Ketchum selected as state's best

Scan the Iowa Girls Coaches Association all-state volleyball list for a moment, and one thing crystalizes immediately:

Some of the best setters in the state reside in the area.

There's Anna Fluent, a Loyola (Ill.) signee from Cedar Rapids Kennedy, a member of the first team in Class 5A.

There's Cassedi Simon of West Liberty, who has chosen Boise State University. She's a member of the Elite Team, and the Class 3A player of the year.

Then there's Carlee Ketchum.

Less than two weeks after leading West Delaware to its long-awaited state championship, Ketchum has been selected the state player of the year — in all classes.

'I was so ecstatic when I heard about it. I don't know what to say,' Ketchum said. 'It's not even something that ever crossed my mind.

'I couldn't have gotten this without my teammates or Coach (Brett) Mather.'

A 5-foot-8 senior bound for NCAA Division-II Upper Iowa University, Ketchum averaged 1.68 kills, 8.16 assists and 2.72 digs per set as the Hawks completed a 49-2 campaign. They swept their way through the postseason, including a convincing win over Harlan in the Class 4A championship match.

The Hawks had been state runners-up five times, then tore the door down this season.

'I'm extremely tickled for her,' Mather said. 'She's the total package. At the net, she has a very offensive mind for her teammates and herself. She knows where the best matchups are going to be, and she does a great job getting herself involved.

'She keeps the defense guessing.'

Ketchum was a defensive specialist growing up, then a hitter as a seventh grader. Mather saw her potential as a setter when she was an eighth-grader, and moved her there on her club team.

'I think he saw then what I was capable of,' Ketchum said. 'I loved it right away.'

Ketchum and Simon are joined on the Elite Team by Josie Herbst and Megan Sharkey of Bettendorf, Kaira Moss of Western Christian, Taylor Frederick of Harlan, Anna Kiel of Unity Christian and Denise Ssozi of Johnston.

Simon led West Liberty to a 37-5 record and its first appearance in the state final of any sport; the Comets fell in the 3A title match to Nevada. She averaged 1.77 kills (and a .595 kill efficiency), 9.12 assists and 2.14 digs per match.

'This season was like a dream,' Simon said. 'As we got to the end of the season, we were able to look back and say, 'We actually did this.'

'I think it takes a certain person to be a setter. You have to be strong physically and mentally, because it's a stressful position. I think I'm a pretty good fit for it, because I don't get upset too easily.'

Fluent is one of two Metro players to earn first-team honors (Marion junior Isabella Sade is on the first unit in 4A). The 5-10 senior piloted Kennedy (29-10) to its first MVC divisional title since 2006 and its first state berth since 2011.

'I tried to be a good leader this year; I tried to stay positive even when things weren't going so well,' she said. 'This season was definitely one to remember. We made a ton of great memories.'

Fluent averaged 1.25 kills and 8.81 assists per set.

Sade emerged as Marion's top attacker as the Indians (31-9) returned to the state tournament. The 6-foot-2 junior (and a Nebraska-Omaha commit) averaged 2.99 kills and posted a .388 kill efficiency.

West Delaware has three 4A first-teamers — Ketchum, Kristen Wegmann (2.97 kills per set) and Bridget Hoffmann (1.85 kps).

'I think we're still on a rush from what we accomplished this season,' Mather said. 'To achieve what we did, it's a big milestone for this program.'

Simon is joined on the 3A first team by teammate Hailey Daufeldt (3.09 kills, 2.32 digs per set) and Mount Vernon libero Libby Ryan (5.10 digs per set).

Mount Vernon (27-13) reached the 3A semifinals.

Haley Poula of state semifinalist West Branch (36-6) was a member of the 2A first team.

Three Metro players earned second-team honors — Kate Busswitz of Cedar Rapids Prairie and Amanda Ollinger of Linn-Mar in 5A; Olivia Frazier of Marion in 4A.

IOWA GIRLS COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL-STATE VOLLEYBALL

ELITE TEAM

Josie Herbst, sr., Bettendorf; Carlee Ketchum, sr., West Delaware; Cassedi Simon, sr., West Liberty; Kaira Moss, sr., Western Christian; Taylor Frederick, sr., Harlan; Anna Kiel, sr., Unity Christian; Megan Sharkey, sr., Bettendorf; Denise Ssozi, sr,. Johnston.

Player of the year — Ketchum.

CLASS 5A

First Team

Josie Herbst, sr., Bettendorf; Megan Sharkey, sr., Bettendorf; Denise Ssozi, sr., Johnston; Kasey Davis, sr., Dubuque Hempstead; Anna Fluent, sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy; Hannah Lockin, jr., West Des Moines Valley; Emily Plock, jr., Southeast Polk; Alicia Harrington, sr., Cedar Falls.

Player of the year — Herbst.

Coach of the year — Jessica Rinehart, Ankeny Centennial.

Second Team

Mykal Sadler, sr., West Des Moines Dowling; Taryn Knuth, jr., Johnston; Tessa Mendoza, sr., West Des Moines Dowling; Tasha Vipond, sr., Ankeny Centennial; Kate Busswitz, sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie; Amanda Ollinger, sr., Linn-Mar; Sami Hilmer, sr., Urbandale; Tayah Mahi, soph., Cedar Falls.

