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Humboldt ready for state volleyball encore
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CORALVILLE -- After last year's impressive state tournament run, the Humboldt volleyball camp went right back to work with one mantra in mind.
Unfinished business.
That was the theme that the Wildcats used all season in hopes of a return trip in 2026.
Humboldt entered last season’s tournament as the No. 5 seed and did its job in the opener, advancing to the semifinals to square off with top-ranked Western Christian.
The Wildcats stunned the perennial power and moved into the championship round, where they lost in three sets to second-rated Davenport Assumption.
The landscape is nearly the same for Humboldt (38-4 overall) this week, as the Wildcats open against fourth-seeded Solon (38-5) in one of the quarterfinals. That match will begin at noon on Tuesday inside Xtreme Arena.
With a win, Humboldt would likely run into No. 1 Western Christian once again.
The Wildcats started the season on a mission, winning 20 straight matches. In their school-record 38 wins, they went 85-8 in sets.
Humboldt was only tripped up by state qualifiers No. 3 Dike-New Hartford (3A), 4A qualifiers No. 7 Ballard and No. 8 Waverly-Shell Rock. They also lost to sixth-rated Woodward-Granger (2A).
Coming into this campaign, head coach Kara Waldorf knew she had a strong group overall. It was all a matter of fitting the pieces together.
“Honestly, I really didn’t know what we would have coming into the season. I knew we would be talented,” said Waldorf. “I thought they had it in them (to make a run at state), and I thought we could do it again."
The Wildcats again dominated the North Central Conference, winning their third consecutive outright league championship and fourth straight.
Humboldt was at the top of Class 3A in a slew of statistics. Senior Gracie Johnson leads 3A in service aces with 84 – seven more than Jenny Alexander of Van Meter. Johnson is fifth in serve attempts with 478.
Junior Adelynn Goodell is second in kill efficiency (.440) and kills with 442. Brookelyn Jondle of Roland-Story (454) is the leader.
Junior Addie Waldorf is second in 3A for assists with 957.
“It’s a great feeling to be headed back to state. I loved going last year. It was the best experience,” Goodell said. “I think it comes down to grit and wanting it more.
“We are so bonded as a team. We lost key players, but we have some underclassmen that have stepped up.”
Solon has one of the best blockers in the state in senior Harper Nicholson (fifth at 111). Grundy Center's Ryanne Brubaker has 169.
The Spartans lost their regular season finale to third-ranked Clear Creek-Amana (4A). Solon then won in straight sets all the way through to advance to state.