WAVERLY, Iowa-- Wartburg volleyball returns Iowa Conference MVP senior Aryn Jones (Marion) and many other starters from the team that swept the IIAC titles last season, under 20^th-year head coach Jennifer Walker.

Jones returns for her senior season and Walker sees her being a two-sport athlete (women's basketball) as one of her biggest strengths. "Playing basketball is an advantage for her because it gives her an opportunity to compete twice a year," she said. "That means she is coming into her seventh collegiate season, which I think makes anyone a better, smarter, more competitive athlete.

"I'll go back to two years ago when women's basketball made the Final Four, she changed," continued Walker. "Last year, when she came into the season, she had a different focus and knew what it takes to get to that national level and how fun it is to be there."

Jones led the team with 294 kills which equated to 3.13 kills/set and 95 blocks last season.



Both setters return in senior Maria Brown (Peosta) and junior Mallary Erbes (Urbandale). The duo combined for almost 1,000 set assists last season. Entering the season, Brown holds the number nine spot on the program's list of career leaders with 1,246 set assists.

"We have two fantastic setters in Maria and Mallary," said Walker. "Maria will set across the back and Mallary will play all the way around and hit across the front.

"Mallary had two triple doubles last year and really is an individual that can make a big impact as she's out there for six rotations and can do a lot of great things," she continued. "She is an effective server, and when making the lineups, we consider who our best hitters are to get them up front right away but we also consider who our best servers are to get them in the right order."

On the outside, Walker sees junior Lizzy Blough (Dike) and senior Maddie Miller (Johnston) as being the main contributors in that position. "Lizzy is really hitting the ball well and opposite her will be Maddie," said Walker. "Maddie has had to compete for time with Claire Willenbring the last couple seasons which has challenged her to make her better."

At the right side position, sophomore Abby Staebell (Hudson) returns after suffering an injury mid-season last year. 

Blough was the third-leading hitter with 169 kills and Erbes was fifth with 121 and Staebell rounded out those in triple digits with 111.

Two newcomers Walker expects to see on the court are Kylie Bildstein (Dyersville) and Katie Foster (Charles City).

"Kyle is just as tall as Aryn," noted Walker. "This is good for Aryn as she has to work around someone just as big as she is. They make each other better."

Foster made the decision to come to Wartburg in July and now will be on the travel roster. "Katie is very athletic and will be a defensive specialist."

Last year's libero, Kathryn Nasby, transferred over the summer and senior Bre Bader (La Porte City) and Foster are in the mix for this spot.

"Bre and Katie are the ones that are looking like the top two of who is going to be the libero," said Walker. "Bre has improved tremendously through the spring season and the summer she's continued to grow and work. She's acting like a senior; she's got experience Katie is coming in with raw talent and athleticism. Katie is quick, she reads the hits well, and she's still getting used to the college game. The first weekend, will we possibly try them each at libero, but we won't make that decision too early so we don't put ourselves in a position where we can't make adjustments."

The returning IIAC champs were selected to win the conference again in the coaches preseason poll, and interestingly, the order was the how the standings ended in 2016.
One big match on the schedule will be Northwestern (Minn.) on Sept. 13. "They won the NCAA regional and went to the Elite Eight," said Walker. "We beat them on our home court last season, but now we will face them on their home court."

The Knights open the season Sept. 1 against Lakeland University in Nashville, Tenn. at the Music City Classic.

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