Wolverines retool around experienced core seeking championship run

2022 Record: 45-3 (3-2 Loss to Western Christian in State Championship) 

Head Coach: Diane Harms 

For the third year in a row, Dike-New Hartford volleyball earned its way into the Class 2A State Championship match last season. The Wolverines clashed with fellow powerhouse Western Christian in those finals, where they came up a couple points short to the Wolfpack. A returning DNH core vowed that they would not let another championship run slip away. 

“Last season certainly didn’t end the way they wanted it to, but they’ve let it serve as motivation for them this past year,” coach Diane Harms said. “That was a strong program we competed against. There are a lot of strong programs in Iowa who motivate us to take care of our side of the net. These girls have worked hard, so we don’t put ourselves in that position again.”

The Wolverines graduated four seniors in their rotation, including four-year starting setter Madelyn Norton. Harms has kept an open mind on how to move forward with the important position, including using multiple setters with senior Claire McCumber, junior Lucy Varney, sophomore Addy Joslin and freshman Kailyn Meester vying for the position. Right side hitter is open for senior Shelby Ohrt, juniors Madde Buskohl and Izzy Norton. A middle block/hitter is down to senior Indee Grassley, junior Shannon Moorman and sophomore Keely Kauten.

“As we get reps in with each day, we’re looking at who's doing the little things and who's doing them more consistently for us,” Harms said. “We’ll look different this year on the court with multiple setters and that will open up additional players. Claire and Lucy have done more of the setting this preseason, but we have seen a lot of growth in all our setters.”

While these positions are still up in the air, there’s no doubt that the Wolverines will look to seniors Payton Petersen (515 kills, 298 digs, 88.3 serving percentage), Jadyn Petersen (315 kills, 327 digs, 91.2 serving percentage) and Maryn Bixby (201 kills, 109 blocks, 56 digs) for leadership and impact both offensively and defensively. Sophomore Abby Jensen started all 48 games as season at libero/DS with 211 digs, 84 assists and a 88.3 serving percentage. 

“Obviously Jadyn and Peyton will be in our primary passing rotations,” Harms said. “Abby will be one of our passers and you’ll see Maryn playing back row this year. Our seniors are asking us coaches if there’s anything we need to address with the underclassmen. They want to mentor and bring the younger girls along. As we get more comfortable with each other, we'll see individual growth that will ultimately come together for the team.”

Once again, the NICL conference will be a gauntlet across all three divisions. In the NICL Central, Denver and Hudson return strong squads and Aplington-Parkersburg looks to remain competitive. The Wolverines will face defending NICL West champ Grundy Center and a talented Sumner-Fredericksburg in a cross-divisional triangular later this season. DNH also retained their challenging weekend tournament schedule from last season. 

“Every day, I want us to come into practice and work on things to get better individually and to try to understand things as a team,” Harms said. “Our upperclassmen set a great example in terms of effort and giving 100 percent. Obviously we went to take every match, every set one at a time, but ultimately we have high goals of being back at the State tournament.”