Whenever non-starters receive postseason recognition from a league, that’s a pretty good indicator that it was a season to remember. The Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division volleyball champs in Winfield-Mt. Union were treated like royalty in All Conference selections having an eye-popping 10 players honored.
Four of the 13 first team selections were Wolves including Player of the Year Jenna Buffington. After a junior season that was cut short due to injury, the senior made up for lost time racking up the most kills in the league with 261 and a kill efficiency of .315. Buffington was also a top server being successful on 90% of attempts and recording 52 aces. Other first team selections included Melina Oepping as a hitter, libero Kyndal Townsley, and utility player Jami Wilkerson. Oepping led the team with 21 blocks and had the second most kills with 110. Townsley broke a lot of records throughout her career and this year racked up 205 digs. Wilkerson had 67 kills, 167 digs, and had a serve efficiency of 92%.
Four players were named to the second team in Madie Anderson, Kayla Edwards, Keetyn Townsley, and Keely Malone. Anderson had 12 blocks on the season while fellow senior Edwards surpassed 1,000 career assists and was almost automatic serving with a 97% efficiency. Keetyn Townsley hustled for 164 digs and Malone led the squad in assists with 273. Honorable mention selections included Bradie Buffington and Emma Haines. Bradie Buffington connected on 83 kills and Haines had 44.
But wait, there’s more. Head coach Dave Pieart was named Coach of the Year after leading WMU to their first league title since 1996. The team finished with a 21-7 overall record.