling. "We have a lot of quality athletes who want to succeed. The conference should be very tight. Let's see who gets the breaks."
Setter Katie Rung and outside hitter Jill Helling, both first team all-conference picks as sophomores last season, will pave the way. Juniors Jill Braden and Jennifer Ping give the Lady Dons a dangerous front line with Helling. Seniors Jill Freesmeier, Valerie Noll and junior Angela Dunlay provide experience in the back row.
Juniors Heather Kramer, Allison Meierotto, Maggie Hoenig and sophomore Kelly Pieperl are a solid crop of newcomers that should add depth at the net and ease the losses of Melissa Kramer, Nikki Wittry, Erin Fraune and Kim Hays.
New London
The Tigers bring back an experienced senior setter and three hitters from a 39-6-2 team that was eliminated by eventual champion Tripoli in the state quarterfinals. Third-year coach Maureen Heath must fill a huge void left by all-state hitters Corina Schropp, Lindsay Worden and all-conference defensive specialist Brittony Williamson with hopes of defending its division crown.
The Tigers' passing attack will center around all-conference setter Kara Rumelhart. Junior Courtney Pilch and sophomores Rylee Olsen (6-foot) and Stephanie Fischer provide punch on the front line. Junior Jessica Rumelhart returns as a defensive specialist.
Hitters Lindsay Smith, Stacy Inglebright, setter Megan Alden and defensive specialist Piper Williamson all lettered and are expected to play key roles this year. Freshman setter Kaci Rumelhart is a promising addition.
"I still consider our team very young and we will need to keep working hard to improve as the season goes along," said Heath. "We need to be aggressive and certain players will really have to step it up on offense with the loss of Schropp and Worden."
Keokuk Cardinal Stritch
Junior middle hitter Jennifer Goetz could lead the Lionettes to new heights this season. The fourth-team all-stater, who averaged 4.7 kills per game, joins juniors Krissy High, Jessica O'Bleness and sophomore Erika Lambros as returning letterwinners.
"Jennifer is our leader on the floor and we'll look at her for great leadership," said coach Kim Goetz, whose squad finished 19-9-3 last year. "We will continue to improve as the season goes on. This team has great unity and they have set their goals high."
The front line will be supported by a talented cast of newcomers that includes junior hitters Erika High, Ashley Derr, Jenna Thompson, Katie Stringwell and sophomore Natalie Beaird. Sophomore Danielle Klipher will add depth at setter. The Lionettes graduated seven letterwinners.
Marquette
The Warriorettes will rely on seven letterwinners to improve on a 18-14-2 record. Coach Melissa Freesmeier's experienced group includes seniors Bobbi Steffensmeier (outside hitter), Amanda Cox (middle hitter), Meagan Lortz (setter), Tracy Mehmert (OH/MH) and Amanda Thompson (defensive specialist). Junior Kaci Stuekerjuergen (OH/DS) and sophomore Dana Gregory (OH) saw significant time last season.
Junior Kim Fedler and sophomore Tara Kaltefleiter are promising newcomers as hitters.
Danville
Coach Steven Rogers' team must rebuild without a single letterwinner returning. The Bruinettes need quick development from senior hitter Erica Quickstad, junior hitter Tabitha Fraise and junior setter Sondra Brakeville. Junior Taylor Griffin is the only other upperclassman on the roster.
WEST DIVISION
Central Lee
The Lady Hawks, who received votes in the 2A poll, return a strong nucleus of five letterwinners that features all-conference players Angie Ruth (OH), Emily Schwartz (S) and Sara Weirather (OH). Middle hitters Alicia Miller and Tammy Hunold bring back experience to the defending West Division champions, 15-10 a year ago.
Seniors Cassie Pardall, Ursula Adkins, Trista Dobson, Lexi Hopp and Ashley Mehl are promising newcomers hoping to fill the slack for five lost letterwinners.
Harmony
First-year coach Lisa Lowery feels the Rockets could surprise opponents this season with seven experienced players back. The Rockets will have plenty of depth on the front line with Megan Cecil, Kendall Haskins, JoAdda Holden, Crystal Helterbran, Anee Zane and newcomers Jesse Kennedy and Asche Ryder all in the mix. Jenna Fuhlbrugge and Jenna Whitaker will battle for time at setter.
Van Buren
Returning letterwinners Carrie Morris (S), Meghan Niederhuth (OH) and Emily Humble (MH) will try to make up for a lack of numbers and experience for the Warriorettes (6-17-1 last season).
Seniors Jodee Plowman, Leslie Weller, Cassie Cunningham, juniors Shelby Spates and Jackie Alvis are key additions to the squad.
NORTH DIVISION
Mediapolis
The Bullettes' success will hinge on how well they replace all-staters Erin Allen, Heather McLatchie and four other letterwinners. Juniors Jo Kester (fourth team all-state) and Margaret Kuenzler (first team all-conference), the team's lone returning letterwinners, should form a potent tandem at the net.
Newcomers JoAnne Weyers, Ashlee Baker, Brenna Nelson and Krista Wirt will battle for playing time as hitters. Laura Spanhut and Baker are candidates to fill the shoes of McLatchie at setter. Kay Spanhut and Andrea Lingenfelter are additions to the back row.
The Bullettes won the North Division and finished with a 24-8-4 record after bowing out in a 2A regional semifinal.
Wapello
The Arrows finished last season a strong 22-8-4 and will be led by all-conference senior setter Kenna Heater if it hopes to continue the winning trend. Outside hitters Brittiny Thomas, Jacque Ward and setter Neysa Allworth add experience to a team that graduated one of the premier hitters in the state -- Kiley Gerst.
Juniors Kelly Mills, Bekka Hall and sophomores Sara Dixon and Jenny Kemp are expected to contribute as newcomers.
Winfield-Mount Union
Senior all-conference outside hitter Allyson Carlson is the top returnee for first-year coach David Pieart. Seniors Samantha Wilkerson, who averaged nearly eight assists a game last season, Brandi Mullen and junior Samantha Edwards provide experience to a team that went 14-16-1. Mullen, a 6-foot-1 middle blocker, started in 1999 before missing all of last season with an injury.
Key prospects include senior Torey Olson, juniors Ashley Mabeus, Kiley Finke, Ramsie Carroll and sophomore Melanie Carlson. The group hopes to sooth the loss of two-time all-stater Marcy Davis.
"If we can maintain focus and consistency on the passing aspect of the game, we will be dangerous," said Pieart. "We need our seniors to lead the way."
Columbus
Six letterwinners, including all-conference players Shelley Heindel (S), Mandy Orris (OH) and Ann Mincks (MH) could pave the way for a promising season for the Wildcats. Seniors Stacey Everett, Samantha Forbes and junior Emily Wilson add experience to coach Josh Lukavsky's team that finished 11-17-4 last season.
The Wildcats will call upon newcomers Nicole Stewart, MacKenzie Meyerholz and Ashley Orris to fill the loss of four letterwinners.
Louisa-Muscatine
The Falcons lack varsity experience with only senior Erika Reeves (H/S) back from last year's 4-26 unit. Reeves was second on the team in hitting and digs. Junior Stacie Bieri and sophomore Christina Schulte are needed to step up immediately.