Our look back at the best sports stories in Southeast Iowa from the 2020-21 academic year continues with number nine on our top 10 countdown. In this countdown we include area schools of Columbus, Highland, Lone Tree, Winfield-Mt. Union, WACO, Keota, and Sigourney. For the ninth best story we dive into a memorable volleyball season for the WACO Warriors. 

Coming off of a 23-12 campaign in 2019 and having 11 seniors back on the roster, a special season was expected in Wayland and that is exactly what fans got to experience. The Warriors finished the fall with a 26-8 mark, tied for third in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference South Division with a 5-3 league mark, and they qualified for a class 1A regional final. Highlights from the season included winning the English Valleys and North Mahaska tournaments, going on a 17-game win streak in September, beating Holy Trinity in a five set thriller, and defeating Lisbon on the road to advance to the regional final. The senior-laden Warriors broke many team and individual school records with Morgan Graber headlining the offensive attack cashing in on 356 kills. Sophomore Grace Coble set everything up with 700 assists, Aubri Garnsey dug out 474 balls, and the team served at a 93.5% efficiency. 

Check back in tomorrow for number eight on our countdown when we look at the Keota boys’ basketball season.