WEBSTER CITY, Ia. — 2025 saw the North Central Conference once again emerge as one of the most competitive and deepest conferences in the state. Humboldt wound up a game away from a state title in Class 3A, Webster City returned to the 4A regional semis for the first time since 2022, as St. Edmond reached a regional semifinal in Class 1A. Now with Charles City, Eagle Grove, Forest City and Garner-Hayfield-Ventura all in the fold for 2026, the league’s depth only grows in 2026.
Webster City
Webster City volleyball cashed in a lot of potential in 2025 by finishing 3rd in the NCC and reaching the regional semis in Class 4A. The Lynx possess the tallest front line in the conference, as junior Evie Davis finished with 125 kills and over 100 blocks least season, as Tristyn Wright finished just under 300 kills, as Jaylyn Bahrenfuss tallied 105 kills, and Avery Poppen added 82 kills.
The Lynx will have a brand new back row in 2026, but that has been the norm for Webster City over recent years. Athletes stepping up to the varsity level for some back row rotations include Kali Hartnett, Izzy Weinschenk, Breckyn Eide and Charlee Olson.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
The Cowgirls have had a tumultuous run in recent years, but 2026 looks like a year where the tide could start to turn back in favor of the black and red. CGD brings back a veteran front row, led by junior Ella Fineran, who totaled 98 kills in 2026, as Ella Engstrom added 86 kills from her right-side attacker spot. Blaire Askelsen provides added front line depth, after missing the 2nd half of 2025, as Adelynn Howell and Audrey Egland could provide even more depth.
The back row is smaller, but returns some strong pieces at the top, led by libero Quinn Brooks and setter Harper Nerlein. Brooks led the Cowgirls with 279 digs a season ago, as Nerlein had 306 assists and 171 digs in 2025. Ashlynn Smith also provides defensive stability in the back row after 127 digs last season.
Eagle Grove
Eagle Grove won more games in 2025 than they had in a single-season in over a decade, but the Eagles are hoping that’s just the next step in the build of a competitive program in a tough North Central Conference. The Eagles do have some pieces to replace in the front row, including 2-way threats Kendra Schild and Kameya Hoop, but Holly Anderson provides power from the outside hitter spot offensively. Taytum Edwards will see an expanded role at middle hitter as well after 26 kills and 34 blocks.
The back row does have quite a bit of experience back, Holly Anderson leads the charge with 145 digs last season, as setter Ellie Lenning provided consistency with 155 digs and 175 assists. Addie Pamperin and Salem Willard add further depth on the back line as well.
Algona
The Bulldogs enter 2026 as perhaps a sleeper squad in relation to the full picture of Class 3A. The Bulldogs bring back nearly every key piece from a conference runner-up squad in 2025, as sophomore Kate Limbaugh leads the charge up front with 387 kills, with 34 blocks and 252 digs. Bella Jo Dunning provides a great secondary attacker, finishing with 106 kills and 37 blocks a season ago, while Hayden McLaughlin excelled at middle hitter with 60 kills and 24 blocks.
The back row does have a big hole to fill with the loss of libero Macy Knapp, but bring back enough pieces to try and fill the void. Gabby Venteicher leads the unit returning with 187 digs a season ago, as Taylor VanOtterloo tallied 117 digs, with Charli Dodds adding 124 digs. Reagan Haynes excelled as a back row attacker, with 107 digs and 121 kills.
Charles City
A traditionally proud program, Charles City is looking to rebound after an 8-23 campaign in 2025. The Comets do have a couple of young attackers to build on in 2026, as Brooklyn Bruner had 127 kills as a freshman, while Avery Low had 138 kills as a sophomore. Nya Nosbisch and Jada Low added some defensive reinforcements, as Nosbisch had 15 blocks and Low had 10 blocks.
The back row brings back a key piece in libero Miyah Stevenson, who had 270 digs to lead the Comets in 2025. Ali Shirley impressed at setter as a freshman, totaling 537 assists, while also collecting 151 digs. Jaeda Molstead and Bryn Rogstad provided added depth for the back line coming into this season.
Clear Lake
Clear Lake managed to put together their best season (in terms of winning percentage) in the Bound era in 2025, finishing 16-13 and in the top half of the NCC, but 2026 begins a new era with head coach Jodi Turner. The Lions return their top 2 attackers in junior Aria Johnson and senior Ella Landau, as Johnson totaled 204 kills to lead the Lions, while Landau added 176 kills. Clear Lake will look for defensive reinforcements, as the lose their top 2 blockers in Sophia Tweeten and Emersyn McGrath,
The back row has some holes to fill, including libero Avery Hegvedt, as well as fellow seniors Alivia Paine at setter, and Ayla Johnson. Aspen Hill is set to take the reigns of the back row after 146 digs as a sophomore.
