• Patty Harrison begins her 16th season as head coach of DMACC's Volleyball program.

• The DMACC Bears return three players from last year's team—Katelyn Courtney of Ames, Eryn Anderson of Houghton and Jordan Neely of Tiffin.

• ​​Coach Harrison calls this year's team very versatile in that numerous players can easily play more than one position.

The DMACC volleyball team​​ will begin the 2020-2021 season hosting Kirkwood Community College on Tues., Jan. 26th.

Head coach Patty Harrison, beginning her 16th season at DMACC, led the Bears to an 18-18 overall record and a 6-3 mark in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) last season. The season begins not in the fall semester like normal, but in the spring semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bears will be playing only conference games this season. 

"We will be having a home-and-away schedule with all Iowa teams," Harrison said. "There will be more home matches and an even busier schedule."

Coach Harrison said the team is healthy and coping with the pandemic. 

"We're staying safe and practicing great social distancing and wearing masks," Harrison said. "Our DMACC family and staff have been fantastic in keeping our athletes, students and staff mentally and physically healthy this fall." 

The Bears return three players from last year's team, Katelyn Courtney of Ames, Eryn Anderson of Houghton and Courtney was named to the all-conference honorable mention team as a freshman. She was also named to the All-Region XI-A First Team. Courtney, a 6'3" middle blocker, led the Bears in blocks with 181, including 108 block assists, averaging 1.38 blocks per set. She finished third in kills with 173 and compiled a .209 hitting percentage with those 173 kills coming from 588 attacks with 50 hitting errors. Courtney also had 46 digs on the season. She led the ICCAC in blocks per set for the season. 

"Eryn is an excellent outside hitter defensive specialist that we look forward to having on the court this spring," Harrison said. "Jordan Neely will be one of our outstanding defensive players this spring, also." 

Harrison said the strengths of this team are the sophomore leadership and a talented freshmen class. 

"We have an experienced group of freshmen, strong front line blocking, great setting and are a great passing team," Harrison said. "We also have so much depth at each position."

Fourteen freshmen are on the roster this year. Defensive specialists include: Rachel Eddy of Dubuque Walhert Catholic High School, Kassidie Galloway of Mechanicsville and Emily Kerkhoff of IKM Manning, along with sophomore Jordan Neeley. 

Middle blockers include: Abigail Maue of Center Point, Alissa Weinkoetz of Afton East Union and Sophia Walter of Rockford, Ill.

Chloe Gilgen of Modale, Anna Niehaus of Carroll Kuemper Catholic, Emma McKinney of Lytton and Kylie Welch of Davenport Assumption join sophomore Eryn Anderson as outside hitters. 

Freshman Abby Allman of Norwalk is a rightside hitter. First-year players Morgan Tupper of Nevada, Kennedi Purdy of Gilbertville Don Bosco and Elizabeth Pierce of Southeast Polk High School are the setters for the Bears.  

"We will have a well-rounded freshmen class coming in that will bring a lot of strength, leadership and most of all enthusiasm," Harrison said. 

She said this year's team is very versatile in that numerous players can easily play more than one position.   

"As usual, our Division II volleyball region will be extremely tough this spring," Harrison said. "We are looking forward to the challenge again to compete for our Region Championship."