Prep volleyball 2018: Area teams to watch

Ten area teams to watch for the upcoming volleyball season:

Cedar Rapids Jefferson

Co-coaches: Will & Amy Norton (4th year, 72-46)

2017 record: 39-7

2017 postseason: Class 5A state qualifier

Returning starters (7): S Maddy Baxter (5-8, sr.), DS Raya George (5-6, sr.), L Kaylee Donner (5-6, sr.), MH Maggie Peters (5-11, sr.), OH Lindsey Culver (5-11, sr.), OH Sydney Kloubec (5-9, sr.), MH Meghan Prohaska (5-8, sr.)

Cedar Rapids Xavier

Coach: Austin Filer (3rd year, 64-20)

2017 record: 32-10

2017 postseason: Class 4A state semifinalist

Returning starters (4): DS Keera Ball (5-5, sr.), OH Olivia Richards (5-11, sr.), S Jaz Yamilkoski (5-9, soph.), MH Emily Jasper (5-11, sr.)

Dyersville Beckman

Coach: Todd Troutman (22nd year, 491-171)

2017 record: 31-13

2017 postseason: Class 3A state qualifier

Returning starters (6): OH Caroline Kluesner (5-6, sr.), OH Isabelle Bennett (5-6, sr.), MH Ellie Bildstein (5-11, sr.), OH Heather Boeckenstedt (5-8, sr.), S Sydney Steffen (5-6, sr.), DS Sydney Arens (5-6, sr.)

Independence

Coach: Joe Schmitz (23rd year, 356-330; 9th year at Independence, 181-121)

2017 record: 33-9

2017 postseason: Class 4A state qualifier

Returning starters (5): S Abby Davis (5-4, sr.), S Holly Cooksley (5-9, sr.), L Sydney Hearn (5-6, sr.), DS Brooke Beatty (5-6, soph.), OH Madison Larson (6-0, sr.)

Iowa City High

Coach: Tricia Carty (1st year, 0-0)

2017 record: 16-17

2017 postseason: Class 5A regional semifinalist

Returning starters (7): OH Kelsey Law (5-11, jr.), OH Ellie Evans (5-10, sr.), MH Mackenzie Murphy (6-0, sr.), MH Mia Loughran (5-9, jr.), S Lindsey Bolton (5-9, jr.), OH Cecelia Aldrich-Ingram (5-8, jr.), L Brooke Bormann (5-5, jr.)

Iowa City West

Coach: Scott Sanders (2nd year, 22-16)

2017 record: 22-16

2017 postseason: Class 5A regional finalist

Returning starters (3): MH Claire Overton (5-11, sr.), OH Cailyn Morgan (5-10, sr.), S Rylee Fay (5-9, jr.)

Linn-Mar

Coach: Teresa Bair (29th year, 721-195; 6th year at Linn-Mar, 142-55)

2017 record: 31-11

2017 postseason: Class 5A state semifinalist

Returning starters (4): OH Tori Niemeyer (5-8, sr.), S Megan Renner (6-2, sr.), OH Ellie Von Lehmden (5-8, sr.), MH Anna Gorsich (5-11, sr.)

North Tama

Coach: Channing Halstead (5th year, 75-52)

2017 record: 29-8

2017 postseason: Class 1A state qualifier

Returning starters (6): L Takoa Kopriva (5-4, jr.), S Isabel Sierra (5-6, jr.), MH Carlie Gorder (5-9, jr.), OH Katie Kopriva (6-0, jr.), DS Carissa Calderwood (5-6, sr.), OH Abby Deboef (5-9, soph.)

Starmont

Coach: Robert Goedken (12th year, 259-110)

2017 record: 30-6

2017 postseason: Class 1A state qualifier

Returning starters (7): S Regan Janssen (5-6, sr.), MH Hayley Goedken (5-6, sr.), L Katie Berry (5-6, sr.), OH Macy Mommer (5-6, sr.), OH Kylee Anfinson (5-6, jr.), OH Madilyn Vaske (5-6, sr.), MH Isabel Johanns (5-8, sr.)

Tipton

Coach: Amy Calonder (19th year, 209-305; 16th year at Tipton, 194-238)

2017 record: 32-7

2017 postseason: Class 3A state qualifier

Returning starters (7): OH Sommer Daniel (5-9, jr.), S Amanda Smith (5-10, sr.), MH Jamie Kofron (5-11, sr.), OH Emily Hermsen (5-4, sr.), L Laken Hermiston (5-5, sr.), OH Blake Ehler (5-10, sr.), MH Kamryn Chapman (6-0, jr.)

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com