Matt Levins - The Hawk Eye / John Gaines Photography
(Above - Notre Dame's Ainsley Conrad bumps the ball against Wapello in a Class 1A regional quarter final game)
For the first time in years, southeast Iowa did not have any teams competing at the high school state volleyball tournament this year.
But that in no way reflects on the quality of volleyball in the area.
Burlington made a resurgence this season, winning the Southeast Conference championship over a scrappy Washington team and a much-improved Mount Pleasant squad.
Wapello showed it will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come, winning the SEI Super Conference North Division and pushing fourth-ranked Holy Trinity to the limit in a Class 1A regional semifinal.
Holy Trinity put everything together and had another fabulous season, winning both the SEI Super Conference South Division title and Super Conference Tournament championship before falling to Dunkerton in a regional final.
Notre Dame had its best season since the state tournament runs with Gabby Deery and company, and West Burlington, despite losing multiple players to graduation, battled its way to a Class 2A regional semifinal.
That talent and balance is reflected in the2025 All-Hawk Eye volleyball team.
HITTERS
Kyleigh Applegate, sr., West Burlington
Applegate was one of the top hitters in the SEI Super Conference, helping the Falcons to a 19-16 record and a berth in a Class 2A regional semifinal before falling to Iowa City Regina. Applegate averaged 1.8 kills and 2.2 digs per set and served 91.8 percent with 26 aces. She was a Class 2A all-district selection.
Addi Brockway, sr., Notre Dame
Brockway is the latest in a long line of great hitters to come through the Nikes’ program in the last six years. Brockway blossomed into a dominant, go-to hitter from the outside this season, pounding down 3.7 kills per set to go along with 3.1 digs. She served at a 90.9 percent clip with 25 aces, helping the Nikes to a 31-8 record. She earned Class 1A third team all-state accolades.
Daphne Brown, sr., Burlington
Brown was one of several top hitters for the Grayhounds, who went 31-13 and won the Southeast Conference. Brown averaged 1.7 kills and 0.9 digs and served 91.8 percent with 45 saves. She was a first team all-conference selection.
Mila Jordan, jr., Wapello
Jordan was the Arrows’ go-to hitter and best all-around player. She helped the Arrows to a 25-12 record and a trip to a Class 1A regional semifinal, where they lost to Holy Trinity. Jordan averaged 3.1 kills and 2.7 digs per set. While she served just 76.8 percent, she had a whopping 72 aces, tied for ninth-most in the state regardless of class. She was an all-district selection.
Adalyn Kruse, jr., Holy Trinity
Kruse had another dominating season at the net for the Crusaders, helping them get within one win of the state tournament with a 36-7 record. Kruse was an all-around player and was extremely effective hitting from the back row. She finished the season averaging 3/7 kills and 3.2 digs per set. She served 91.8 percent with 42 aces. She garnered Class 1A fourth team all-state honors.
Presley Myers, sr., Holy Trinity
Myers teamed with Kruse to give the Crusaders as good of a one-two punch in the middle as any team around. At 6-foot-3, Myers controlled play at the net, forcing opposing teams to go around her strong block. She averaged 3.1 kills, 2.0 digs and 0.7 blocks per set and served 92.9 percent with 46 aces. She was a Class 1A first team all-state selection.
Alex Scott, sr., Mount Pleasant
The Panthers were perhaps the most improved team in the area, and Scott played a key role in the Panthers’ success. Scott pounded down 3.2 kills and 3.5 digs per set for the Panthers and served 85 percent with 38 aces.
LIBERO
Mya Wagner, jr., Wapello
Wagner recuperated from a knee injury suffered during basketball last year and was simply sensational for the Arrows. Wagner tied for third in the state, regardless of class, with 639, an average of 6.5 per set. She also served 88.1 percent with 29 aces. She was the SEI Super Conference North Division Player of the Year and earned Class 1A first team all-state honors.
SETTERS
Ainsley Conrad, fr., Notre Dame
Conrad was one of the most versatile setters around, running an efficient offense for a vastly-improved Nikes team. She not only set, she was an effective hitter when called upon and was solid defensively. She averaged 7.9 assists and 3.6 digs per set and served 87.3 percent with 35 aces. She was a Class 1A all-district pick.
Kenna Sandoval, sr., Central Lee
Sandoval literally could do anything asked of her on the floor, one reason the Hawks were 14-16 and were in every match all season, pushing eventual state champion Davenport Assumption hard in the regional finals. Sandoval averaged 7.7 kills, 3.6 digs and 0.9 kills per set and served 94.6 percent with eight aces. She was a first team all-conference pick.
Baylee Woodsmall, sr., West Burlington
Woodsmall is the latest in a line of great setters for the Falcons. She averaged 8.5 assists, 35th-best in the state, to go along with 2.7 digs per set. She served 93.9 percent with 30 aces. She was a Class 2A all-district selection.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Kenna Greiner, Wapello
Greiner has built the Arrows into a team which contends for berths in the state tournament. She led them to a 25-12 season this year, winning the SEI Super Conference North Division title with an 8-0 record. The Arrows knocked out Notre Dame in a Class 1A regional quarterfinal, then pushed Holy Trinity to the brink of elimination before falling in a five-set instant classic in the regional semifinals. With only one senior on the team, Greiner has the Arrows poised to make another run at a state tournament spot next season.