Xavier Volleyball

No. 12 Prairie knocks off Saints

The 12th-ranked Cedar Rapids Prairie volleyball team defeated Xavier, 25-18, 25-15, 24-26, 25-20, in a Mississippi Valley Conference match at Xavier Tuesday night.

Kate Busswitz collected 19 kills and six blocks for the Hawks. Megan Oldenburger went 22-for-22 on her serves and had 10 kills, three aces and two blocks. Kenzie Soeken finished with eight kills and four blocks.

Kendra Gaskill provided 40 assists and went 20-for-21 on her serves with two aces for Prairie. Kristin Wahlert had 14 digs and went 14-for-14 on her serves.

Metro volleyball players rake in honors

Nine high school volleyball players from the Metro area have been named to the all-state and all-district teams by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.

Alyssa Thomas and Abby Phillips of Marion were named first team all-state in Class 4A. Amanda Sahm of Marion was named second team all-state. Kayla Torson of Xavier and Isabella Sade of Marion received honorable mention in Class 4A.

Amanda Ollinger of Jefferson was named second team all-state in Class 5A. Anna Fluent of Kennedy, Sarah Renner of Linn-Mar and Kate Busswitz of Prairie received honorable mention in Class 5A.

The same nine players were named to the all-district teams.

Thomas, Sade, Phillips, Sahm and Torson were named all-district on the Class 4A Northeast squad. Busswitz, Renner, Ollinger and Fluent were named all-district on the Class 5A East team.

Ollinger, Thomas, Torson named all-state

Amanda Ollinger of Jefferson, Alyssa Thomas of Marion and Kayla Torson of Xavier have been named to the all-state volleyball squads by the Des Moines Register.

Ollinger, a 6-foot-3 junior, was named first team all-state in Class 5A. She led Class 5A in kills with 532 and finished second overall in kills in the state. She also had 218 digs, 68 blocks and 28 ace serves.

Thomas, a 5-10 junior, was named first team all-state in Class 4A. She helped Marion reach the semifinals of the state tournament and finished the season with 367 kills, 89 digs and 49 blocks.

Torson, a 5-11 senior, was named second team all-state in Class 4A. She collected 338 kills, 325 digs, 48 blocks and 25 aces for Xavier. She will play college volleyball at Nebraska-Omaha.

Ollinger honored on MVC volleyball

Amanda Ollinger of Cedar Rapids Jefferson has been named the Valley Division Athlete of the Year on the Mississippi Valley Conference all-star volleyball team.

Ollinger, a 6-foot-3 junior, was one of the top kill-shot artists in the state this season with her powerful slams. She has committed to play basketball at the University of Iowa.

Sarah Renner of Linn-Mar, Ellie Anderson of Linn-Mar, Anna Fluent of Kennedy and Macy Anderson of Kennedy joined Ollinger as first-team selections in the Valley Division.

Kate Busswitz of Prairie and Kayla Torson of Xavier were first-team picks in the Mississippi Division.

VALLEY DIVISION

Athlete of the Year - Amanda Ollinger, Jefferson
Coach of the Year - Matthew Johnson, Cedar Falls

First Team

Amanda Ollinger (CRJ), Lauryn Kramer (CF), Mackenzie May (DW), Laynie Whitehead (ICW), Sarah Renner (LM), Ellie Anderson (LM), Anna Fluent
(CRK), Macy Anderson (CRK).

Second Team

Emma Gerdes (CF), Mikaela Morgan (ICW), Tayah Mahi (CF), Sami Boekhoff (LM), Emilee McGowan (LM), Brinley Milbrath (CRK), Maddie Heiar (DW), Makenzie Tomkins (CRJ).

Honorable Mention
Metro Only

Jefferson - Avery Guy, Sam Kitterman
Kennedy - Paige Franck, Kendal Meier
Linn-Mar - Meg Gostonczik, Carly Spies

All-Academic
Metro Only

Jefferson - Brianna Prohaska, Hannah Carter
Kennedy - Hannah Skow, Breanna Osterkamp
Linn-Mar - Meg Gostonczik, Sarah Renner

MISSISSIPPI DIVISION

Athlete of the Year - Alexa Aldrich-Ingram, Iowa City High
Coach of the Year - Craig Pitcher, Iowa City High

First Team

Alexa Aldrich-Ingram (ICH), Kate Busswitz (CRP), Kayla Torson (CRX), Ashley Smith (ICH), Kendra Cave (ICH), Kasey Davis (DH), Hope Splinter (DH), Indya Beaman (WE).

Second Team

Makenzie Soeken (CRP), Caiti Peterson (CRW), Majda Sulic (WW), Shannon James (ICH), Rylee Price (ICH), Makayla Doyle (DH), Mallory Jones (CRP), Madsy Richards (CRX).

Honorable Mention
Metro Only

Prairie - Jenni Lockhart, Rachel Shelangoski
Washington - Sophie Smith, Rumer Weiland
Xavier - Melanie Wertzberger, Olivia Krapfl

All-Academic
Metro Only

Prairie - Rachel Shelangoski, Megan Sprengeler
Washington - Ellen Holt, Sophie Smith
Xavier - Melanie Wertzberger, Olivia Krapfl