Iowa City Liberty volleyball poised to ‘take it all the way’

NORTH LIBERTY — When Randy Dolson arrived at Liberty High School, he brought a vision along.

A five-year plan, by the end of which, the Lightning would be contending for a state championship.

This is Year 5. And the program is ahead of schedule.

Liberty made its first state tournament in Year 3, the championship match in Year 4.

There’s only one step more to take. And this is a team than can take it.

“I think we can win a state championship this year,” junior Cassidy Hartman said. “We have a lot of potential.”

Liberty is the preseason No. 1 in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Class 5A preseason rankings, released Monday; they were No. 2 in The Gazette’s preseason list.

A 6-foot hitter, Hartman was an Elite all-state selection in 2020. Another junior, Shelby Kimm was a 5A second-teamer. Senior Sam Harvey (a Southeastern Louisiana University commit) and junior Kennedy Daugherty are other top net threats.

“We have good returners, we’re really close and we’re super excited,” Kimm said.

No doubt, the Lightning have attackers. The question is, where will they find their voice?

Setter Hailey Hested and libero Addie Schmierer have graduated. Mariah Rollins earned some setting rotations last year as a freshman, and will either run the show in a 5-1 offense or could be one piece of the puzzle in a 6-2 attack.

“I feel way more comfortable than last year,” Rollins said. “I want to be a leader, that quarterback on the court that has everbody’s attention.

“Hailey told me what to do, how to be a leader. I’m working on it.”

As of last week, three players were vying for the libero role.

Dolson, in his 36th year of coaching, just turned 60. He has begun the chain of succession, appointing former assistant Allie Kelly as a co-head coach.

“I want to slow down a little,” Dolson said. “Allie is more than capable of doing more this year. She wants to do as much as she can to get more experience.”

Kelly, 28, was an all-state setter at Cedar Rapids Kennedy, from which she graduated in 2012. She’s energetic, she’s knowledgeable, and she’s ready.

“I’m doing more behind-the-scenes stuff this year, and I’m loving it,” she said. “I’m lucky I’ve learned so much from Randy the past four years.

“I have a huge passion for Liberty. This is where my heart is.”

The 2020 Gazette-area coach of the year, Dolson didn’t say whether he would coach beyond this season. But if this is it, the potential is there for a triumphant farewell.

“We can reach wherever we want,” Kelly said. “We can take it all the way if we want.”

This much is certain: Liberty will be tested, and tested hard. The Lightning face a grind of a tournament schedule with events at Ankeny Centennial (Saturday), West Des Moines Valley (Sept. 4), Iowa City West (Sept. 11) and at home (Sept. 25).

“We start off hot and heavy,” Dolson said. "We might take a few lumps, but I’m looking forward it.”

Hartman said, “I love our schedule. It will push us to play our best.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com