Never been a rebuild for Crusader volleyball

A hitting error by Ankeny Christian had Holy Trinity within two points of the lead in Wednesday’s Class 1A state volleyball tournament semifinal, and Kate Pieper wasn’t going to let the moment pass without speaking up.
It was a critical time in the match — Holy Trinity was down 2-0 in sets — and Pieper, a freshman, wasn’t afraid to use her voice.
“Let’s go!” Pieper said as the Crusaders huddled. “Right now!”
Holy Trinity couldn’t rally — the Crusaders lost 25-14, 25-14, 25-21 to see their season end — but the two days at Coralville’s Xtream Arena were a building point for what comes next for the program that is a perennial 1A power.
The week was a farewell to seniors Adalyn Kruse and Elizabeth Griffin, but it was also a beginning for next year for the Crusaders, who expect to be back at state next year behind a young group of players who got to experience the cacophony that comes with the tournament.
It can be jarring to the senses playing in an unfamiliar arena with two matches going on at the same time next to each other, separated only by a curtain.
The youngest Crusaders were never shaken. Instead, they viewed it as the next challenge.
“This is fun,” freshman libero Brynn Denning said after Tuesday’s five-set win over Wapsie Valley in the quarterfinals. “As a player, you want to be here.”
“Everybody you get here is going to be good, and our kids love to compete,” Holy Trinity coach Melissa Freesmeier said. “Here we are, on the biggest stage of the year, and they competed.”

Three of the players who started the two matches — Pieper, Denning and Kymber Jones — were freshmen. Sophomore hitter Makayla Simpson and freshman defensive specialist Brooklyn Scheetz also were playing in their first state tournament. And they were all key pieces to a team that won the Southeast Iowa Super Conference tournament and the South Division championship while posting a 31-7 record.
Pieper was third on the team with 192 kills and led the team with 45 blocks. Denning led the team with 458 digs, and moved to middle hitter when Jones was out for two weeks. Jones had 90 kills and 14 blocks. Simpson had 97 kills and 14 blocks, and was playing her best at the end of the season. Scheetz had 129 digs.
All of them figure to see bigger roles next season.
“I can’t wait to watch them play,” said Griffin. “They’re going to come back through and hopefully make it back to state again.”
There also will be new senior leaders next season. Olivia Bendlage, second on the team with 228 kills, will be back. Calli Kruse, who fought knee pain all season, will also be a senior, as will Layne Schmitt, who was a serving specialist, especially in the closing weeks.
It’s never been a rebuild for the Crusaders. The seniors move on, and the young players move up. It’s a recipe for success that hasn’t changed, and won’t change with this group.
“I think they just need to continue playing as one and just keep the energy and continue to get better,” Adalyn Kruse said.
It’s what Freesmeier is counting on, because she’s always seen it in this program.
“They’re just going to get better, and I know they're going to want to get back into the gym tomorrow,” she said. “They're going to play, and they're going to do the best they can, and they're going to make sure things go better next year.
“And we're just going to keep working.”