New London’s Burden, Nye named All-State

The Iowa Girls Coaches Association released its All-State volleyball teams on Wednesday, and there were two familiar faces on the list, both of which belonged to the New London Tigers.

A pair of Tiger juniors, hitter Natalie Burden and libero Emma Nye, were both selected to the Class 1A team. They were the only Union area players named in any class.

Burden was selected to the third team. The top Tiger hitter finished the season with 342 kills in 1,092 attempts, both far and away leading New London.

Burden was also one of the best defensive players on the team, collecting 354 digs.

At the service line, Burden served at a 91.7% efficiency and finished second on the team with 46 aces.

Named to the Class 1A honorable mention list was Nye, who carried on the tradition of tough Tiger defense all year long.

Nobody in the class had more digs than the Tiger junior. She finished the season with a Class 1A-leading 655.

Nye was also an excellent server. She served at a 93.4% efficiency and floored 67 aces, 11th-best in Class 1A. Despite playing in the back row, Nye also finished the year with 53 kills.

Burden and Nye led the Tigers to a 26-14 record and a trip to the Class 1A Region 8 semifinal. They were ranked for the vast majority of the year despite losing a huge chunk of last year’s state-qualifying team, either to graduation, injury or transfer.

Listed below are the Class 1A All-State teams. For all teams, visit the Iowa Girls Coaches Association website at https://www.iagca.org/volleyball

CLASS 1A ALL-STATE TEAM

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Gabby Deery (11) Notre Dame

COACH OF THE YEAR: Claude Howard, Springville

FIRST TEAM: Emily Dreckman (12) MMCRU; Gabby Deery (11) Notre Dame; Jadyn Rausch (11) North Tama; Jenna Bentz (12) Notre Dame; Kassi Randolph (12) Holy Trinity; Lauren Williams (12) St. Albert; Nia Howard (11) Sprinville; Pyper McCarville (12) Janesville

SECOND TEAM: Cadence Goebel (11) Gehlen Catholic; Grace Matus (12) Springvillel; Josie Bentz (12) Notre Dame; Macy Seivers (12) Newell-Fonda; Megan Cooley (11) Gladbrook-Reinbeck; Miranda Ring (12) Tri-Center; Natalie Randolph (10) Holy Trinity; Peyton Robinson (11) Lisbon

THIRD TEAM: Anna Sobczak (12) Holy Trinity; Ava Wyatt (11) Gladbrook-Reinbeck; Katie Quick (9) Ankeny Christian; Kelsey Hansel (12) Edgewood-Colesburg; Lauren Heying (12) Gehlan Catholic; Mallory Tissue (11) Dunkerton; Natalie Burden (11) New London; Shae Ewoldt (11) North Tama

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Abby Martin (12) Lamoni; Alivia Ruble (11) Southeast Warren; Brynn Smith (11) AGWSR; Chloe VanEttenn (12) North Linn; Eden Wilson (12) BCLUW; Emily Williams (11) East Mills; Emma McClintock (11) Gladbrook-Reinbeck; Emma Nye (11) New London; Josie Hartman (12) Southeast Warren; Kali Nelson (11) Lisbon; Lauren Wilson (12) Springville; Maeson Wolff (11) Dunkerton; Mallory Mueller (11) Tripoli; Miyah Whitehead (11) Gehlen Catholic; Natalie Nielsen (12) Akron-Westfield; Tatum Carlson (12) Tri-Center