Tigers Look To Build On Breakthrough Season

Tipton's Jamie Kofron puts a kill down last season during the Tigers 21-13 season.  Tipton returns many from that team and looks to continue to climb the RVC Ladder.  Photo by Ryan Stonebraker.

By Ryan Stonebraker

Sports Editor

TIPTON — The Tipton Tiger volleyball team had a season for the ages last year.  Tipton won 21 matches and entered the class 2A Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union rankings last year and finished with a winning record overall, at 21-13 and in the conference, 6-5.  The Tigers say goodbye to a talented group of seniors and other player that transferred, but return many familiar faces looking to make their mark.

Gone from last year are Michele O’Haver, Alyssa Crock, Maggie Bormann, Kalyn Howe, Sami Pruess and Alex Wiese.  O’Haver is playing volleyball in college.  She missed some time with injury last year and still had 40 kills, served 41-45 and had 33 digs and 13 blocks.  Crock, Bormann and Howe made up the back row. Howe had 60 digs, 31 assists and 89 kills.  Bormann served 278-297 with 22 aces a team high 354 digs and 11 assists while Crock served 282-311 with 15 aces with 229 digs.  Reserve Sami Pruess also graduated and 2015 freshman Alex Wiese transferred to another school.

Tipton returns Kailee Meyer, Laura Webb, Allie Ryan, Emily Hermsen, Jamie Kofron, KiaLeigh Rickard-Urban, Amanda Smith, Blake Ehler and Bekka Falkers.

Sophomore hitters Blake Ehler and Jamie Kofron return as does senior Bekka Falkers to give the Tigers three hitters.  Ehler had 177 kills and Kofron 145 as freshmen last year.

Sophomore Amanda Smith took the conference by storm last year, leading the Tigers in assists with 616 and was third on the team in digs with 248.  She was also the top server on the Tigers last season, serving 323-344 with 26 aces.  Senior Kailee Meyer returns as a top server as well, after serving 222-234 with 16 aces.

Tipton will play in tournaments at Lisbon, Mt. Vernon, North Cedar and Western Dubuque.  The Tigers will have home matches against Durant, Mid-Prairie, NE Goose Lake and West Branch.  The Tigers open their season at the Lisbon Tournament on August 23.  There, the Tigers have won the tournament more often than not and jump started their season in the process.

Gone From 2015:  Michele O’Haver, Alyssa Crock, Maggie Bormann, Kalyn Howe, Sami Pruess, Alex Wiese.

Back From 2015: Kailee Meyer, Laura Webb, Allie Ryan, Emily Hermsen, Jamie Kofron, KiaLeigh Rickard-Urban, Amanda Smith, Blake Ehler, Bekka Falkers.

New Faces: Kamryn Chapman, Sommer Daniel, Emily Falkers, Hannah Sweeney, Madison O’Leary.