Johnson, Smith get Southeast volleyball honors

FORT MADISON – The Bloodhounds' Taylor Johnson was named to the Southeast Iowa Conference first-team all conference released this week.
Johnson led the Bloodhounds with 180 kills on 628 attacks for a 12.3% efficiency. Her 180 kills were sixth best in loop play. She also led the Lady Hounds with 40 blocks, eight solo and 32 assists, fourth best in the Southeast conference.
Sophomore Mara Smith was named 2nd team all-conference.
Smith was second in the conference in assists with 601, fifth in serve attempts with 317, and 5^th in serve efficiency at 90.9%.
Elle Ruble and Aija Jenkins were selected for the All-Conference honorable mention teams.
The SEC player of the year was Leighton Messinger of Washington.
Jenkins, Johnsons, Amy Yasenchok, Ruble, Lauryn Helmick, Alexus Beebe, Mazie Hotop, and Brylie Lorence all earned Academic All-Conference designations.
Fort Madison finished 3-2 in conference action with a 1-4 Conference tournament mark this season, good enough for fifth place. Overall, the Hounds finished 6-32.
The 30th Annual Southeast Iowa Volleyball Classic is set for Saturday, November 4^th at 7:00 p.m.  The match will be played at Mediapolis High School in Mediapolis, Iowa.
The cost is $5.00. The match features the top high school senior volleyball players from southeast Iowa.  Selected players were first nominated by their coach, placed on a ballot, and voted on by the varsity volleyball coaches of the Southeast Conference and Southeast Iowa Super Conference.
Holy Trinity’s Mary Kate Bendlage, Taegan Denning, and Natalie Randolph are scheduled to participate in the event as well as HTC Head Coach Melissa Freesmeier.
2023 Players:
Danville: Kenna Furnald and Jaeda Molle
Fairfield: Maddie Jones          
Fort Madison: Taylor Jones and Gabrielle Ruble                                                                               
Holy Trinity: MaryKate Bendlage, Taegan Denning, Natalie Randolph
Keokuk: Makenna Altgilbers
Mediapolis: Lilly Luttenegger, Ella Russell, Haley Steffener, Macy Steffener, Hanna Wagenbach, Jaydon Wirt
New London: Sophie Malott
Notre Dame: Taryn Stephens and Aviana West
Van Buren: Ivy Davison
Waco: Emma Wagler
Wapello: Emily Hemphill
West Burlington: Isabella Blaufuss and Taryn Havener
Winfield- Mt. Union:   Audrie Gipple                         
2023 Coaches:
Shannon Hills-Copeman – Highland
Melissa Freesmeier – Holy Trinity
Erin Steffener – Mediapolis
Kenna Greiner – Wapello