Newton’s Ahn, Nehring earn all-conference volleyball honors

Sophomore Kadance Ahn and senior Aurora Nehring made big impacts for Newton’s volleyball team this past season.

The Cardinals put a very young team on the floor this fall and their success didn’t show up in the win column. But the future looks bright.

Ahn and Nehring were recognized after the season for their efforts on the court as both Cardinals earned honorable mention all-conference honors this season inside the Little Hawkeye Conference.

The all-conference teams are based on statistics inside the LHC only.

Ahn was the team’s best player. She led the Cardinals with 64 kills and was tied for first with seven blocks.

Ahn ranked second on the team with 56 digs and was tied for second with eight aces. She was 53-of-68 in serves.

Ahn’s 64 kills ranked 10th in the LHC and her 2.9 kills per set ranked sixth. Her 2.5 digs per set ranked 15th in the league.

Nehring only played volleyball for two high school seasons but improved to one of the team’s best players at the net this season.

She finished with 31 kills, 17 digs and five aces and was tied for first on the team with seven blocks. She was 28-of-33 in serves and averaged 1.2 kills per set.

Little Hawkeye Conference

Final Standings

Team       Conference    Overall

Oskaloosa   6-1   31-5

Pella 6-1   29-10

Indianola 6-1  26-15

Norwalk 4-3   23-18

Grinnell 2-5  17-19

Pella Christian 2-5   19-20

DCG  2-5  16-22

Newton  0-7  7-25

First Team

Setter — Kenna Jackson, sr., DCG.

Libero — Brynn Bishop, so., Indianola; Natalie Harrill, sr., Pella Christian.

Hitter — Lauren Blake, sr., Indianola; Abbi Brenizer, sr., Norwalk; Faith De Ronde, sr., Oskaloosa; Maleah Walker, jr., Oskaloosa; Avey Amelse, sr., Pella; Bailey Van Voorst, sr., Pella; Sarah Gritters, sr., Pella Christian.

Second Team

Setter — Olivia Gordon, sr., Oskaloosa; Anna Vander Waal, sr., Pella.

Libero — Audrey Anderson, sr., DCG; Lucy Roach, jr., Oskaloosa.

Hitter — Kailey Peters, jr., Indianola; Camryn McKay, sr., Norwalk; Noelle Sutcliffe, so., Norwalk; Jasmine Namminga, jr., Pella; Makenna Smith, sr., Grinnell.

Honorable Mention

Setter — Cate Backstrom, sr., Norwalk; Chloe Huisman, fr., Pella Christian; Jillian Janssen, jr., DCG.

Hitter — Kadance Ahn, so., Newton; Aurora Nehring, sr., Newton; Anna Cantrell, so., Grinnell; Gretta Dodd, jr., Grinnell; Bailey Strovers, jr., Grinnell; Lizzie Espenmiller-McGraw, sr., Indianola; Emma Kluver, sr., Indianola; Ava Johnson, so., Norwalk; Aubree Blanco, sr., Oskaloosa; Abygail Thompson, sr., Oskaloosa; Meridith Rowe, sr., Pella; Trinity Vos, sr., Pella Christian.