Honorable Mention (area only)

Alexa Aldrich-Ingram, sr., Iowa City High; Macy Anderson, sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy; Ali Tauchen, jr., Iowa City West; Brinley Milbrath, sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

CLASS 4A

First Team

Taylor Frederick, sr., Harlan; Carlee Ketchum, sr., West Delaware; Isabella Sade, jr., Marion; Abbi Staack, sr., Waverly-Shell Rock; Mackenzie May, jr., Dubuque Wahlert; Kristen Wegmann, sr., West Delaware; Bridget Hoffmann, sr., West Delaware; Selena Nolte, sr., Dallas Center-Grimes.

Player of the year — Ketchum.

Coach of the year — Brett Mather, West Delaware.

Second Team

Grace Hanno, sr., Sioux City Heelan; Jordyn Moser, sr., Harlan; Emily Holterhaus, fr., Pella; Kaci Hohenthaner, sr., Lewis Central; Jessica DuVal, sr., Harlan; Megan Maahs, sr., Western Dubuque; Olivia Frazier, sr., Marion; Jamie Sindlinger, sr., Charles City.

Honorable Mention (area only)

Mariah Kleitsch, sr., West Delaware; Caitlyn Smith, soph., Marion; Alyssa Weldon, sr., Clear Creek Amana; Kaitlin Niedert, jr., Independence.

CLASS 3A

First Team

Cassedi Simon, sr., West Liberty; Kati Cassabaum, sr., Nevada; Jessica Harald, jr., Sioux Center; Brittni Olson, sr., Sergeant Bluff-Luton; Libby Ryan, jr., Mount Vernon; Abby Stephenson, jr., Nevada; Hailey Daufeldt, sr., West Liberty.

Player of the year — Simon.

Coach of the year — Will Baumann, Nevada.

Second Team

Megan Hudson, jr., Union; Kailtyn Volesky, jr., Mount Vernon; Hannah Becker, jr., North Polk; Angela Mahoney, sr., Red Oak; Paige Overmohle, sr., Carroll Kuemper; Mary Rolf, sr., Davenport Assumption; Erin Francis, sr., Nevada.

Third Team

Joie Veldman, sr., Spirit Lake; Alyssa Barger, sr., Centerville; Lauren McManus, jr., Waterloo Columbus; Maddie Simon, sr., West Liberty; Haley Weideman, sr., Center Point-Urbana; Aimee Adams, fr., Carroll Kuemper; Maggie Mathiasen, sr., Forest City.

Honorable Mention (area only)

Wynne Vandersall, jr., Mount Vernon; Peyton Parker, jr., Union; Abigail Weideman, soph., Center Point-Urbana.

CLASS 2A

First Team

Kaira Moss, sr., Western Christian; Becca Pagel, jr., Sumner-Fredericksburg; Sydney Petersen, soph., Dike-New Hartford; Jaydlin Seehase, jr., Sumner-Fredericksburg; Karlie Taylor, sr., Eddyville EBF; Anna Keil, sr., Unity Christian; Haley Poula, sr,. West Branch; Haley Weepie, sr., Wapsie Valley.

Player of the year — Moss.

Coach of the year — Tammi Veerbeek, Western Christian.

Second Team

Jenna Brandt, soph., Sumner-Fredericksburg; Baylee Petersen, soph., Dike-New Hartford; Kiley DeBerg, jr., Hudson; Sydney McLaren, soph., Council Bluffs St. Albert; Karsyn Winterfeld, jr., Western Christian; Payton Harmsen, sr., Western Christian; Ali Verzani, sr., Lawton-Bronson; Britta Weston, sr., Denver.

Third Team

Andrea Horstman, sr., Pella Christian; Katie Lindaman, sr., Grundy Center; Kelsea Heintzman, sr., Lake Mills; Allison Timmermans, jr., Unity Christian; MacKenzie Conlon, sr., Iowa City Regina; Courtney Dinsdale, sr., Wapsie Valley; Chanda Zomermaand, sr., Unity Christian; Bailey Lukavsky, sr., West Branch.

CLASS 1A

First Team

Gillian Gergen, jr., Janesville; Lexy Larsen, sr., Sidney; Bree Thompson, fr., Janesville; Kennedy Drewis, soph., Tripoli; Madlyn Orton, sr., Fort Madison Holy Trinity; Ashlan Thompson, jr., Grand View Christian; Mackenzie Daffer, sr., Sidney; Mattie Knobloch, sr., Central Lyon.

Player of the Year — Larsen.

Co-Coaches — Shelley Sorenson, Janesville; Amy McClintock, Sidney.

Second Team

Kayla Schaufenbuel, sr., Turkey Valley; Kennedy Meister, soph., Janesville; Camryn McClintock, fr., Sidney; Carly Bunkers, sr., LeMars Gehlen; Megan Wagaman, sr., Springville; Emma Pry, sr., New London; Hope Rasmussen, jr., Central Lyon; Johanna Vaske, sr., Algona Garrigan.

Third Team

Marissa Ward, sr., Iowa Valley; Kelcie Shields, jr., Mount Ayr; Jaden Daffer, fr., Sidney; Katherin Ihnen, sr., Harris-Lake Park; Karlee Boyle, sr., Janesville; Ali Randolph, Fort Madision Holy Trinity; Callie Calfee, sr., Bedford; Kenzie Mantz, fr., Belle Plaine.

Honorable Mention (area only)

Stephanie Martin, sr., Turkey Valley.

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