Falcons have the firepower to compete in NICL Central
Front row left to right: Kyra Woodley, Emma Wolff, Avery Meyer, Olyvia Bellows, Elle Strickland, Kinsey Mohwinkle, Adria Neymeyer, Bella Buseman. Middle row: Sophie Berends, Shelby Arkulari, Payten Ostercamp, Elise Thome, Kolbie Wangsness, Megan Bruns, Hope Mehmen, Kaibree Nisius, Kate Livingood, Aubrey Williamson. Adelyn Kolder, Kenley Johnson, Adri Allan, Kiara Morris, Julia Mostek, Zoey Uhlenhopp, Peyton Klooster, Emma Haan, Ava Eddy, Kaci Kramer, Kennendy Kalkwarf, Kaci Cox. Not pictured: Lexi Meester.
By:
CJ Eilers
Regional Sports Editor
2022 Record: 22-18 (3-1 loss to Denver in Regional Semis)
Head Coach: Candace Kleespies
Aplington-Parkersburg volleyball coach Candace Kleespies described her first season as head coach as “unique.” The Falcons had their ups and downs while injuries took their toll on the team last year. A-P persevered and finished with the third-consecutive winning season.
“We’re proud of how the girls battled through and played as well as they did with everything we had going on,” Kleespies said. “It was a fun, unique season and we lost some great seniors that produced quite a lot for us.”
The Falcons graduated their starting libero, setter, middle hitter and two defensive specialists in May. Fortunately, A-P has some offense back in junior Second Team All-Conference hitter Peyton Klooster (315 kills, 218 digs 31 blocks, 90.6 serving percentage, 60 aces), senior Avery Meyer (174 kills, 53 blocks, 41 digs), senior Kinsey Mohwinkle (141 kills, 45 digs, 87.3 serving percentage) and senior Olyvia Bellows (83 kills, 66 blocks).
“These hitters will be our leaders and are definitely a strength coming back this season,” Kleespies said. “We want to play at a faster tempo this season, be that gritty team that never goes away. Things are fluid at libero/DS, but a lot of girls are battling for positions. We know we have girls who hustle after every ball.”
Junior Bella Buseman will take on setting duties after 11 starts in 2022, tallying 115 sets and 84 digs. Defense and passing will be sorted through in the preseason. Expectations are known in Kleespies’s second year as head coach and the seniors have taken leadership roles up with enthusiasm.
“They say it all starts with actions, and not words,” Kleespies said. “These seniors have shown leadership with their actions from day one for us and the younger girls have followed along. They know the bar is set high and we can build off last season.”
The NICL Central will remain a tough division with rival Dike-New Hartford expected to be the top ranked team in 2A going into the 2023 season. Denver was a State team last season and Hudson looks to grow off a 20+ win season. A challenging conference slate, however, hasn’t stop Kleespies from beefing up their non-conference schedule, including adding 1A defending champs Ankeny Christian to their home tournament.
“As long as the girls are leaving everything they have on the court each night, then that’s all we can ask for,” Kleespies said. “These girls want to finish in the top of the conference and they want to make a deep push in the postseason. A-P volleyball has been to State in a long time (2008) and I know making it there is pretty high on these seniors’s list.”
Aplington-Parkersburg volleyball will open their season with a tournament at St. Edmond (Fort Dodge) on Saturday, Aug. 26.
2023 Aplington-Parkersburg Volleyball Schedule
Saturday, Aug. 26 @ Saint Edmond Tournament
Tuesday, Aug. 29 vs North Tama, Valley Lutheran
Thursday, Aug 31 @ Hudson
Tuesday, Sept. 5 vs Dike-New Hartford
Saturday, Sept 9 Home Tournament
Tuesday, Sept. 12 vs Denver
Saturday, Sept. 16 @ Gladbrook-Reinbeck Tournament
Tuesday, Sept. 19 @ AGWSR w/ Wapsie Valley
Saturday, Sept. 23 @ Dunkerton Tournament
Tuesday, Sept. 26 @ Columbus Catholic
Thursday, Sept 28 @ Charles City w/ Central Springs
Tuesday, Oct. 3 @ NICL Tournament (TBD)
Thursday, Oct. 5 @ NICL Tournament (TBD)
Saturday, Oct. 7 @ Hudson Tournament
Tuesday, Oct. 10 vs South Hardin, Oelwein
Monday, Oct. 16 First Round Regionals (TBD)
Wednesday, Oct. 18 Second Round Regionals (TBD)
Monday, Oct. 23 Third Round Regionals (TBD)
Wednesday, Oct. 25 Regional Final (TBD)
Monday, Oct. 30 - Thursday, Nov. 2 State Volleyball Tournament
Category:
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