East Union’s Friend named all-state
East Union senior outside hitter Amber Friend is on the Iowa Girls Coaches Association All-State second team, joining Bedford senior outside hitter Kayla Lindenmeyer.
For East Union’s 30-6 regional finalist team, Friend had a team-high 440 kills in 95 sets (4.6 average) with 18 solo blocks. She served 92 percent with 90 aces. She was also second on the team with 261 digs. Teammate Rochelle Means, East Union’s versatile setter, joins Friend on the all-district team.
“Amber Friend making second team all-state really shows the caliber of player Amber is and an honor for her as an individual player and for our team,” East Union coach Gail Thatcher said. “Having Rochelle and Amber on the all-district team is an honor not only for them, but for our team, as well. The hard work and dedication of the players this year, enabled us to have two girls on the all-district team.
Carmen Subbert, Stanton junior outside hitter, is on the IGCA first team in Class 1A.
Bedford senior setter and right side hitter Haley Raymond and Villisca senior outside hitter Amanda Focht received honorable mention in 1A.
The Class 4A all-state first team has Harlan sophomore middle hitter Jess Schaben. Those receiving honorable mention include sophomore Abby Bergstrom and senior Amber Huttman of Lewis Central.
In Class 3A, Red Oak sophomore outside hitter Kate Walker is on the third team. Honorable mention goes to Clarinda junior middle hitter Darci Sunderman and Red Oak sophomore middle hitter Grace Blomstedt.
Carroll Kuemper senior middle hitter Brandi Bueltel is on the Class 2A first team. Teammate Morgan Naberhaus, a junior, received honorable mention.
All-district
1A Southwest — Carmen Subbert, Stanton; Kayla Lindenmeyer, Bedford; Amber Friend, East Union; Rachel Sorenson, Stanton; Amanda Focht, Villisca; Haley Raymond, Bedford; Rochelle Means, East Union; Rochelle Sink, Stanton; Ragen Anderson, Stanton; Quinn Ruth, Adair-Casey. District coach of the year: Jody Druivenga, Stanton.
2A Southwest — Kaylee Blake, IKM-Manning; Nevada Meis, C.B. St. Albert; Shelby Sullivan, Tri-Center; Chaley Rath, Treynor; Brandi Bueltel, Kuemper Catholic; Kylie Ferguson, C.B. St. Albert; Gracie Myers, Treynor; Katie Kuck, C.B. St. Albert; Chelsie Hardesty, Underwood; Morgan Naberhaus, Kuemper Catholic; Emma Fiene, Treynor; Emily Nelson, Audubon. Co-district coaches of the year: Angie Lantz, St. Albert; and Keith Stickrod, Kuemper Catholic.
3A West — Alexis Conway, MOC-FV; Amber Bakker, Sioux Center; Elizabeth Kiel, Unity Christian; Jessica Van Beek, Sheldon; Piper Richardson, South Central Calhoun; Emily McDonald, MOC-FV; Dakota Blum, East Sac; Darcy Sunderman, Clarinda; Kate Walker, Red Oak; Jilian Estes, Sioux Center. Coach of the year: Jon Mouw, MOC-FV.
4A West — Jess Schaben, Harlan; Lauren Brobst, Bishop Heelan; Abby Bergsten, Lewis Central; Katelynn Poss, Bishop Heelan; Kaylee Schnathorst, Webster City; Lisa Daringer, Carroll; Kaitlynn Voight, Humboldt; Asia Kloewer, Harlan; Megan McCarthy, Bishop Heelan; Amber Huffman, Lewis Central; Emily Pick, Le Mars; Frankie Ecklund, Perry. Coach of the year: Angie Spangenberg, Harlan.
