Raiderettes to challenge title
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By Ryan Stonebraker
MOUNT AYR – The Mount Ayr volleyball team will have high expectations on them this year as the Raiderettes return a team that can challenge for the Pride of Iowa Conference title. The Raiderettes had a winning record in the POI and return two all-conference players from last season. The Raidettes were 17-17 last season and 5-3 in the POI. The win total was the highest since the 2017-18 school year. The 17 wins were the second straight season that a Mount Ayr team had double digit wins.
Mount Ayr had five all-conference players last year on the Pride of Iowa Conference honors list. Three were seniors in Breya Nickle, Jaxy Knight and Ashlyn Murphy. Nickle was a second team hitter pick and Knight a second team defensive specialist pick. Murphy was honorable mention.
Back for Mount Ayr from the all-conference team are first team setter Jaylee Shaffer and first team hitter Aubree Shields. Shields had a team leading 297 kills, 77 blocks, was second on the teams in digs with 287, and served 225-for-264 with 34 aces. Shaffer was the top Mount Ayr setter with 345 assists. She had 27 kills, 156 digs, 22 blocks, and served 276-for-288 with 30 aces.
Juniors Dannie Stewart and Izzy Gilbertson also return as key players for Mount Ayr. Stewart also is a very good setter and had 255 assists last year along with 154 digs, and led Mount Ayr in serving, going 313-for-340 with 33 aces. Gilbertson had 116 kills last year, one of four players with over 100 kills last season. She also had 36 digs and was second on the team in blocks at the net with 53.
The POI race could come down to four teams, 2024 champ SW Valley, SE Warren, Martensdale-St. Mary’s, and Mount Ayr. All three have star players back and matched against each other will be very key to who wins the title.
The Raiderttes began the season on Tuesday, August 26 at the Clarinda Tournament. Mount Ayr played Clarinda, Stanton and Lenox. Results were not available as of press time.
The Raiderettes have their home opener on September 2 when they host Bedford. Mount Ayr will play in tournaments at Clarke on September 6, at Shenandoah on September 13, their home invite on September 20, and at the Bedford tournament on September 27.
The Raiderettes head coach is Gail Thatcher. Assistant coaches this year are Rochelle Means and Alissa Weinkoetz.
