All-state volleyball: D-NH's Petersen named 2A Player of the Year; GC's Willis, Luhring honored

Dike-New Hartford junior Payton Petersen was named the Class 2A Co-Player of the Year by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association in all-state volleyball teams released on Tuesday.

This is the third time Petersen has won the award - she is also now a three-time member of the elite all-state team. Petersen shares the Class 2A award with Stella Winterfeld of Western Christian.

Petersen is one of three first-team selections for the 2A state runner-up Wolverines, along with Madelyn Norton and Jadyn Petersen. Ellie Knock was a second-team selection and Maryn Bixby earned third-team honors.

Payton, a Louisville commit, was sixth in 2A with 4.6 kills per set and added 2.7 digs per set. She also led D-NH with 64 ace serves on 88 percent serving efficiency.

Norton, a Western Illinois signee, ended her Wolverines career with nine assists and 2.2 digs per set in her senior season.

Jadyn, a UNI commit, averaged 2.8 kills and 2.9 digs per set.

Knock, who has signed to play basketball at William Jewell, ended her senior campaign with 1.7 kills per set and was second on the team with 91 blocks.

Only Bixby had more blocks for the Wolverines, as the junior stuffed 109 total attacks and added 1.8 kills per set.

Grundy Center volleyball, regional finalists this season, had two representatives on the all-state team with second-teamer Carlie Willis and honorable mention Ellery Luhring, both juniors.

Willis had the third best attacking average in Class 2A with 5.6 kills per set and added 2.8 digs per set.

As the team’s setter, Luhring averaged 8.8 assists and 2.5 digs per set and was also the team’s best blocker with 83 total stuffs and the most efficient server with 43 ace serves on 95 percent efficiency.