Panther volleyball seniors leave legacy on and off court

There’s a big rebuilding effort ahead for Creston volleyball, in ways on and off the court.

A farewell to seven seniors took place at the team’s postseason awards banquet Tuesday night in the high school commons.

Sydney Dunphy, Alyssa Higgins, Gracie Russell, Jami Sickels, Angela Sorensen, Jenna Taylor and Alli Thomsen combined for 25 varsity letters over four years, playing big parts on teams that went 20-8 and 15-10 over the past two seasons.

Coach Polly Luther said all seven qualified for Hawkeye 10 All-Academic awards after the season. In addition, the team received the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Distinguished in Academic Achievement Award with a team GPA of 3.25 to 4.0.

“It’s hard to replace the work ethic in these girls,” Luther said. “It’s hard to replace the great kids that they are. The good choices that they make. You don’t often have a complete group of kids in which you don’t have to worry about those things you sometimes have to talk about.”

The Panthers were seventh in the Hawkeye 10 at 5-5, after placing third in 2014. Dunphy was named second-team all-conference and Sickels received honorable mention.

“We didn’t maybe finish where we wanted to in the conference,” Luther said, “but when you walk outside these doors, it probably doesn’t really matter. What you do out there will affect you for the rest of your lives. These younger girls here are watching you, and I can’t thank you enough for the great examples you have set for them.”

The four returning letterwinners are sophomores Cayla Maitlen and Breanna Wallace and freshmen Megan Haley and Jaxie Luther. Also, junior Hannah Hood underwent shoulder surgery during the season and was slated for varsity duty. Sophomore Taylor Fredrickson also sustained a shoulder injury requiring surgery during the basketball season.

A preseason scrimmage on Activity Parents Night convinced the coaching staff there is young talent coming up from the JV and freshman squads.

“We do have a huge group of seven seniors to replace in a sport where you need six on the court at a time,” Luther said. “But I remember saying to Jessie (McClellan) after our scrimmage here, next year we’re going to be be OK. That scrimmage showed us we have some kids coming up who are capable of playing good volleyball.”

Luther said there will be opportunities to play AAU volleyball in the offseason and to work on skills in the gym during the summer.

“We have a lot of work to do girls,” Luther said. “Sidney played in the state tournament and one girl said they’d played AAU volleyball. It’s constant work, whether you’re out for other sports as well. You have to be working to improve yourself. Because, guess what, someone else is doing that.”

Luther also thanked youth coaches Traci Haley and Trish Dickinson and Linda Thomsen for taking senior photographs.

Freshman coach Mike McCabe talked about the season, noting that a few of the ninth graders were moved up to JV and varsity play, which opened the door for others to step up in freshman matches.

“We talked about improvement and opportunity,” McCabe said. “When those five kids were moved, that opened up playing time, game experience for others to improve their skills. They played competitive volleyball against some good freshman teams. They placed second at two tournaments, including our own. I really enjoyed working with them.”

Coach Jessie McClellan said there were some “great moments” during the JV season.

“We had a lot of different grades represented on our team, and they came together to accomplish some great things,” McClellan said. “We were first place at the Clarinda tournament, beating Clarinda in the championship match. We won the Orient-Macksburg tournament. We beat Atlantic and Lewis Central in our triangular. Some of our kids had to learn new positions or multiple positions, and they did it with great attitudes.”

Letterwinners

(Years lettered)

Seniors — Sydney Dunphy (4), Alyssa Higgins (3), Gracie Russell (3), Jami Sickels (4), Angela Sorensen (3), Jenna Taylor (4), Alli Thomsen (4).

Sophomores — Cayla Maitlen (1), Breanna Wallace (1).

Freshmen — Megan Haley (1), Jaxie Luther (1).

Participation awards — Ashley Bargstadt, Brielle Baker, Taylor Buxton, Cassity Conley, Makayla Davis, Macy Evans, Taylor Fredrickson, Stephanie Hemsworth, Hannah Hood, Katie Powers, Kristy Powers, Saige Rice.

Freshman team — Miranda Austin, Caitlyn Bargstadt, Emma Christensen, Sadie Green, Shelby Huntsman, Morgan Kilgore, Briana Pearson, Grace Root, Breanna Ross, Kesia Stewart, Alynna Wagner, Laura Weis.

Hawkeye 10 All-Academic — Sydney Dunphy, Alyssa Higgins, Gracie Russell, Jami Sickels, Josie Sickels, Angie Sorensen, Jenna Taylor, Alli Thomsen.

Hawkeye 10 second team — Sydney Dunphy.

Hawkeye 10 honorable mention — Jami Sickels.