March 28, 2024

Three Bolts earn spots on Iowa Star Conference volleyball teams

Amber Weltha led the Iowa Star Conference South Division in several statistical categories this past season.

The junior hitter ranked first in kills and serving percentage during conference matches, and was named to the South Division first team for her efforts.

Weltha was joined on the all-conference team by two of her Baxter volleyball teammates.

Sophomore Sophie Meyer was a second-team selection, while senior Sydney Schmidt earned honorable mention recognition.

The Bolts were 12-14 overall this past season.

They finished second in the division at 5-1 for the second straight season.

Only North Tama was better in division play.

The Iowa Star Conference elite team included three players from top-ranked Janesville, two from North Tama and one each from Tripoli and Don Bosco.

Weltha, who was a unanimous first-team selection in the South Division, ranked first in the division with 98 kills and in conference play.

She also was a perfect 63-of-63 in serves, ranked third with 14 blocks and was second in kill efficiency at .386. She had 27 digs, 10 aces and two assists.

On the season, Weltha ranked second among division hitters with 277 kills, first in kill efficiency at .359, first in blocks with 52 and first in serve percentage at .981. She had 28 aces, seven assists and 77 digs while going 205-of-209 in serves.

She’ll enter her final prep season with 524 career kills.

Meyer was the Bolts’ second-best hitter with 33 kills in conference play. She ranked first in the division with 28 aces and was third in digs with 67. She had two assists and was 111-of-120 in serves.

Overall, Meyer was second on the team with 110 kills. She was 283-of-320 in serves with a team-high and division-high 68 aces. Meyer was second on the team and fifth in the division with 188 digs, and she finished with five assists.

Schmidt is the only player graduating from this year’s team. She finished with four kills and 69-of-75 in serves during conference play. She was third on the team with 17 aces, second in assists with 40 and fourth in digs with 52.

Overall, Schmidt finished second on the team in assists with 94 and was fourth in digs with 120. She had 10 kills, 29 aces and was 159-of-175 in serves.

Iowa Star Conference

South Division

Final Standings

North Tama 6-0

Baxter 5-1

Collins-Maxwell 4-2

Colo-NESCO 3-3

GMG 2-4

Meskwaki Settlement School 1-5

Valley Lutheran 0-6

First Team

* Amber Weltha, junior, Baxter

* Katie Kopriva, junior, North Tama

* Takoa Kopriva, junior, North Tama

* Karly Jans, senior, North Tama

Hannah Caple, senior, Collins-Maxwell

Gracie Cheville, senior, Collins-Maxwell

Tori Lasley, senior, Meskwaki Settlement School

Second Team

Sophie Meyer, sophomore, Baxter

Isabel Sierra, junior, North Tama

Abigail DeBoef, sophomore, North Tama

Kathleen Kucera, junior, North Tama

Josie Wierson, senior, Collins-Maxwell

Emma Sarver, senior, Colo-NESCO

Madi Krull, senior, GMG

Honorable Mention

Sydney Schmidt, senior, Baxter

Reagan Franzen, sophomore, Collins-Maxwell

Megan Carlson, junior, Colo-NESCO

Maesa Groth, senior, GMG

Carlie Gorder, junior, North Tama

Abigail IronShell, senior, Meskwaki Settlement School

Elite Team

Bree Thompson, senior, Janesville

Alisa Bengen, senior, Janesville

Lily Liekweg, senior, Janesville

Zoe Semelroth, junior, Tripoli

Katie Kopriva, junior, North Tama

Take Kopriva, junior, North Tama

Jenna Brown, sophomore, Don Bosco