Spencer, Ia (Northwest Iowa Now) – East Sac County, Emmetsburg, Newell-Fonda, and South-Central Calhoun all had 9-2 league records at the end of last year’s Twin Lakes Conference race. East Sac County dropped in the Regional Quarterfinal to Ridge View, Emmetsburg was knocked out by Grundy Center in the Regional Semifinal, Newell-Fonda the same to River Valley, and South-Central Calhoun would fall in the Regional Championship to Denver.
South Central Calhoun takes the biggest hit to their roster, graduating 4 of their top 8 in Sets played from a season ago. That includes their top 2 in the categories of Assists, Kills, Digs, and Aces. Macie Dorman is back for her junior season after leading the Titans in Serve Efficiency a season ago. Her classmate Sadie Wheelock topped South Central Cal in Blocks by a comfortable margin last year.
East Sac County also loses 4 Seniors from last year’s top 8. Jordin Carroll is back to orchestrate the offense after 667 Assists in 2024, leading blocker Emerson Ludwig returns, and Katelyn Schmitt will be back for her Senior season after leading the Raiders in Aces.
Newell-Fonda may not graduate as much, but the only category leader back on the court from last season for the Mustangs is Mareni Brabec who paced the team in digs with 318. Rylee Hogrefe will be looking to take a big leap for her junior season after 113 Kills and 24 blocks in 2024.
Emmetsburg brings back all but Abrianna Heinrichs who was the team’s leader in digs and 2nd in aces. Calista Joyce had 231 digs a year ago though to go along with 33 aces which led the team. Joyce, Rachel Schany, Kylie Hoffman, and Dylan Fiene combined for 64 percent of the E-Hawks Kills a year ago with Nora Nelson assisting on 658 of them. All 5 return for Emmetsburg. A tough postseason bracket draw last year is what head coach Danielle Auten would like to avoid this year.
West Bend-Mallard was certainly a contender last season, mixed in to a group of 3 teams who went 5-6 in League play. The Wolverines did lose a lot of production to Graduation, and coach Kylie Belt is looking to this year’s Senior’s to step up.
Nikki Brown enters her 2nd season as head coach of the GTRA Titans. With 6 of their top 8 returning, the Titans hope to pick off a few more teams in the middle of the standings that they weren’t able to a season ago.
News Radio 102.5 and AM 1240 KICD has coverage of Sioux Central hosting GTRA on September 18th, then the Rebels again when they go to Emmetsburg on October 9th. Follow along with the Twin Lakes Conference Volleyball race through Northwest Iowa Now this season.
