The Aplington-Parkersburg volleyball team is gearing up for the 2024 season with hopes of building a tradition upon last year’s success, where the Falcons went 34-9 and reached the state tournament for the first time since 2008.
This year’s team will feature four of last year’s starters, including seniors Peyton Klooster at outside hitter, Adria Neymeyer at libero and Bella Buseman at setter, and junior Zoey Uhlenhopp at middle hitter.
“We’ve talked a lot with them just about their leadership and not even with their game, but just leading,” Head Coach Candace Kleespies says. “We felt like the seniors last year did a tremendous job with that and that’s what got us down to Coralville. And then right behind that is their play. Peyton, this will be her fourth year on varsity, so a lot of experience there. And then the other three, last year was their first year of varsity, but getting that year under their belt and playing to the level that they did, we’re going to be expecting a lot from all four of them this year.”
The team will feature several others who played key reserve roles last year, and Kleespies says they’ll provide a lot of depth.
“I think we have a good mix of what’s coming back from what we had last year. And then a couple of the new girls that will kind of trickle into some of those spots that we have to fill. Most of them got some touches last year for us. It might’ve been a little bit on the lower side, but they at least got some varsity experience to hopefully help them this year. So that’s not so nerve wracking coming in for that first time, but we definitely the depth that we have coming back from last year. The girls that are pushing really hard for those open three spots and have shown us a lot of good things so far.”
The Falcons will begin the season at an invitational tournament at St. Edmond on Saturday, August 31.
