(SB) – Sergeant Bluff is fortunate to have Renee Winkel as its volleyball coach. Winkel, along with a dedicated staff of Noel Herbst, Sarah Colfack, Courtney Stekl, and Dan Winkel, have brought winning volleyball to SB-L with consistent winners, year in and year out.
This season, Winkel and Company, entered the new year with but two veteran seniors (Jayden Kneifl and Allison Meister), three juniors (Makenna Nelson, Bre VanDenTop, and Izzy Schaap), six sophomores (Peyton Brester, Madison Kvidera, Bailey Ball, Stella Britton, Kaitlyn Hardie, and Kenleigh Panowicz) and one freshman (Delaney Griebel).
On paper, in all honesty, it did not look promising for the Warrior girls either in the MRAC, District, or if they made it, the Regional or State playoffs.
But, guess what? No one told the SB-L girls about chances, statistics, experience or anything.
Before it was over, they passed all tests, including knocking off the #1 seed team (Cedar Rapids Xavier) in the first round of the State tournament, 3-2. The hometown girls lost in semi-final matchup to Pella, who, by the way, lost to SB-L fellow MRAC competitor, Bishop Heelan.
How about those apples?!
Let’s give the floor to four of the volleyball players who will tell you first-hand about the season.
*Makenna Nelson, DS, (Jr), the daughter of Matt and Cyndi Nelson. “I think going to the state tournament is always a goal every year. When we walk into the gym every day and see all the state qualifying banners, and the state championship banner, it lights a fire inside us.
“Starting this season, we went into every practice with intent. Entering competition, our outlook was focusing on the game that night. Throughout, we worked very hard.”
Coach Winkel was asked before the season began what her prognosis was of this year’s squad. She said, ‘This group was one of total commitment.’
“Our coach’s assessment was right on about commitment to the sport and to each other. We held each other to a higher standard, and our phrase It takes what it takes stuck with us from start to finish this season. Every practice, every drill, every game, It takes what it takes to make it as far as we went.”
Nelson said every girl on the team “had the same mindset, the same goal, and that made it easy to work together.”
Indeed, the Warriors were ranked by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) in the top 15 from day one. When they concluded their season at the state tournament held at Xtreme Arena at Coralville, Wednesday (Nov. 6), with an overall record of 22-14.
Nelson said a defining moment for her and her teammates was the tournament at Waukee (Sept. 21) in which SB-L’s girls lost four of five matches. “Tournaments are always tough because the competition is tough. But in that one, we all felt we just didn’t play our best,” Makenna said. Afterwards they talked about it, realized what had taken place, and from there the girls played up to their winning expectations. “We grew as a team from that point.”
*Jayden Kneifl, OH (Sr.), the daughter of Carl and Jessica Kneifl. “At the beginning of the season, our coaches asked what we hoped to accomplish. We were underdogs,” Jayden said. No one expected the Warriors to have a winning season, much less make it to state. With that in mind, “We said we were going to be a team that upset others,” she said. After all, she pointed out, SB-L’s last two seasons were a tough go (2023-24: 12-21, and 2022-23: 7-22).
In meeting what they planned, Kneifl and her teammates said their season’s turnaround would come in a way that would be fun at the same time. No brooding. Just positive thoughts.
Tradition. That’s what Jayden said the Warrior girls have going for them in volleyball. “We take a lot of pride in that. Our coaches do a great job in reminding us of our winning tradition. That’s provided us with a strong culture and with it, team discipline. What the Warriors did on the 2019-20 State Champion team, is what we do every day in practice.”
Kneifl said that the future for volleyball at SB-L looks very bright.
“Delaney Griebel, a freshman, Kenleigh Panowicz, a sophomore, Madison Kvidera, a sophomore, Kaitlyn Hardie, a sophomore, Bailey Ball, a sophomore, all filled the roles they were given and I believe they all did a very good job,” Jayden said. “They’ll all be back next season.”
Team chemistry played an important part in the Warriors’ overall success. “We had a strong bond. It showed. Going up against the #1 seed, CR-Xavier, and technically, they were the better team.” However, Jayden said, “we played better as a team we played together. [That comes] from us our trusting one another and I believe we wanted it more than they [Xavier] did.”
“Our season was fun and that’s what I hope the continue to do – have fun. Everyone had a lot of love for each other and a love of the sport.”
*Bre VanDenTop, MB (Jr.). the daughter of Kevin and Michelle VanDenTop. As Jayden expressed, Bre said the season was not one of ups and downs, it was a season of fun.
Fun, to the girls, means learning from practice, putting their skills to work, being together, and loving the game. “Being best friends was key to our success,” VanDenTop said. “With only three returnees from last year’s team, we didn’t know what that would mean at the beginning of the season.”
Working together daily, she pointed out, and learning about each other, lent itself to trusting one another. Bre said that trust brings on self-confidence, especially for younger athletes breaking into the varsity arena.
Coaching, too, plays an integral part in how a team performs.
“I think athletes look for support from their coaches. We want feedback from them and push us to be the best of our individual and team capabilities.”
VanDenTop said that accidents in scoring doesn’t exist. Coaches and practice sessions stand head up in both the short and long term of a season. “Every day, our coaches put us through specific training,” she said. “We work on hitting different shots such as cut shots, line shots, and roll shots.”
To young athletes coming up, Bre said ‘be patient.’ “Keep working hard at practice, be open to learning… that’s what our coaches look for in a player.” Also, she encouraged, “Build relationships with your teammates because they will help you. Celebrate with them because that’s what coaches want in their players.”
*Bailey Ball, S (So), the daughter of Adam and Michelle Ball. “Before this season,” Bailey said, “I didn’t have much court time. This year, however, as a setter, I saw quite a bit of time on every play.”
Bailey echoed her teammates by pointing out what’s needed not only to win, but also in becoming a good volleyball player. “Hard work.” As for position, she said every player should go for what they think they are best at. “I started out as a libero in junior high, but it was recommended to me by my coach to focus on setting.”
When it comes to motivation, Baily cited coaches and teammates as the number one motivation for her. It’s infectious, she said. “When little girls watch us play and see how close we are and want to be where we are… that means a lot to us as a team.”
Ball said that the fact the Warriors started with only two seniors and players short on experience yet wound up in Coralville in the state tournament, sets the stage for next season. “I believe we will be back better and stronger than we were this year.”
This year the girls were ranked throughout the season within the top 15. Next year, Bailey said with a smile, she believes the Warrior volleyball team will be in the top ten throughout the season.
After listening to these young athletes, the odds are they’re on to something, and that something is big.
