Four St. Edmond volleyball players were honored with selection as all-North Central Conference recepients, the league announced recently.

Seniors Sasha Hess and Mariah Myers made the first team while classmate Claire O’Connor was on the second. Junior Ava Underberg earned third team honors.

The Gaels finished 19-12 overall and 4-3 in the conference, placing them third behind champion Humboldt and Webster City. St. Edmond advanced to a Class 1A regional semifinal before falling to state qualifier BCLUW.

“As a coach, you always want to honor all your girls because they are all deserving of recognition for their effort and hard work,” SEHS head coach Heather Seeden said. “With eight teams in the conference, it’s a tough list to get on; and the fact that we got four this year is a nice nod to the work our team did.

“All four girls are deserving, as are the other girls on the list.”

Hess was the conference leader with 157 digs in 26 sets, finishing 17 ahead of the runner-up. She also had 24 aces and served at a 94 percent clip.

Myers, who has signed to play softball at the University of Iowa, ranked fifth in kills in league-only matches with 89. She also had 107 digs, which ranked seventh.

Humboldt and Webster City both placed two on the first team with Clarion-Goldfield/Dows having one. Mia Schluter, a junior for the Wildcats, was the lone unanimous selection, with teammate Larsen Bonnstetter joining her.

Olivia Gallentine and Marissa Hedeen led the way for the Lynx while Indy Johnson from C-G/D was also honored.

O’Connor ranked first in the NCC in assists with 206 in seven matches, adding 17 kills. She had 57 digs and nine aces while finishing 31 assists ahead of second place on the list.

Underberg was seventh with 76 kills in seven matches while adding seven blocks.

Hess also earned academic all-state recognition for her efforts in the classroom.

“That is a very prestigous award and honor, and is tough to get, so I am proud of Sasha,” Seeden said. “I anticipate several of the girls on our team will be awarded academic all-conference when that is handed out as most of them excel in the classroom as well.”

The 19 wins were the most by the team in the Bound-era, which dates back to 2007. It marked just the ninth time they have won at least 10 games during that span.

ALL-NORTH CENTRAL CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL

First Team

*Mia Schluter, Humboldt, jr.; Larsen Bonnstetter, Humboldt, sr.; Olivia Gallentine, Webster City, sr.; Marissa Hedeen, Webster City, sr.; Sasha Hess, St. Edmond, sr.; Indy Johnson, Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, sr.; Mariah Myers, St. Edmond, sr.; Aubryee Showalter, Hampton-Dumont/CAL, sr.

*Denotes unanimous selection

Second Team

Abby Drier, Hampton-Dumont/CAL, sr.; Elliot Ennis, Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, sr.; Lauren McLaughlin, Algona, sr.; Claire O’Connor, St. Edmond, sr.; Rowan O’Keefe, Clear Lake, sr.; Cloe Savitski, Webster City, sr.; Carlea Dagel, Iowa Falls-Alden, soph.; Addie Waldorf, Humboldt, sr.

Third Team

Aubree Gronewold, Hampton-Dumont/CAL, sr.; Madi Ott, Clear Lake, sr.; Lainey Venteicher, Algona, sr.; Claire Dieleman, Humboldt, jr.; Morgan Hackbarth, Webster City, jr.; Macy Knapp, Algona, jr.; Ava Underberg, St. Edmond, jr.; Kendall Works, Humboldt, jr.; Jazzie Dodd, Humboldt, fr.