John Bohnenkamp for Pen City Current Sports
FORT MADISON - Holy Trinity’s volleyball team made it to the state tournament last season despite losing one of its key players before the season even started.
Now the Crusaders have a full complement of experienced talent.
It’s a starting lineup that has played a lot together, and that figures to make a difference for a team that opens the season ranked No. 2 in Class 1A in the IGHSAU preseason poll.
“This group is strong, and very volleyball-smart,” coach Melissa Freesmeier said. “With the athleticism they have, the key is to stay healthy. What we had from last year, we became a better team. Defensively, we’re a better team than we have been in the past.”
It helps getting back Natalie Randolph, who missed all of her junior season in 2022. Randolph had 428 assists and 266 kills as a sophomore, but she suffered a knee injury before the season that required surgery.
Anna Bendlage, who would have worked alongside Randolph in the Crusaders’ scheme, took the bulk of the setting duties as a sophomore, finishing with 966 assists and 199 digs to go with 55 kills.
“She grew up so much last year,” Freesmeier said of Bendlage. “With her and Natalie working together this year, I can see two great players working for the same goal, and they’ve got the hitters to go with them.
“Getting Natalie back is big. She was cleared for full practice three weeks ago, and she’s played well.”
Senior Mary Kate Bendlage is coming off a season in which she was a first-team All-State pick by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association. Bendlage, an outside hitter, had 379 kills and 388 digs.
“MK has really grown as a player throughout her career,” Freesmeier said. “She’s really smart, knows the game so well.”
Sophomore Presley Myers has built on her big freshman season, in which she had 319 kills and 85 blocks at middle hitter.
“She worked hard all season,” Freesmeier said. “She loves the game of volleyball, and I think she took that as a challenge to herself that, ‘You know what? I can continue to get better.’ And she has.”
Senior Taegan Denning is the other outside hitter, coming off a 49-kill season last year.
Teagan Snaadt, a junior, is back for her second season as libero, finishing last season with 303 digs.
“She has really excelled at the game, and learned so much through the summer,” Freesmeier said.
Senior Reagan Holvoet is out with a labrum injury. Jenna Hellman, the Crusaders’ fifth senior, will work in the back row this season.
Among the newcomers, Freesmeier has been impressed with freshman middle hitter Adalyn Kruse.
“She’s not 6-foot-2 like Presley, but she’s a solid 5-9, 5-10, and she’s done well in the preseason,” Freesmeier said. “She’s got some great athleticism and some great volleyball smarts out there.”
It’s a collection of talent that Freesmeier thinks works well.
“We have to stay healthy, that’s the big thing,” she said. “They’re a team. They’re selfless. They want what’s best for the team. And that’s going to make a huge difference in where we want to go this season.”
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