The high school volleyball season turned out to be one of the most exciting in recent memory, one filled with outstanding teams and individuals, unforgettable moments and plenty of surprises.

Holy Trinity went undefeated in the SEI Super Conference South Division, advancing all the way to the Class 1A state championship match before falling to defending champion Ankeny Christian in three hard-fought sets.

West Burlington won the SEI Super Conference Tournament for the first time in school history and was ranked in the top 15 in Class 2A most of the season. The Falcons advanced to a regional final before losing to third-ranked Grundy Center in three tight sets.

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Danville had a solid season with one of the most athletic teams in the area, while New London came back from a slow start to surprise a few teams.

Wapello won the North Division and made it to a Class 1A regional semifinal before getting knocked off by a powerful Don Bosco squad.

On the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, Illini West had its best season in program history with one of the most balanced and deepest teams around.

The Chargers won a Class 2A regional championship before losing in sectionals.

That talent and balance is reflected in the All-Hawk Eye volleyball team.

HITTERS

MARY KATE BENDLAGE, SR., HOLY TRINITY

Bendlage, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter who will play for Mount Mercy next season, earned Player of the Year honors for her outstanding all-around play. She averaged 2.9 kills per set and had a .253 hitting efficiency. She also averaged 3.9 digs and was 260-of-272 (95.6 percent) from the service line with 20 aces. She was a first team All-SEI Super Conference South Division, all-district and all-state selection and was named to the all-tournament team at state.

JOSIE BRYAN, SR., ILLINI WEST

The Chargers had the best season in school history and Bryan played a big role in their success. Bryan, a 5-8 outside hitter/setter, set program records for career kills. She averaged 5.01 kills, 2.8 digs and 3.5 assists per set and had a .311 hitting efficiency and had a .336 hitting efficiency in conference matches. She was a first team all-conference and second team all-state selection.

ANNA BUXTON, JR., BURLINGTON

A 5-9 outside hitter, Buxton was the Grayhounds’ most consistent hitter. Buxton earned all-conference and all-district honors after averaging 3.4 kills and 3.3 digs per set for the 18-23 Grayhounds. She connected on 237-of-258 (91.9 percent) of her serves with 32 aces and was playing her best at the end of the season.

TARYN HAVENER, SR., WEST BURLINGTON

Havener is the latest in a long line of great hitters, not only for West Burlington, but for Heath as a coach. Havener, a 5-10 middle hitter who will play for Southeastern Community College next season, led the Falcons to a regional final and a 38-6 record.

She averaged 3.2 kills on .398 hitting efficiency and averaged 1.4 kills and 0.6 blocks per set. She was 291-of-315 (92.4 percent) from the service line with 39 aces. She was an all-conference, all-district and all-state selection in Class 2A.

EMILY HEMPHILL, SR., WAPELLO

Hemphill, the North Division Player of the Year, averaged 3.6 kills on .243 hitting efficiency, along with 3.4 digs and 0.5 blocks. She was 263-of-317 (83 percent) from the service line with 31 aces. The 5-9 outside hitter, who will play volleyball for Kirkwood next season, was an all-district and fourth team all-state selection.

PRESLEY MYERS, SO., HOLY TRINITY

Myers, a 6-2 middle hitter, teamed with freshman Adalyn Kruse to form one of the most formidable front row in Class 1A. Myers averaged 3.0 kills on .325 hitting efficiency, along with 1.1 digs and 1.1 blocks per set. She was an all-conference, all-district and second team all-state selection.

TARYN STEPHENS, SR., NOTRE DAME

Stephens, a 5-7 outside hitter who will play for SCC next fall, averaged 3.0 kills on .188 hitting efficiency, along with 4.7 kills for the 26-15 Nikes. She was 432-of-451 (95.8 percent) from the service line with 36 aces.

She was an all-conference, all-district and third team all-state pick.

AVIANA WEST, SR., NOTRE DAME

West blossomed into one of the top hitters in the conference, garnering all-conference, all-district and third team all-state accolades. She averaged 3.4 kills on .173 hitting efficiency, along with 2.6 digs per set. She was 309-of-330 (93.6 percent) from the service line with 28 aces.

LIBERO

CARLI CLINE, JR., WEST BURLINGTON

Cline, a 5-6 defensive specialist, led the state in digs with 748, 96 more than the runner-up. She averaged a whopping 7.1 digs per set and was 394-of-411 (95.9 percent) from the service line with 52 aces. She was an all-conference and all-district selection as a libero.

SETTER

NATALIE RANDOLPH, SR., HOLY TRINITY

After missing her junior year with a knee injury, Randolph earned all-conference, all-district and first team all-state accolades for the Crusaders. Randolph, a 5-9 setter/outside hitter, averaged 2.0 kills per set on .197 hitting efficiency, to go along with 3.5 digs and 4.7 assists per set. She was among the state leaders in serving, connecting on 489-of-503 (97.2 percent) attempts with 59 aces.

DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST

TEAGAN SNAADT, JR., HOLY TRINITY

Snaadt, a 5-6 libero, earned first team all-conference and all-district honors and was named to the Class 1A all-tournament team at the state tournament. She averaged 4.3 digs and 1.1 assists per set and was 63-of-68 (92.6 percent) serving with four aces.

COACH OF THE YEAR

MAUREEN HEATH, WEST BURLINGTON

Heath led the Falcons to the first SEI Super Conference Tournament championship in school history and a spot in a Class 2A regional final before bowing out with a loss to third-ranked Grundy Center.

Heath, who previously coached at Notre Dame, Burlington and New London, has a 1,064-283 career record in 38 seasons.

She is the second-winningest active coach and third-winning coach all-time in Iowa high school volleyball history.