Wamac powers ready to ‘bring the heat’

Brett Mather is ready to unleash an arsenal of jump servers.

'We're going to bring the heat,” said Mather, volleyball coach at West Delaware. 'We're going to bring the gas. In this league, we have to.”

Wamac Conference coaches and players agree, this is one power conference, one that's sure to be well-represented at the state tournament in November at the U.S. Cellular Center.

The long list of league championship contenders was a common theme - West Delaware, Solon and Mount Vernon in the East Division, Marion, Clear Creek Amana and Independence in the West. That's six, at least.

'There's a tremendous amount of talent and experience in the senior class throughout the league,” said Mount Vernon Coach Maggie Willems. 'I would say there are the most legitimate top-10 programs out there since I've been around.”

That was proven Monday, when the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released its preseason rankings.

* Solon is the top-rated team in Class 3A, followed by Mount Vernon (second), Independence (fourth) and Dyersville Beckman (10th).

* West Delaware is No. 2 in 4A, behind defending-champion Harlan. Marion is fourth, Clear Creek Amana sixth.

Good luck picking a favorite in this shark tank.

'We're pretty loaded, but I see six to eight teams that have a great shot of winning that (conference tournament),” Mather said.

Bracket play of the 16-team league tournament is set for Oct. 21 at Mount Vernon. Between now and then, they'll grapple for divisional titles.

'It's really early, but I'd say at least six teams have a chance to win (the counference tournament),” said Marion Coach Roxanne Paulsen, whose team is drawing as many hosannas as anyone. 'It depends whose kids develop into their new roles.”

Among other things.

'Who knows when and where injuries are going to happen,” said Solon Coach Peter Gustin, who said the league race would be 'a grind.”

The talent pool is deep. A quick peak at the heavyweights:

* West Delaware (37-6, 7-0 East Division in 2013) has made eight state appearances in 2003. The Hawks lost leading hitter Paige Soppe to graduation, but bring back the remainder of their core, including six jump-servers.

'Our front line is going to be pretty solid,” Mather said. 'We're still working on our blocking. (Libero Emily) Thole is a beast in the back row.”

* Solon (33-3, 6-1 East) was the 4A state runner-up in 2012 and 2013, and moves down to 3A. Mather called the Spartans' two Jordans (Runge and Smith) 'the two hardest hitters in the league.”

The Spartans probably lost the most of the top tier of teams, though, including all-state libero Rylee Smith.

'Our kids are working twice as hard in the weight room,” Gustin said. 'They see the banners they've earned from the last few years, and want to add another one.”

* Mount Vernon (26-11, 5-2 East) has beaten neither Solon nor West Delaware in Willems' first three years as head coach.

'I'm really looking forward to playing both of them,” said setter Morgan Melchert, who will play at NCAA Division-II McKendree College next year. 'And hopefully, we can go just as far or farther than the past two seasons.”

The Mustangs were 3A semifinalists each of the past two years and figure to get a big boost from Allison Platte, who missed last season with an ACL injury. She's back to full stength.

'Some people might not remember how good she was before she got hurt,” Willems said.

* Independence (35-9, 5-1 West) made a big, unexpected jump last year, earning a share of the division title (with Center Point-Urbana) and making its first state appearance. Senior Shelby Lehman was an all-state selection last season, and is one of five returning starters.

'In the past, you didn't think of Independence as a (contender) when you think volleyball,” Thole said. 'But you do now.”

* Marion (25-16, 4-2 West), according to Willems, has all the ingredients of a championship-caliber team.

'If I had to pick a preseason counference tournament champion, I would pick Marion,” she said. 'They have a great back row, a great setter and great size.”

Libero Abby Phillips has committed to Iowa State.

'This is potentially our strongest team since our run from 2005 through 2009 (including a state title in 2008),” Paulsen said. 'I wouldn't say we're there yet, but we certainly have the pieces to get there.”

* CCA (23-10, 4-2 West) returns the most of anybody; the Clippers did not have a senior on their 2013 roster, and bring back a balanced attack led by junior Alyssa Weldon.

The fun begins Sept. 4, when Mount Vernon visits Solon in an East Division showdown and a 1-vs.-2 battle. And it will continue through the conference tournament and, for the fortunate, into mid-November.

'Everybody (at Marion) expects a state tournament,” Paulsen said, 'and I'm sure a lot of the other Wamac teams expect the same.

'I would say it could be any of us.”

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