Comets bring back everyone with State in their sights

2022 Record: 19-20 (3-1 Loss to Dunkerton in Regional Semis)

Head Coach: Abby Stephenson

BCLUW volleyball’s 2022 season was certainly a busy one. A roster rebuild and a transition to a new conference all packed into one fall. Yet, the Comets came out with a second place finish in the Iowa Star South and established a balanced rotation composed of a freshman to experienced juniors. 

 “We established some standards and had some positive outcomes,” coach Abby Stephenson said. “We were able to see where we could go and what we could do to build for that for the future.”

The Comets didn’t have a senior in their established rotation last season and everyone is back ready to work and knows what the expectations are. BCLUW offensively returns a balanced attack between sophomore Grace Farnsworth (191 kills, 205 digs, 31 blocks), senior Mallori Jones (177 kills, 58 blocks) senior Kailan McEwen (152 kills, 48 blocks), junior Virginia Kaisand (122 kills, 30 blocks), senior Miranda Jones (105 kills, 44 digs). Senior Sydney Anderson was the primary setter last season with 583 assists and 80 kills under her belt. Defensively, the Comets also have their anchors in senior Callie Swanson (418 digs), junior Raegan Crawford (242 digs) and junior Klayre Gallentine.  

“Overall, we are strong in different places that will make us a very successful team,” Stephenson said. “The ability to rely on multiple hitters instead of just one makes us very dangerous. Especially at the beginning of the season, we want to execute consistently, find what works for us and build going forward.” 

BCLUW’s second season in the Iowa Star South will see them looking to compete for a conference title with powerhouse North Tama. Dunkerton, out of the north division of the conference, knocked the Comets out of the postseason and Don Bosco will return a strong core. BCLUW’s non-conference/tournament schedule will see them take on a variety of “different playing styles” across multiple classes. Ultimately, Stephenson hopes the experience prepares the Comets for a late postseason push and the program’s first-ever State banner. 

“The girls set and established where we are now and we’ve got our sights high on being able to hang a conference and State banner in this gym,” Stephenson said. “That’s something we can set out to achieve with this team.” 

BCLUW volleyball opened their season with a triangular in Le Grand against host East Marshall and Meskwaki on Tuesday.