Kruse named SEISC South Player of the Year

KRUSE

FORT MADISON - Holy Trinity’s Adalyn Kruse is only a sophomore, but she’s played this season like an upperclassmen.
“You know, she’s grown so much as a player,” coach Melissa Freesmeier said earlier this week. “We talked about it at the all-conference meeting. She’s a sophomore, but she doesn’t play like a sophomore. And she’s a big, big part of this team’s success.”
Kruse was named the player of the year in the SEI Superconference South Division as well as being one of four Crusaders to make the division’s first team, joined by junior middle hitter Presley Myers, setter Anna Bendlage and defensive specialist Teagan Snaadt. Freesmeier was named the division’s coach of the year after the Crusaders swept to the division title by going 7-0.
Central Lee junior hitter Taylor Jones and setter Kenna Sandoval were also named to the first team.
Kruse has 300 kills this season as well as 346 digs. She is also an 89.6 percent server.
Myers leads the Crusaders with 337 kills and 87 blocks. Bendlage has 141 kills and a team-high 556 assists. Snaadt leads the Crusaders with 415 digs.
Jones led the Hawks with 233 kills and added 93 blocks and 216 digs. Sandoval had a team-high 450 assists.
The rest of the first team consisted of hitters Brenna Beggs (West Burlington), Maddy Knapp (Notre Dame) and Mady Hamelton (West Burlington), setter Taryn Snodgrass (West Burlington), libero Carli Cline (West Burlington) and utility player Jayonna Hiley (West Burlington).
Holy Trinity’s Olivia Bendlage and Central Lee’s Kylie Fortune and Jayden Mueller were second-team picks. Holy Trinity’s Elizabeth Griffin and Emma Mohrfeld and Central Lee’s Halle Lampe and Ellie Lake were honorable-mention selections.