2022 All-Union volleyball

The 2022 volleyball season gave spectators a look at some great talent throughout Southeast Iowa and the Union area.

A handful of teams came up just short of a trip to the state tournament in Coralville’s Xtreme Arena, but nevertheless it was an outstanding season.

Along with many fantastic teams, there were also a plethora of outstanding players that not only helped their teams make deep runs in the postseason, but did so at the highest level.

With that being said, it’s now time to give recognition to some of those players with the release of the 2022 All-Union Volleyball team.

This year’s list is senior led and features just one underclassman.

Coach

David Pieart, Winfield-Mt. Union

Winfield-Mt. Union was a senior led team this season.

Under the instruction of Pieart they have only gotten better as the years went on. Back in 2020 the Wolves won 21 games and a Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division Title. After graduating seven from that team and with the help of this year’s seniors the Wolves went on to win 22 in 2021.

This year they topped that win count, finished with an 8-0 SEISC North record and tallying a 24-10 overall record on the season.

WMU’s biggest win of the season came in a nail biting five set victory over North Division foe WACO. The Warriors won the first two sets, but the Wolves followed with three straight. The win clinched the division title for WMU.

The Wolves won back-to-back games to begin the postseason, but eventually fell to two-time defending state champion Notre Dame in the Regional Semifinals.

Captain

Emma Nye, senior libero, New London

When is comes to libero’s and back line players, New London’s Nye is one of best in the entire state.

Nye excelled on the defensive end. Last season she led Class 1A in digs (655) and was third in the state in the category. This year she was even better.

Her 667 total digs this year were good enough for first in Class 1A and second most out of the entire state. Nye also finished the season with a 95.3 percent serving efficiency on 404 attempts, finishing with 65 aces on the season.

Nye also helped the Tigers come to with one game of state, falling in a five set thriller to No. 1 Springville.

Natalie Burden, senior hitter, New London

Burden was the Tigers main hitter all season long. If the Tigers needed a kill, Burden had the answer.

The outside hitter was stellar in her senior season. Burden racked up 448 kills, nearly more than 100 more from 2021 (354), on the season.

Burden didn’t just excel in the kill department as she also added 323 digs and 37 aces on the year.

Elly Manning, senior setter, New London

Manning was one of the top setters in the SEISC and found herself inside the top 11 for assists in the state by the end of the season.

Manning did well to set the New London hitters up with great balls all year long.

She finished with 955 total assists on the season. She was second in the conference and 11th in the state in the assists stat line. Manning also added 351 digs, second-most on the team. She had 31 aces as well.

Landry Pacha, senior setter/hitter, Mid-Prairie

Pacha did a little bit of everything for Mid-Prairie this season.

Not only was she the Golden Hawks main setter, she also led in kills as well.

She led the way with 264 kills and also netted 407 assists to lead the Golden Hawks. Pacha also led the team on the service line. She had a 94.2 percent serve efficiency and delivered 47 aces.

Pacha helped the Mid-Prairie come to within one game of state, falling to eventual state champion Davenport Assumption.

Dakota Mitchell, sophomore libero, Mid-Prairie

Mitchell comes in as the youngest player on this years list as the only one who is not a senior.

She had a great sophomore campaign.

Defensively, she racked up 630 digs for the Golden Hawks throughout the season. That’s good enough for second in Class 3A and fourth out of all classes around the state. From the service line, she also ended with 22 aces.

Keetyn Townsley, senior libero, Winfield-Mt. Union

WMU’s Townsley was the backbone of the Wolves back line this season. After taking on the role in 2021, she hasn’t missed a beat.

Townsley racked up 398 digs on the season, the best in the SEISC North Division.

Her 92.1 percent serve efficiency was a team-best and second in the North. She tallied 74 aces to lead the Wolves. That was the second-most in the SEISC North as well.

Townsely helped WMU get to the Regional Semifinals before falling to Notre Dame.

Grace Coble, senior setter, WACO

Coble was a jack of all trades for the Warriors this season.

She was WACO’s top assister, tallying 600, the lone Warrior to reach double and triple digits in that department. Coble led the SEISC North with that mark.

Along with her stellar setting, she also added 117 kills, 189 digs and 55 aces throughout the season.

Coble helped the Warriors get to the Regional Semifinals this season, coming up short to Holy Trinity.