Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Hannah Huss of St. Edmond makes a diving save against Humboldt during the regular season.

St. Edmond’s Hannah Huss earned the utmost respect of North Central Conference volleyball coaches.

Huss was one of just two unanimous all-NCC selections named by the league.

Along with the Gael senior, Iowa Falls-Alden junior Grace Renaud was tabbed on all the ballots.

Joining Huss and Renaud on the first team were Humboldt’s duo of Ashlyn Clark and Jori Hajek, Algona’s Abbey Holmes, Clarion-Goldfield/Dows’ Haley Nerem, and Iowa Falls-Alden’s Jackie Timm and Grace Juhl.

Huss finished the year atop the NCC in kills, recording 366 in help St. Edmond advance to a regional semifinal. In league play only, she had 123 kills over the course of 28 sets.

“Hannah is so deserving of this recognition,” Huss said. “She has put in so many hours in the last four years working on her skills through club teams, camps, open gyms and lifting.”

Huss was also second in the NCC in kill efficiency (.354) and kills per set (4.39) to go along with 118 digs and 13 blocks. She was seventh in digs in the league.

She leaves St. Edmond the career leader in kills (938), aces (202) and digs (989).

Senior Livi Huss and junior Macey Mason earned third team honors for the Gaels.

“It is so rewarding to have players validated for all their hard work by other coaches in our conference,” Huss said. “This sport has evolved so much over the past 10-to-15 years, and when you play it the way it’s meant to be played — as a team — good things happen.”

Livi Huss led the conference in assists, averaging 8.2 per game and racking up a total of 230. She also set new school-records for career and single-season assists, recording 621 this past fall with 1,688 for her career and passing cousin Nikki Huss.

“Livi had a very nice career playing volleyball for us,” Huss said. “She learned how to find the best match up to allow our hitters a better opportunity to finish the point.”

Mason was 232 of 250 serving with 27 aces to go with 258 digs, 25 assists and 12 kills. She is fifth on the school’s all-time digs list with 527 and has a season left.

“Hannah, Livi and Macey played a huge part in St. Edmond’s volleyball success,” Huss said. “They were instrumental in the execution of every aspect of our game and deserve this recognition from a talented pool of players in the NCC.”

The Gaels reached the regional semifinals for the third-time ever, joining the 2006 and 2016 teams.

Holmes, a sophomore, led the NCC in kills per set with 4.64, recording 115. Hajek, a freshman, was fourth with 3.5 kills per set and third with 129 digs.

ALL-NORTH CENTRAL CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL

First Team

*Hannah Huss, sr., OH, St. Edmond; *Grace Renaud, jr., MH, Iowa Falls-Alden; Jackie Timm, sr., MH, Iowa Falls-Alden; Ashlyn Clark, jr., OH, Humboldt; Grace Juhl, jr., L, Iowa Falls-Alden; Haley Nerem, jr., OH, Clarion-Goldfield/Dows; Abbey Holmes, soph., OH, Algona; Jori Hajek, fr., OH, Humboldt.

*Denotes unanimous selection

Second Team

Rachel Darling, sr., S, Humboldt; McKenna Kruger, sr., S, Clarion-Goldfield/Dows; Sydney Lane, sr., MH, Humboldt; Dakota Sliter, sr., L, Hampton-Dumont; Gabi Damiano, jr., OH, Iowa Falls-Alden; Molly McCauley, soph., MH, Algona; Morgan Middleton, fr., OH, Clarion-Goldfield/Dows; Jenny Wibholm, fr., OH, Iowa Falls-Alden.

Third Team

Livi Huss, sr., S, St. Edmond; Chloe Mueller, sr., L, Clear Lake; Cassidy Nerland, sr., MH, Webster City; Makayla Severs, sr., MH, Webster City; Megan Askelsen, jr., L, Clarion-Goldfield/Dows; Kamry Dawson, jr., OH, Webster City; Macey Mason, jr., L, St. Edmond; Aliyah Buscher, soph., OH/S, Algona.