Looking ahead: SEISC North volleyball

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference South Division has been one of the toughest leagues in high school volleyball, and the division has continued to pump out state tournament teams, but this year’s South battle will see some new faces take charge.

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Of the Top-10 hitters from last season, only four will return in 2023. New London has one of those four, as Sophie Malott finished with 220 kills last season, second on the team only to graduated senior Natalie Burden.

Both New London and Van Buren County lose Top-10 setters from last season. Four of the Top-10 in assists can return to the league this year.

On the defensive line, just two of the leading diggers from the 2022 season return to the South Division.

Last year, West Burlington and Notre Dame were tops in the league in the regular season. Notre Dame beat West Burlington 25-22, 21-25, 15-12 in the SEISC tournament championship, but Holy Trinity Catholic was the only team to represent the league at the state tournament.

Holy Trinity seems to have the advantage on returners, as both of the top returning kill leaders, the top returning assist leader and the second-best returning digger hail from a Crusader squad that was knocked out in the Class 1A quarterfinals last year.

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2022 SEISC SOUTH STANDINGS

1. West Burlington 8-1

2. Notre Dame 15-2*

3. New London 10-3

4. Holy Trinity 5-6+

5. Mediapolis 3-6

6. Central Lee 3-7

7. Van Buren County

8. Danville 1-9

* = SEISC tournament champion

+ = State tournament qualifier

2022 KILL LEADERS

1. Gabby Deery (12), Notre Dame 538

2. Natalie Burden (12), New London 448

3. Sophia Armstrong (12), West Burlington 429

4. Mary Kate Bendlage (11), Holy Trinity 379

5. Presley Myers (9), Holy Trinity 319

6. Makayla Morrison (12), Central Lee 291

7. Kenna Marlow (12), West Burlington 258

8. Isabelle Ritter (12), West Burlington 225

9. Hanna Wagenbach (11), Mediapolis

10. Sophie Malott (11), New London 220

2022 ASSIST LEADERS

1. Abbey Bence (12), West Burlington 978

2. Anna Bendlage (10), Holy Trinity Catholic 966

3. Elly Manning (12), New London 955

4. Maddy Mosena (12), Notre Dame 952

5. Kennedy Welliver (12), Mediapolis 598

6. Kenna Sandoval (9), Central Lee 412

7. Annabelle Cormier (12), Van Buren County 365

8. Jaeda Molle (11), Danville 343

9. Karlie Pohren (12), Central Lee 164

10. Micah Svoboda (10), Danville 68

2022 DIG LEADERS

1. Emma Nye (12), New London

2. Kenna Marlow (12), West Burlington

3. Lauren Summers (12), West Burlington

4. Jaydon Wirt (11), Mediapolis 395

5. Mary Kate Bendlage (11), Holy Trinity Catholic 388

6. Alix Congdon (12), Central Lee 387

7. Carlea Beckman (12), Danville 366

8. Elly Manning (12), New London 351

9. Brooke Mueller (12), Holy Trinity Catholic 350

10. Madalynn Knapp (10), Notre Dame 346

Bold = Eligible Returner