The 2026 volleyball season for the KQRadio area was one of the most successful ones yet in the decade of the 2020s. Four of the five area programs finishing with winning records, and the first KQRadio program to qualify for the state tournament in Roland-Story, since Clarion-Goldfield-Dows qualified for the 2020 state tournament. With all that, there were plenty of athletes worthy of recognition.
Co-Players of the Year: Miley Geise, Sr. (Roland-Story) & Brookelyn Jondle, Sr. (Roland-Story)
- Geise – 150 kills, .328 attack efficiency, 956 assists, 3 solo blocks, 41 block assists, 44 total blocks, 245 digs, 72 aces, 474 serve successes, 92.6% serve efficiency
- Jondle – 466 kills, .280 kill efficiency, 50 assists, 2 solo blocks, 28 block assists, 30 total blocks, 379 digs, 53 aces, 307 serve successes, 89% serve efficiency
For the 2nd year in a row, Geise is a recipient of our Player of the Year award for being the engine that made the Norsemen go in 2026. Geise finished in the Top 5 in Class 3A in assists (#4), serve attempts (#2) and service aces (#3) in helping lead Roland-Story to their first state tournament in 24 years.
Jondle receives her 2nd player of the year honors after garnering the honors back in 2024. Jondle finished in the top 3 in Class 3A in kills (466) and attack attempts (1,045) in helping lead the Norsemen to the State Tournament.
Defensive Player of the Year: Evie Davis, Jr. (Webster City)
- 139 kills, .188 attack efficiency, 46 solo blocks, 71 block assists, 117 blocks, 7 digs
Like Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year goes to Webster City’s middle Evie Davis once again, as Davis finished in the top 5 in the state, all-classes in blocks with 117. The highlight of the season for Davis came in an 11-block performance in the Lynx’s loss to Garner-Hayfield-Ventura.
Coach of the Year: Molly Geise (Roland-Story)
- Class 3A State Tournament Qualifier, Class 3A Region 6 Champion, HOIAC runner-up, most wins in a single-season in school history (36)
Geise took the job at Roland-Story going into the fall of 2003, the season after the Norse’s last state tournament appearance in 2002. It was worth the wait as Roland-Story won the most matches in a single-season in program history (36) while getting to the state tournament with a 3-1 win over Mid-Prairie in the regional final.
All-Area First-Team
Outside Hitter: Brookleyn Jondle, Sr. (Roland-Story)
- See Stats and Description under Player of the Year
Outside Hitter: Tessa Skartvedt, Sr. (South Hamilton)
- 333 kills, .391 attack efficiency, 14 solo blocks, 15 block assists, 29 total blocks, 176 digs, 49 aces, 176 serve successes, 78.9% serve efficiency
Skartvedt showed out in her final year for the Hawks, finishing with 333 kills, good for 4th in the Heart of Iowa Conference, while her kill efficiency rate of .391 was good for 2nd in the league in helping lead South Hamilton to a 23-win season and a 2A Regional Semifinal.
Middle Hitter: Maddi Lucas, Sr. (Roland-Story)
- 292 kills, .321 attack efficiency, 31 solo blocks, 60 block assists, 91 total blocks, 45 digs, 1 ace, 3 serve successes
Lucas saved her best for last, dominating as the top middle hitter in the Heart of Iowa in 2026, as her 292 kills was good for 6th in the league, while her 91 blocks led the conference by 15 blocks, all while rotating with freshman Charlotte Schaben.
Right-Side Attacker: Tristyn Wright, Sr. (Webster City)
- 215 kills, .190 attack efficiency, 8 solo blocks, 14 block assists, 22 total blocks, 237 digs, 36 aces, 237 serve successes, 92.2% serve efficiency
Wright led the Lynx in kills for the 2nd year in a row with 215, while also showcasing her improvement defensively, as her 237 digs were 2nd on the team behind libero Tessa Hansen.
Libero: Karsyn Lande, Jr. (Roland-Story)
- 2 kills, 82 assists, 442 digs, 42 aces, 385 serve successes, 92.3% serve efficiency
Lande put together a season worthy of all-state conversation in 2026, as the junior led the HOIAC with 442 digs, 40 more than the 2nd-most in the conference. Lande also was 2nd on the team in aces with 42, while serving just above 92% in efficiency.
Setter: Miley Geise, Sr. (Roland-Story)
- See Stats and Description under Player of the Year
Utility: Evie Davis, Jr. (Webster City)
- See Stats and Description under Player of the Year
All-Area Second-Team
OH: Ella Engstrom, Sr. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)
- 173 kills, .100 attack efficiency, 5 solo blocks, 3 block assists, 8 total blocks, 217 digs, 17 aces, 233 serve successes, 92.5% serve efficiency
MH: Avery Poppen, Sr. (Webster City)
- 130 kills, .202 attack efficiency, 3 solo blocks, 32 block assists, 35 total blocks, 62 digs, 30 aces, 321 serve successes, 95.5% serve efficiency
RS: Allison Arends, Fr. (Webster City)
- 125 kills, .089 attack efficiency, 4 assists, 3 solo blocks, 20 block assists, 23 total blocks, 42 digs
OH: Riley Johnson, Sr. (Roland-Story)
- 125 kills, .061 attack efficiency, 22 assists, 3 solo blocks, 9 block assists, 12 total blocks, 277 digs, 37 aces, 389 serve successes, 91.3% serve efficiency
Libero: Tessa Hansen, So. (Webster City)
- 1 kill, 48 assists, 351 digs, 23 aces, 220 serve successes, 92.4% serve efficiency
Setter: Harper Nerlein, Jr. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)
- 26 kills, .067 attack efficiency, 403 assists, 3 solo blocks, 4 block assists, 7 total blocks, 193 digs, 34 aces, 294 serve successes, 91.3% serve efficiency
Utility: Jaylyn Bahrenfuss, Jr. (Webster City)
- 124 kills, .107 attack efficiency, 347 assists, 7 solo blocks, 39 block assists, 46 total blocks, 218 digs, 25 aces, 269 serve successes, 89.1% serve efficiency