July 21, 2025
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14 Panther seniors honored

CNA photo by KYLE WILSON With a full-course banquet dinner, the 2009 Creston volleyball team finalized its season Monday evening in the high school commons. The team graduates one of the largest senior volleyball classes in history; 14 will graduate this spring. From front left, seniors include Ashley McGehee, Karlee Riley, Maria Krejci, Jill Johnson and Tessa Wardenburg. Middle, Leah Hurt, Danielle Price, Stephanie Routh, Cassie Abbott and T'Lee Ray. Back, Cheyanne Weis, Frances Myers, Hilary Loudon and Shallie Noecker.

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By KYLE WILSON

CNA sports editor

Monday evening, Mary Riley, mother of Karlee, packaged a complimentary team photo for each senior to take before departing the high school commons at the conclusion of Creston's end-of-the-year volleyball banquet.
 Hitter Danielle Price lugged a woven basket of throw blankets through the crowd and handed one to each of her teammates, each tagged with the player's number.  During dinner, mother Tracey McGehee played a comprehensive slide show of the senior class. Each senior received a copy of the video afterward.
 Easily it could be seen, Monday's banquet wasn't about the season record, nor individual or season accomplishments.
 Simply, it was a happy farewell to 14 senior girls. The parents, coaches and athletes made that abundantly clear.
"We've been playing since sixth grade. We've been together that long," said Maria Krejci, named second-team all-district by the IHSGAU. "We didn't have the record we wanted. But we have enjoyed playing together. We enjoy being around each other. And tonight that showed."

Season breakdown

In the first three matches, Creston recorded one win and two losses – defeating Norwalk in three games in the opener and falling to Harlan and Carroll Kuemper. Creston then entered the Shenandoah Tournament, winning their pool with wins over South Page and Lenox, then fell to Glenwood in tournament play. However, they bounced back to eliminate Glenwood in the championship, taking home the team championship trophy.
 The next four matches against Lewis Central, Clarke, Red Oak and Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln all resulted in losses, bringing their record to 5-7 overall.  From there, the Panthers were up and down, finishing with a big regional win over Glenwood Oct. 26 before meeting Hawkeye 10 champion Atlantic in the second round, losing in four games and finishing with a 10-15 record.
 "The record wasn't what we wanted. But I always felt we were a couple errors away from winning games and matches," Creston coach Dee Hurt said. "We really came together and became a tight-knit team toward the end of the year."

Leaders

Senior Cassie Abbott posted a team-high 149 kills and was second in kills efficiency among starters at (+.123). Krejci was at the top in kill efficiency among starters with (+.170) and had a team-high 250 setting assists. Karlee Riley was a dependable option at setter when Krejci played front row, registering 197 assists. Leah Hurt tallied just over two digs per game, leading the defense with 165 digs.
 Tessa Wardenburg and Abbott tied in blocks (46) and Hurt and Jill Johnson each served 29 aces to lead Creston.

Krejci was named to the All-Hawkeye 10 second team and Jill Johnson was honorable mention all-conference. Creston had a host of all-Hawkeye 10 academic athletes including Abbott, Hurt, Sarah Jennett, Johnson, Krejci, Ashley McGehee, Frances Myers, Danielle Price, T'Lee Ray and Cheyanne Weis.
With 14 seniors, just one player returns to the program next fall with varsity game experience, Sarah Jennett. The Panthers will rely on a heavy dose of sophomores and juniors next year including Katlin Briley, Abbey Bakerink, Madison Geary and Angela Phipps.

Letterwinners

Seniors — Cassie Abott, Leah Hurt, Jill Johnson, Maria Krejci, Hilary Loudon, Ashley McGehee, Shallie Noecker, Danielle Price, T'Lee Ray, Karlee Riley, Stephanie Routh, Tessa Wardenburg.
Juniors — Sarah Jennett.
Managers — Hunter Root.

Participation awards — Junior varsity, Frances Myers, Dana Gordon, Sarah Jennett, Miranda Trost, Abbey Bakerink, Katlin Briley, Jessica Cramer, Madison Geary, Maddie Haines, Logan Kinyon, Angela Phipps. Freshmen, Mackenzie Andreasen, Kelsey Berry, Amy Dumphy, Taylor Hudson, Megan Hull, Emma Johnson, Jana Johnson, Shaylen Kipp, Breanna Luther, Brianna Maitlen, Sam McDonald, Shelbi Northwick, Clarity Pendegraft, Sydney Rogers, Kaytee Scadden, McKenna Thatcher, Lauren Tucker.

Team Awards

Freshmen — Leadership: Sam McDonald; Most improved: Shelbi Northwick; Hustle, Emma Johnson; Spirit, Jana Johnson.

Junior varsity — Leadership: Sarah Jennett; Most improved: Logan Kinyon; Hustle: Katlin Briley; Spirit: Dana Gordon.

Varsity — Leadership: Maria Krejci; Most improved: Cheyanne Weis; Hustle: Karlee Riley; Spirit: Danielle Price.