Three Cardinals earn LHC volleyball honors

Newton High’s Cardinals broke a three-year drought in winning a Little Hawkeye Conference volleyball match in September. The Cardinals — combining LHC regular-season and tournament play — broke an 0-25 run with a 17-25, 25-20, 25-23, 27-25 win over Grinnell.

The Cardinals finished 2-9 in conference play in 2019 and reached double digit match wins — 11-19 — for the first time since 2016. They won a Class 4A regional opening-round match to reach a regional semifinal for the first time since 2013.

Newton ended up seventh in the LHC this season. The Cardinals had three players earn all-conference honors, which were released this week following Dallas Center-Grimes’ loss in a 4A regional final.

Junior setter Kate Callaghan was named to the 2019 All-Little Hawkeye Conference first team. She earned second-team honors a year ago.

Garnering LHC honorable mention honors for the second straight year were senior outside hitter Madi Amos and junior middle blocker Meg Callaghan.

Kate Callaghan, who stands 5-foot-9, is a three-year starter as setter for Newton. In conference matches she had 156 set assists and a team-leading 93 digs.

She put down 43 kills and had three solo blocks and five assisted blocks at the net. Serving in LHC matches, Kate Callaghan went 83-of-89 with eight ace serves.

Overall, Kate Callaghan led the Cardinals with 127 kills, 368 set assists and 230 digs. She had five solo blocks and 18 assisted blocks. She had 28 serving aces, which was second on the team, and went 204-of-220 serving.

Amos, who is 5-7, led the team with 47 kills in LHC action and 11 service aces. She was 87-of-90 serving and had 71 digs. Overall she finished with 79 kills, 138 digs, and a team-high 31 service aces. She was 226-of-237 serving for .954 percent.

Meg Callaghan, who is 5-9, led the team with eight solo blocks and 10 assisted blocks in LHC play and had 35 kills. She was the team’s leader in total blocks with 37, which included 14 solos and 23 assisted blocks. She was second on the team with 104 kills.

Little Hawkeye Conference

2019 All-Conference Volleyball

First Team

Kate Callaghan, Jr., Newton, setter

Kam O’Brien, Sr. Dallas Center-Grimes, setter

Katelyn Kundsen, Sr., Dallas Center-Grimes, OH

Lauren Blake, So., Indianola, OH

Anna Marvelli, Sr., Indianola, OH

Faith De Ronde, So., Oskaloosa, OH

Bailey Van Voorst, So., Pella, OH

Molly Bolt, Sr., Pella Christina, OH

Jalyn Simon, Jr., Norwalk, MB

Maddy Zimmerman, Sr., Norwalk, libero

Second Team

Jolie Yang, Sr., Oskaloosa, setter

Emily Ellis, Sr., Norwalk, setter

Anna Vander Waal, So., Pella, setter

Grace Mikota, Jr., DCG, OH

Taylor Willis, Sr., Oskaloosa, OH

Days Harris, Jr., Grinnell, OH

Haylee Hidlebaugh, Jr., DCG, MB

Alivia Bauer, Sr., Indianola, MB

Anna Van Zee, Sr., Pella Christian, libero

Honorable Mention: Newton- Madi Amos, Sr., OH, Meg Callaghan, Jr., MB; DCG-Kenna Jackson, So., setter, Lexi Protzman, Jr., MB; Grinnell-Addyson Petig, Sr., OH, Abigail Furness, Sr., setter; Indinaola-Emma Kluver, So., MB, Elly Flaherty, Sr., libero; Norwalk-Abbi Brenizer, So., RS, Abby Allmon, Sr., RS; Oskaloosa-Emily Richmond, Sr., MB; Pella-Courtney Thompson, Sr., MB; Pella Christian-Lizzy Posthuma, Sr., setter, Avery Amelse, So., OH.

Little Hawkeye Conference

2019 Volleyball Final Standings

Team Conference Overall

Dallas Center-Grimes 10-1 31-7

Indianola 9-2 27-18

Oskaloosa 9-2 18-12

Norwalk 6-5 23-17

Pella 5-6 18-19

Pella Christian 3-8 19-21

Newton 2-9 11-19

Grinnell 0-11 13-22

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535
or jsheets@newtondailynews.com