Area athletes earn Lewis and Clark All Conference honors

PONCA — The Lewis & Clark coaches recently met and released the 2023 Lewis & Clark Conference volleyball teams.

The conference is split into two divisions in volleyball. The Lewis Division consists of Homer, Wakefield, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, Ponca, Tri County Northeast, Hartington-Newcastle, Walthill and Winnebago.

The Clark Division is made up of Wynot, Wausa, Bloomfield, Plainview, Randolph, Osmond, Winside and Creighton.

Wynot won the Clark Division regular season title with a 7-0 record and also took the conference tournament title over Wakefield.

Plainview was second at 6-1, Bloomfield third at 5-2, Wausa was fourth with a 4-3 record, Osmond was fifth at 3-4, Winside sixth at 2-5, Creighton seventh at 1-6 and Roandolph was eighth.

Wakefield won the Lewis Division with a 7-0 record, Homer was second (6-1), Laurel-Concord-Coleridge was third (5-2), Hartington-Newcastle was fourth (4-3), Tri County Northeast was fifth (3-4), Ponca was sixth (2-5), Winnebago was seventh (1-6) and Walthill was eighth (0-7).

Hartington-Newcastle placed two girls on the Lewis Division All-Conference first team.

Olivia Grutsch and Mani Lange were tabbed by the conference coaches as first team selections, both are seniors.

Laurel-Concord-Coleridge had three players on the Lewis Division squad, two of the players selected were freshmen for the Lady Bears.

Lady Bear setter, Carlie Kvols, and hitter, Rena Rasmussen were both seniors for head coach Julie Kvols and were joined by senior teammate, Mallory Eriksen. Eriksen was a repeat selection.

Wakefield had three players on the first team, Homer had two, Tri County Northeast one and Ponca one on the 12-member elite team.

The Lady Wildcats had two players named honorable mention by the coaches.

Lauren Howell and Zoey Gratzfeld were selected. Both were seniors this season for head coach, Sarah Edwards.

Laurel-Concord-Coleridge placed Tali Erwin on the honorable mention list. Erwin was an all-conference performer last season and will return for her senior campaign next fall.

Wynot led the way for the Clark Division team. The Lady Blue Devils placed three seniors to the first team. Kayla Pinkelman, Allison Wieseler and Kinslee Heimes made the first team. Wieseler and Heimes are repeat selections after making the 2022 all-conference team.

Wausa placed one player on the first team. Sienna West, a senior for the Lady Vikings was on the elite squad.

The Randolph Lady Cardinals also had one selection for the Clark Division. Senior Ella Scott was named to the team.

Wynot had three players named to the honorable mention list. Junior setter, Sophia Geisen was placed on the list and will return for the Lady Blue Devils and coach Sidney Messersmith next year; libero, Myrah Sudbeck was also on the list. Sudbeck was a senior for Wynot and sophomore, Kenna Oligmueller was named to the squad.

2023 LEWIS & CLARK ALL-CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL Lewis Division All-Conference:

Tori Walker (HOM) 11; Jordan Metzler (WAK) 12; Rena Rasmussen (LCC) 9; Mallory Eriksen (LCC) 12; Daveigh Munter-McAfee (WAK) 12; Addison Stewart (PON) 11; Carlie Kvols (LCC) 9; Katie Borg (WAK) 12; Micaela Tornez (TCNE) 11; Olivia Grutsch (H-N) 12; Makenna Owen (HOM) 12; Mani Lange (H-N) 12. Lewis Division Honorable Mention: Lauren Howell (H-N) 12; Tali Erwin (LCC) 11; Ashtyn Pick (PON) 9; Zoey Gratzfeld (H-N) 12; Alli Brown (WAK) 11; Kiya Tornez (TCNE) 10; Olivia Taylor (PON) 10; Brianna Novak (TNCE) 12; Lily Korth (PON) 12; Rylie Harris (HOM) 11; Elleysyn Hrouda (PON) 11; Nadia Bass (WINN) 11; Daynee Harlan (WINN) 11. Clark Division All-Conference: Kayla Pinkelman (WYN) 12; Sienna West (WAU) 12; Madison Abbenhaus (BLF) 12; Teya Boyer (PLV) 12; Hunter West (WAU) 12; Allison Wieseler (WYN) 12; Abbie Kromarek (PLV) 12; Kinslee Heimes (WYN) 12; Ella Scott (RAN) 12; Madelynn Dougherty (PLV) 12; Randee Haase (WIN) 12; Avery Bargman (BLF) 11; Natalie Kruger (WIN) 12.

Clark Division Honorable Mention:

Jerzi Carlson (WIN) 10; Bailey West (WAU) 11; Sophia Geisen (WYN) 11; Brooke Pinkelman (BLF) 12; Myrah Sudbeck (WYN) 12; Olivia Kuhlman (CRE) 12; Anna Kahny (OSM) 12; Hannah Darnall (PLV) 11; Jacey Bartels (RAN) 12; Abby Brown (OSM) 10; Brooke Fanta (CRE) 11; Candace Pint (CRE) 11; Kenna Oligmueller (WYN) 10.