Seniors lead Panther volleyball

Creston’s large senior class of volleyball players received their varsity baptism as freshmen and sophomores, and now their times have arrived.

With six seniors who were part of the varsity rotation last year, second-year coach Naomi Sharp has one of the most experienced teams in the Hawkeye Ten Conference. And, the Panthers drop from Class 4A to 3A this season for postseason competition.

“We’re feeling strong about the experience we have coming back,” Sharp said. “We have six seniors and a junior who played for us last year. We also have some sophomores and a junior who may come in and step in for us.”

The Panthers had a scrimmage against East Union and Mount Ayr Thursday at Afton, and Sharp was also able to experiment with some lineups in two scrimmages Saturday at Atlantic. The Panthers open at home Tuesday against returning co-champion Kuemper Catholic, No. 2 on the preseason Class 3A rankings by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

Kuemper, a returning state qualifier in Class 3A, went 37-4 last year and shared the conference title with Glenwood and Lewis Central at 9-1. Glenwood reached the Class 4A state quarterfinals.

Among the senior veterans in the Panther lineup is the versatile Jaycee Hanson, the team leader in kills (152) and second in digs (193). Hanson was named to the All-Hawkeye Ten second team.

“Jaycee is a great all-around player and has put a ton of work in,” Sharp said. “She played on a club team in Des Moines. She loves volleyball.”

Hanson was second in digs behind libero Avery Staver, who returns as the defensive leader in the back row with 265 digs as a junior. Staver also led the team with 28 ace serves.

“Avery is a consistent passer for us,” Sharp said. “She strong in serve receive and digs. She was our only jump server for us last year. Her ball jumps and moves.”

Kadley Bailey and Hollynn Rieck return with setting experience, although Bailey settled in as the mainstay last season with a team-high 369 assists as Rieck shifted into more of an attacker at the net.

Both are strong defensively, as well. Rieck was third on the team in digs (184) and third in blocks (18). She was second behind Bailey in assists (97) while also ranking second to Hanson in kills (127). Bailey served at a 92% clip with 20 aces.

“Hollynn was setting early last year, but then we thought maybe we’d be more productive if she was hitting instead of setting,” Sharp said. “She has good timing and can jump. She is a great passer and runs down a lot of balls by getting in good defensive position. We decided to have her hit in the front and pass in the back row.

“Kadley is our setter in 5-1 and sees the floor so well,” Sharp added. “She’s so fast she can run down balls, and she’s a great server.”

Other key returnees are junior Hope Henderson, the team leader with 34 blocks; senior Braylee Pokorny, second in blocks (32) and the versatile Ella Turner, who had 71 kills and 46 digs last year.

“Braylee is looking good in practice,” Sharp said. “She’s hitting balls hard and her consistency is coming. Braylee and Hope Henderson will play middle, opposite of each other (in the rotation). Hope has power in her hits, too, and she can change directions well. Ella can do whatever you need from her. She can play in the back row, she can hit on both sides of the front row. She can tip and hit off-speed, or hit it hard to the back of the court. She’s just a gamer.”

With so many seniors, Sharp said many capable contributors on the JV level are honing their skills to fill important roles next year, as well as spot duty this season.

“Kennedy Strider is a good server and has been patient in getting her opportunities,” Sharp said. “Jensan Tussey played well with those (varsity) girls in the offseason. She’s a lefty. She and Nora Barton could see some time.”

Senior Sidney Staver is out with a possible stress fracture in her femur, and could begin practicing in about four weeks.

Hawkeye Ten teams ranked in the preseason in addition to No. 2 Kuemper are Class 3A No. 10 Clarinda and No. 11 Red Oak.

“You’re probably looking at Kuemper, LC and Clarinda as the top teams,” Sharp said. “We hope to climb this year. We bring back more from our lineup than anyone in the conference. We’re still not tall, we just have to be good at defense. We’re not going to get a ton of blocks or a huge number of kills. We have to transition into finding a way to put the ball away ... mixing up our hits.”

After Tuesday’s opener, Creston plays Oskaloosa and Carlisle in a triangular Thursday hosted by Carlisle.

Roster

Seniors — Braylee Pokorny, Avery Lovely, Avery Staver, Kadley Bailey, Jaycee Hanson, Hollynn Rieck, Ella Turner, Sidney Staver.

Juniors — Nora Barton, Kennedy Strider, Hope Henderson, Alaina Galanakis, Kinzley Downing, Taylor Rohrig.

Sophomores — Marlee Stalker, Ricci Johnston, Jensan Tussey, Lauren Purdum, Joslyn Martwick, Brooke Huck, Nevaeh Pena, Rohwyn Randall, Henley Shinn.

Freshmen — Camielle Brown, Chloe Thomson, McKinna Tonelli, Londynn Means, Nevaeh Adamson, Bentley Collier, Makenzi Forkner, Aubrey Kramer, Elle Johnson, Patience Howard, Daphne Hoepker, Alexis Flores, Ali Gordy, Peyton Veitz, Alaina Liesener, Ella Pryor, Eva Chesnut.