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Tritons earn ICCAC honors

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Abby Lohrmann of Iowa Central tips the ball over Iowa Lakes on Wednesday inside Hodges fieldhouse

The Iowa Central volleyball team went a perfect 9-0 in the ICCAC this past season, securing just the second league title in school-history.

For their efforts, two Tritons each were placed on the all-conference first and second teams.

Sophomore Abby Lohrmann and freshman Amaya Finley claimed first team honors, with sophomores Kryssie Okinaka and Libby Zorn landing on the second.

Kayla Faldet and Asarar Gony, both sophomores, were named honorable mention for Iowa Central, with Sara Horn earning coach of the year.

Lohrmann, who finished runner-up in the voting for conference player of the year, averaged 10.6 assists and 3.6 digs, committing just four receiving errors during the nine-game league slate.

“Abby ran our offense and the growth we saw in her this season was really great to see,” Horn said. “Abby played with a lot more confidence and was one of the most offensive setters in NJCAA Div. II.

“A two-year captain for us, I can’t decide what we’ll miss more: Abby’s ability to run the offense or her quiet, but powerful, leadership skills.”

Finley posted 4.34 kills, 4.25 digs and 4.9 points per league match, with Zorn averaging 3.4 kills and just three blocking errors in conference action. She was also second in the voting for top freshman.

“Amaya had such a great freshman year,” Horn said. “Not many freshman could come into an experienced, sophomore-dominated team and not only put up huge numbers, but do it in a confident — yet humble — way. I’m really excited to see how Amaya’s leadership and play steps up even more next year.

“And Libby did a great job as a two-year starter. She was good enough to be a kill leader for any team, and her selfless play these last two seasons is a huge reason for our success.”

Okinaka was the league-leader in digs per set with 5.6 and total digs with 804. Finley finished third overall in digs with 531 in the league with Zorn fourth with 444.

“Kryssie was a two-year starter, like Kayla, and did such a great job of stepping up her backcourt leadership and being one of the top Liberos in the country,” Horn said. “Kayla is only in her third year of playing volleyball, but you wouldn’t know it because of her net instincts are really strong.

“Azzi was a two-year starter for us and one of our captains. We moved her from the rightside back to the middle and her selfless attitude paid dividends for us once again.”

Lohrmann, Finley and Zorn made the all-Region XI-A first team with Okinaka and Faldet earning second team status.

Kirkwood’s Alexa Aldrich-Ingram was named the player of the year and Megan Hudson of Hawkeye earned freshman of the year.

Horn deflected any praise to her staff and players in regards to her honor, saying “it should really be called ‘Coaching Staff and Team of the Year.’ Alyssa (Guarnaccia) and I really compliment each other very well and I think we have a great balance of what we bring to the team.

“Paired with strength coach Miguel Secor’s offseason conditioning, I think our players get a great balance of coaching. They did a great job of being very coachable, which makes what we do very enjoyable and rewarding.”

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