Photo courtesy of Iowa Central Athletics: Area Iowa Central volleyball players are (left to right): Claire O’Connor (St. Edmond), Jacey Cooper (Fort Dodge), Addi Hindt (Southeast Valley), Kyla Egli (Manson Northwest Webster) and Meah McCaleb (Fort Dodge).

The Iowa Central volleyball team has reached the NJCAA National Tournament in each of the past five seasons.

To get there for a sixth straight year, the Tritons will have to lean on a handful of returning players along with a strong freshman class that includes former Fort Dodge Senior High and St. Edmond standouts.

Recent Dodger graduates Meah McCaleb and Jacey Cooper, along with ex-Gael Claire O’Connor, join a program that has become a consistent national contender under head coach Sara Horn.

Nine sophomores are working to show the 16 newcomers how things are done at Iowa Central, led by starters Talya Sampson, Anabel Seaman, Dena Robb and Shirley Monaghan.

The Tritons went 30-9 last year, placing ninth at nationals after taking second in the ICCAC. They were picked to finish as runner-ups again in the preseason poll behind Kirkwood.

Iowa Central begins the season ranked No. 9 in the country, as they are joined by conference rivals Kirkwood (seventh) and Des Moines Area (15th) in the NJCAA preseason national poll.

Sampson, an outside hitter, had a strong first season, recording a team-high 352 kills with 201 digs and 70 blocks. Robb had 125 kills with 87 blocks, Seaman had 634 assists and 249 digs, and Monahan contributed 29 kills with 141 digs.

Former Southeast Valley standout Addi Hindt, Mallory Rheingans, Taylor Thompson and Ava Anderson round out the second-year players.

“We have a great core of nine sophomores that have had a very productive offseason,” Horn said. “They bring back a lot of starting experience and they have done a great job of leading the freshmen this preseason.

“We’re excited to see what Talya can do after a year of training and experience.”

Along with McCaleb, Cooper and O’Connor, ex-Manson Northwest Webster multi-sport star Kyla Egli is part of the freshman class.

“Meah is leading a really talented group of defensive players,” Horn said. “It’s been fun to see her fly around as a libero, making some big-time digs.

“Meah, Devon Rodewald, Kalyn Mills and Kyla Egli make a really great foursome of defenders. They make our hitters better in practice every single day.”

Horn has also seen strong play from hitters like Hindt, Cooper Griffin, Anderson and Taylor Reimer.

“Anabel has been leading a trio of freshmen setters, (which includes) Meya Wingert, Claire O’Connor and Ava Paige,” Horn said. “We really trust all four of them to run a great offense, so that gives us some flexibility with different offensive systems we can run.”

Iowa Central opens the 2025 season in Rockford, Ill. with four matches over two days. The Tritons play Gulf Coast State and Heartland this Friday, before taking on Lurleen B. Wallace and Pensacola State on Saturday.

The first ICCAC match of the season is set for Wednesday, Aug. 27, at Iowa Lakes. Iowa Central makes its Hodges Fieldhouse debut on Wednesday, Sept. 3 vs. Ellsworth.

“It’s been a good preseason,” Horn said. “We’re excited to see what this group can do.”

Horn will be assisted by former Triton standout Gabby Marker, along with ex-St. Edmond head coach Dee Huss and Abbey Maue, who played at Center Point-Urbana and Des Moines Area. Huss, a former St. Edmond head coach, will help lead the varsity reserve squad.

2025 IOWA CENTRAL VOLLEYBALL

Roster

Sophomores

Addi Hindt, Gowrie; Anabel Seaman, Nebraska; Mallory Rheingans, Northwood; Taylor Thompson, Kansas; Shirley Monaghan, Grundy Center; Talya Sampson, Kansas; Dena Robb, LaPorte City; Ava Anderson, Kansas.

Freshmen

Meah McCaleb, Fort Dodge; Cooper Griffin, Missouri; Kyla Egli, Manson; Addie Law, Correctionville; Amelia Powers, Cedar Falls; Braelynn Morgan, Reinbeck; Ava Paige, Hubbard; Kyrah Reicks, Cresco; Devon Rodewald, Kansas; Taylor Reimer, Nebraska; Claire O’Connor, Fort Dodge; Madison Rogers, Marshalltown; Meya Wingert, Neola; Kalyn Mills, Waukee; Genna LeMay, Nebraska; Viviana Orenday, Sioux Rapids; Jacey Cooper, Fort Dodge.

Schedule

Aug. 22 — vs. Gulf Coast State, Heartland at OWT-Rockford; 23 — vs. Lurlee B. Wallace, Pensacola State at OWT-Rockford; 27 — at Iowa Lakes; 29 — vs. Labette, Highland at Siouxland Invitational.

Sept. 3 — Ellsworth; 5 — Seminole State, Mesa; 6 — Rochester Tech, Madison College; 9 — at Northeast; 11 — Hawkeye; 17 — Central-Columbus; 19 — vs. Kansas City-Kansas, Allen County at KCCK Tournament; 20 — vs. Labette, Cowley County at KCCK Tournament; 24 — at NIACC; 26 — vs. Neosho, East Central at DMACC Tournament; 27 — vs. Sauk Valley, Prairie State at DMACC Tournament; 30 — DMACC.

Oct. 2 — at Southwestern; 6 — vs. Minnesota West, Mount Marty JV in Worthington, Minn.; 8 — Marshalltown; 15 — at Southeastern; 17 — Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Allen County; 18 — Metropolitan; 23 — Kirkwood; 29 — Western Iowa Tech.