All-State volleyball honors announced
Nov. 21—OTTUMWA — Molly Shafer wasn't just officially elite this past volleyball season.
The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont junior was also part of a first-team all-state sister act for the Rockets. Shafer was one of eight players across the state to be selected to the Iowa Girls High School Coaches Association Elite All-State volleyball team, earning first-team all-state honors in Class 2A for the second straight year with twin sister Kate joining Molly on the first team for the first time.
"That was cool to see Kate's name on there next to mine," Molly Shafer said. "I know how hard she works. It's just a testament to our team and everything we've done together. I'm proud to represent the program in that way once again."
Both Shafer sisters earned all-state honors for the third straight year with Molly being selected a first-team honoree for the third consecutive season. Kate Shafer, who recorded her 2,000th career assist this past season, earned third-team all-state honors as a freshman setter before being selected to the second-team all-state team as a sophomore.
"I've been moving up each year. That's kind of fun to see," Kate Shafer said. "It's super-exciting for me. I've worked really hard. It's great to see that hard work pays off."
The Shafer sisters were also joined on the IGCA Class 2A All-Southeast district team by Van Buren County senior Ivy Davidson, who led the Warriors to a 15-win season with 311 kills and 109 blocks. The Shafer's coach, Gladys Genskow, was named IGCA Class 1A Southeast District Volleyball Coach of the Year after guiding EBF to the program's second straight state tournament appearance and sixth overall state trip in program history.
In Class 5A, Ottumwa junior Camdyn Crouse earned Class 5A West All-District honors after leading the Bulldogs to a 27-win season with 406 digs and 48 ace serves. Sigourney senior Amiya Smallwood earned Class 1A All-Southeast district honors after leading the Savages with 187 kills and 31 aces during a 17-9 season that included a trip to the 1A regional semifinals.
