Looking ahead: South Iowa Cedar volleyball

South Iowa Cedar volleyball was one of the most competitive leagues in Southeast Iowa last year.

Two matches is all that separated the top four teams in the league.

Belle Plaine won out though as the Plainsmen went undefeated in conference play.

Sigourney and North Mahaska both went 9-2, while HLV ended 8-2.

This season it’s looking like it’s going to be another tight race for the top spot.

Look for HLV to make a jump as it returns much of its talent.

Meanwhile, 2022 conference winner Belle Plaine loses its kills and assists leaders.

Colfax-Mingo, Iowa Valley and North Mahaska will all compete as well, as the trio of teams return top 10 talent.

At the same time, English Valleys, BGM, Montezuma, Lynnville-Sully, Tri-County and Keota will all look to improve as they all bring back a younger core of talent.

Seven of the top 10 kills leaders will be back led by HLV’s Janessa Blomme, who was third a year ago.

Just four top 10 assisters return. Iowa Valley’s Izzy Kriegel led last season. She will be back with the Tigers.

Six defenders are back with Lynnville-Sully’s Alexy Conover returning. Conover finished with 447 digs in 2022.

2022 South Iowa Cedar Standings

1. Belle Plaine 10-0

2. Sigourney 9-2

3. North Mahaska 9-2

4. HLV 8-2

5. Iowa Valley 7-5

6. BGM 5-5

7. Colfax-Mingo 4-7

8. English Valleys3-6

9. Montezuma 2-7

10. Lynnville-Sully 2-8

11. Keota 1-7

12. Tri-County 1-10

2022 SICL KILL LEADERS

1. Grace Bean (12), Belle Plaine 288

2. Caylee Cunningham (12), Colfax-Mingo 284

3. Janessa Blomme (11), HLV 267

4. Jacey Reineke (11), Belle Plaine 258

5. Trinity Smith (10), Colfax-Mingo 219

6. Lydia Kriegel (10), Iowa Valley 203

7. Macy McMann (12), Iowa Valley 202

8. Aubree Arthur (11), Lynnville-Sully 186

9. Amiya Smallwood (11), Sigourney 180

10. Regan Grewe (10), North Mahaska

2022 SICL ASSISTS

1. Izzy Kriegel (10), Iowa Valley 603

2. Mandy Chizek (12), Belle Plaine 567

3. Brookelyn Hemsley (12), Sigourney 529

4. Madison Stackhouse (10), Colfax-Mingo 500

5. Chloe Etten (12), BGM 449

6. Shaylee Cooling (12), HLV 401

7. Elise Alberts (11), Lynnville-Sully 360

8. Caitlyn Sanders (12), North Mahaska 245

9. Hailey Jack (11), HLV 227

10. Kalynn Wanders (12), Montezuma 226

2022 SICL DIGS

1. Alexy Conover (11), Lynnville-Sully 447

2. Reagan Power (12), Sigourney 380

3. Jalayna Shipley (12), North Mahaska 379

4. Josephine Moore (10), Sigourney 372

5. Karagyn Minnaert (10), BGM 352

6. Regan Grewe (10), North Mahaska 344

7. Jacey Reineke (11), Belle Plaine 342

8. Rachel Benton (12), Belle Plaine 333

9. Caylee Cunningham (12), Colfax-Mingo 327

10. Sydney Andersen (10), North Mahaska 296

Bold = Eligible Returner