Area volleyball players recognized

First Team

Mallory Wilhelm

Lake Mills, senior, middle hitter

Wilhelm led all area teams with 340 kills, which makes her the only one to surpass the 300 kill mark this season. She also led the area in block assists with 66, while also tallying 21 solo blocks. Wilhelm was not only great around the net, she also showed skills in the back row. Wilhelm recorded 134 digs and boasted a 97.5 percent success rate from the service line. She was one of the many leaders that led the Bulldogs to a 39-4 season record.

Erika Bute

Alden-Conger, junior, setter/utility

Bute finished the year with a 98.1 percent rate for serving, ranking at the top of the category for the All-Area team. She only served seven errors in 360 attempts, while also notching 48 ace serves. She finished second in total assists with an impressive 496. She was also a big part of the Knights defensive effort, raking in 316 digs throughout the season, landing her in third place for most in the area. Bute also recorded her 2,000th career assist this season.

Teah Kesler

Lake Mills, senior, outside hitter

Kesler ranked second in the coverage area in kills with 279, behind her teammate Mallory Wilhelm. She also boasted an impressive serve rate of 92 percent. Kesler also finished the season with 114 digs and a total of 32 blocks, seven of which were solo. She was yet another important piece that helped Lake Mills reach the regional finals.

Daniela Rizo

Glenville-Emmons, junior, middle hitter

Rizo got a lot of work in on the defensive portion of the matches. She finished first in the area with 360 digs. She also piled up 46 kills and 24 total blocks on the season. Rizo was one of the bright spots on a Wolverines squad that struggled throughout the season. She will be a much-needed piece as the team tries to improve for the 2018 season.

Ashley Groe

Lake Mills, senior, setter

In her first year at the setter position, Groe led the area in assists with 906, almost double the amount that came in second. Her total assist number also ranked her 17th across all classes in Iowa. She totaled 39 blocks on the year and ranked in the top-five for serving percentage with 94 percent. Groe also had 165 digs and 50 kills.

Dora Ogunkanbi

Albert Lea, senior, middle hitter

Ogunkanbi was an all-around player for the Tigers in the 2017 season. Although her numbers weren’t huge in any one category, she was well-rounded with solid numbers in nearly all of the statistical categories. She had 38 kills and 63 digs on the year. Ogunkanbi also had 72 blocks throughout the season, 28 of which were solo. In perhaps her best stat, Ogunkanbi finished second in serve percentage with 98 percent.

Dana Baumann

Lake Mills, senior, libero

The fourth Bulldog to make the All-Area first team, Baumann was a major force for the Lake Mills defense. She finished the season with 345 digs, second to only Rizo from Glenville-Emmons. Baumann also had a 94 percent success rate from the service line. She will undoubtedly be missed in the coming years.

Olivia Christopherson

NRHEG, junior, outside hitter

Christopherson was able to get it done both offensively and defensively for the Panthers as she finished near the top in both total digs and total kills. She finished the season with 201 kills and 259 digs. Christopherson had 25 blocks and 12 assists on the season, and helped the Panthers reach the quarterfinals of the Section 2A tournament.

Second Team

Lindy Harris

Northwood-Kensett, senior, middle hitter

Harris dominated the area by totaling 117 blocks, 59 of which were solo. She also finished the season with an even 100 kills, 39 digs and 11 assists. Harris had a success rate of 92 percent from the service line. She was a key factor in helping the Vikings reach the quarterfinals of their regional tournament.

Megan Linn

Alden-Conger, junior, setter

Linn finished the season with good all-around numbers as well. She had 195 kills, 103 digs and 174 assists on the year.

Megan Groe

Lake Mills, sophomore, left side

Groe compiled 158 kills, 49 digs, 28 total blocks and four assists throughout the Bulldogs’ successful 2017 season.

Dusti Bratrud

Northwood-Kensett, senior, right side

Bratrud finished the season with 85 kills, 108 digs, 41 blocks and 238 assists.

Hannah Hanson

Lake Mills, junior, middle hitter

Hanson racked up 180 kills, 16 digs, 31 blocks and nine kills throughout the season.

Halee Miller

Glenville-Emmons, junior, middle hitter

Miller picked up 73 kills, 308 digs and three blocks throughout the 2017 season.

Katie Bradley

Alden-Conger, senior, libero

The only senior on the Alden-Conger team, Bradley finished with 263 digs and a serve percentage of 89.5 percent.

Abigail Renz

United South Central, junior, middle hitter

Renz finished with 115 kills, 97 digs, 44 blocks and 16 assists on the season.

Honorable Mention

Jayden Joynt

Lake Mills, senior, outside hitter

Laura Knudtson

Lake Mills, senior, defensive specialist

Audrey Casperson,

Lake Mills, junior, outside hitter

Chloe Anderson

Glenville-Emmons, sophomore, setter/outside hitter

Kennedy Severtson

Glenville-Emmons, sophomore, setter/outside hitter

Lizzy Baird

United South Central, junior, outside hitter

Peyton Rollenhagen

United South Central, senior, middle hitter

Sydney Schlinger

NRHEG, junior, libero

Sarah Pederson

Northwood-Kensett, senior, libero