Forest City
Going from one of the top cats in the Top of Iowa West to the North Central Conference will definitely present its challenges for Forest City, but the Indians have some strong pieces to help make that transition. Avery Jerome leads the Indians offense, tallying nearly 200 kills with 23 blocks a season ago, as junior Alivia Bruckhoff added 81 kills. Ashlen Kingland will likely see an expanded role at middle hitter as she enters her senior year.
The back row brings back some key pieces, led by junior setter Cambry Schott, who led the Indians with 328 assists and also had 131 digs in 2025. Emerson Moore is the retuning leader in digs for the Indians after 158 digs last season, as it will be a battle to find more pieces for the Forest City back row.
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura
The Cardinals had been a model of consistency in the Top of Iowa Conference throughout the 2020’s, as the Cardinals finished 2025 with a mark of 18-7. GHV will bring in a veteran group to lead the charge into the NCC, bringing back their top 3 attackers in seniors Emma Schumacher, Reese Schleusner and Sadie Britson. Schumacher led the way with 163 kills and 18 blocks, Schluesner totaled 154 blocks and a team-high 66 blocks, as Britson added 140 kills and 19 blocks.
The Cardinals bring back their whole back line as well, led by junior libero Emma Miller, who led GHV with 239 assists. Avery Furst added 119 digs, with Kailyn Byom and Emma Schumacher proving to be versatile defensive pieces that can play front line and back row.
Hampton-Dumont-CAL
Hampton-Dumont-CAL used 2025 as a rebuilding season with just a 4-23 record, but have the pieces to make some noise coming into 2026. The Bulldogs front line is led by senior Madison Heilskov, who finished with 224 kills, as fellow senior Maren Subbert leads the front row defensively after 57 blocks in 2025. Bridget Brocka will see a bigger role in the front row after 33 kills and 21 blocks last season.
The back row is highlighted by a two-setter system between senior Kenley Hansen and freshman Aliyah Swieter, which combined for nearly 400 assists a season ago. Sophomore Kendall Eilderts will look to grow more into her libero role as a sophomore, after 127 digs in 2025, as Addison Aalbers provides a consistent 2-way player after 131 kills and 197 digs last season.
Humboldt
Humboldt was a match away from clinching the programs first ever state championship in 2025, but with the denial in the final, the Wildcats are loading up to try and make another run at the 3A crown. Junior Adelynn Goodell becomes the on floor leader for the front line, after 307 kills and 81 blocks a season ago, as Jazzie Dodd will provide a versatile attacker after 186 kills and 21 blocks. The Wildcats will see bigger roles in the front line for athletes such as Jerzie Wempen and Salem Bonnstetter.
The back row is led by UNI-commit Addie Waldorf at setter, one of the top setters in Class 3A after nearly 1,000 assists and 100 kills in 2025. Gracie Johnson provides a veteran presence in the back row after 136 digs and 10 kills in 2025, as the Wildcats are looking for a replacement for all-conference libero Claire Dieleman.
Iowa Falls-Alden
The Cadets put together their best season of the decade in 2025 with a 15-16 record, and bring back the pieces to remain competitive in 2026. Senior Carlea Dagel is one of the top hitters returning in the NCC, with 271 kills and 37 blocks to anchor the Cadets front line. Junior Elody England is poised for a big season after 108 kills and 44 blocks last season along with 416 assists, as fellow junior Reese Wood poised for a break out season.
The back row has a supple amount of talent back, with libero Kymri Koenigsfeld back after 276 digs in 2025, as sister Kyli Koenigsfeld provides key sets as a setter in lieu of Elody England. Others such as Reese Wood and Carlea Dagel have shown to play capable back row sets in addition to their main front-line responsibilities.
St. Edmond
Being the small-school on the totem pole is never fun, but St. Edmond still manages to punch above their weight class in the NCC and 2026 doesn’t look any different. The Gaels may have the best kept secret in the conference in sophomore Eden Horn, who led the Gaels with 258 kills and 68 blocks in 2025. Horn will need some reinforcements, and those could come in the form of Olivia Andrews and Chloe Palmer, as Palmer added 95 kills last season.
The back row is filled with young talent, as digs leader Ella Vandi is back, likely taking over the libero spot after 346 digs as a freshman. Chloe Palmer would add 209 digs, in rotational minutes, as senior Abby Huss is multi-faceted setter, finishing with 503 assists, 30 kills and 125 dogs defensively. Rhianna Myers is one that could see a bigger impact headed into her sophomore season.