D-NH volleyball returns to state with title potential

DIKE – After missing last season's state tournament, Dike-New Hartford volleyball reloaded instead of regressing.

The Wolverines are back at the state volleyball tournament this week as the third seed and already shooting for the moon at the beginning of what could be another extended series of trips to the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in years to come.

D-NH opened the state tournament in Cedar Rapids against NICL East foe Sumner-Fredericksburg on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

"We're hungry," said Madelyn Norton, D-NH's sophomore setter. "We want this title, we want it bad, especially after what happened last year. We're ready to go."

Union knocked out D-NH in a 3A regional final last season, ending a run of 12 consecutive state appearances by the Wolverines, winning six state titles in that timeframe.

The Wolverines will take the floor on Tuesday against the Cougars with a likely starting lineup of three juniors and four underclassmen, including the dynamic freshman duo of Payton Petersen and Jadyn Petersen. Payton leads all individuals on 2A state-qualifying teams with 4.7 kills per set and adds 4.0 digs per set and 62 ace serves; Jadyn is averaging 4.2 digs and 2.3 kills per set.

There are several heavy hitters in the 2A field, including another perennial powerhouse in top-seeded Western Christian and Wilton, the second seed and a potential semifinal opponent. But D-NH head coach Diane Harms insists the Wolverines take this year's tournament one match at a time.

"We're going to have to execute and play to our potential," Harms said of the Sumner-Fredericksburg matchup. "It's going to be a big battle and they're a very good team."

D-NH enters the state tournament with only four losses, all of which were against state tournament teams, including 5A's Cedar Falls and Dowling Catholic, 3A's Osage and 1A title favorite Janesville.

Norton has set up 781 assists for her various D-NH attacking options and has dumped off 89 kills in her own right. Ellie Knock and Taylor Hoehns are great supplemental attacking options to the Petersen twins and also serve as part of D-NH's reliable blocking effort at the net – D-NH leads the 2A field in total blocks with 346 stuffs.

"I think we're all just playing together really well," Hoehns said. "We always have a lot of energy and are doing a lot of talking out on the court."

And even if you get past D-NH's blocking, there's a scrappy bunch ready to dig the Wolverines into position for a retaliation, whether it be junior libero Lexie Fager (4.2 digs per set) or, again, those talented Petersen twins.

"We've kept some balls alive for extended rallies and the timing between our setters and hitters has gotten better," Harms said. "Just a lot of little things to make this team a little sharper."

With such a young group of talented players, Harms has appreciated how willing the upperclassmen have been to make it all click.

"They're all so encouraging, all so willing to share what they know with everybody," Harms said. "Anything that they can bring to the team and share, it just makes us better and stronger."

Everyone understanding their roles have also made for a more cohesive team – D-NH sees great contributions from upperclassmen like senior Malea Neuroth and junior Jillian Beuter, particularly at the service line where Neuroth has landed 36 aces this season; Beuter has chipped in 28.

"I'm really excited to help the team," said Neuroth, D-NH's only senior to see varsity time this season. "We've got quite a few girls that have never been down there and I'm looking forward to showing them the ropes and gaining that experience with them."

In a strange season, the Wolverines aren't taking the opportunity to play for granted.

"It's a really fun atmosphere to play in," Hoehns said. "Just to have a chance at a state title is really exciting."