Lamm captains big school volleyball team

It was a roller-coaster year in the Southeast Conference as the league’s parity reigned supreme once again during the 2021 volleyball season.

The conference race was won by a senior-led Mt. Pleasant squad, which found a way to earn the No. 1 seed in the tournament with a 4-1 regular season SEC record and win the tournament b y that same mark.

Fairfield proved to be the biggest thorn in Mt. Pleasant’s side, as the Trojans took three of four from the Panther this year, including a thrilling five-set victory in the regional tournament.

Meanwhile, Washington made strides in league play, racking up three wins in conference play this season. The Demons upset Fairfield in a five-setter during the regular season and upended both Keokuk and Burlington in the SEC tournament.

The 2021 All-Union big school volleyball team is upperclassman-led, with three seniors, three juniors and one sophomore being featured. Both the head coach and captain come from the SEC champion Panthers.

Coach

David Streeter, Mt. Pleasant

There was a lot to live up to for Coach David Streeter’s Panther squad in 2021. Mt. Pleasant ended the 2020 SEC campaign on a high note by winning the conference tournament, and the Panthers had a talented senior class coming back to lead the team.

The Panthers went 20-15 on the season, the school’s first winning record since 2016.

Mt. Pleasant bounced back from an early SEC loss to Fairfield to win the conference’s regular season with a 4-1 mark. At the championship tournament, the Panthers won their first four games to clinch the title early on Day 2.

It was the second-straight SEC championship for a Mt. Pleasant program that will have a lot to replace next year if it wants to get back on top of the league.

Captain

Kenna Lamm, senior hitter, Mt. Pleasant

Mt. Pleasant’s top returning hitter from last season had to really step up. After the graduation of older sister Karsyn, Kenna Lamm had the vast majority of attack opportunities and made the most of them.

Lamm led the SEC with 317 kills, which was 79 better than the league’s second-best hitter.

Lamm was great all-around for the Panthers, finishing third on the team with 223 digs and 25 service aces. She finished the year with a serve efficiency of 91.4%.

Ralyn Seberg, senior setter, Mt. Pleasant

It was the end of a fantastic high school career for Panther setter Ralyn Seberg, who once again set the table for one of the better offensive attacks in the conference.

Seberg finished the year with 454 assists, second best in the conference. She hit 1,000 career assists during the regular season.

Seberg finished second on the Mt. Pleasant squad with 240 digs this year. She was also one of the best servers in the entire conference, leading the league with 350 serve successes and a 96.2% serve efficiency.

Regan Seberg, senior libero, Mt. Pleasant

The Panthers would have never won the conference without the services of the Seberg twins, and Regan Seberg was rock-solid on the back row all year.

Mt. Pleasant’s libero finished the year with 472 digs, just under a 150-dig advantage on second place in the conference.

Seberg ended the 2021 season at exactly a 90% serve efficiency this year. She sent down 15 aces on the season, fourth best on the team.

Maddie Jones, sophomore setter, Fairfield

The Trojans may have been the most balanced team in the SEC this season, so sophomore Maddie Jones had a lot of options to set to, and she took the starting setter position by the horns.

Jones finished the season with 351 assists, third-best in the SEC. She also finished second on the Fairfield team in digs, with 144.

Jones was one of the best servers in the SEC all season. She hit a 92.4% serve efficiency and ended the year second in the league with 39 aces.

Kiya Robertson, junior defensive specialist, Fairfield

Wearing the libero jersey for Fairfield this season was junior Kiya Robertson, who solidified the back row for a talented Trojan team.

Robertson was third in the conference with 286 digs. She, of course, led the Trojans in that category and also sneaked in 35 assists, most on the team among non-setters.

Robertson hit a 90% serve efficiency this season and finished seventh in the league in service aces, with 33.

Macy Rayburn, junior hitter, Fairfield

Along with twin sister Maggie, Macy Rayburn put a brick wall up at the net for the Trojans this season.

Rayburn led a balanced Trojan attack with 149 kills on the year, and really stood out on the block, coleading the team with 55, which put her tied for second in the SEC.

Rayburn and the Trojan junior class will put Fairfield among the favorites for a conference title when volleyball season gets back underway next fall.

Alex Murphy, junior hitter, Washington

The Demons were able to scrap with everybody in the SEC this year, and Alex Murphy’s success at the net was a big reason why.

Murphy hit 100 kills this year. She also helped her fellow hitters out with 12 assists.

Murphy also ended the year with 25 blocks. At the service line, she had an 84.2% efficiency with a pair of aces.