The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) volleyball team will begin the 2019 season with participation in the McHenry Tournament August 23 and 24 at Rockford, Ill.
Head coach Patty Harrison, beginning her 13th season at DMACC, led the Bears to a 23-12 overall record and a 6-3 mark in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) last season, but returns just one true starter from that squad in sophomore middle blocker Amber Dilsaver of Fort Madison. Dilsaver led the league in hitting percentage (.363) and blocks per set (1.15) last season. Harrison said Dilsaver will carry the team and set the tone for each match.
"I'm very excited about this group," Harrison said regarding the new season. "This is the first time in a really long time that team bonding and chemistry have been this way and it started when we brought the girls in."
While Dilsaver, who stands 6-foot, is the lone true starter from last season, the 2019 DMACC team includes five other returning sophomores, including outside hitter Kyra Ikeda of Cedar Rapids and setter Cailey Schaa of Council Bluffs. Both saw considerable playing time last season. Other returnees include Kyla Green of Elizabeth, Colo., Darian Gray of Mechanicsville and Aniyah Loftus of Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
"This is a whole new group of girls and we're going to rock it, but we're going to have a few bumps and bruises along the way," Harrison said.
One of the incoming freshmen who could provided immediate help is 6-foot-3 Katelyn Courtney of Ames.
"We're going to have two big (middle blockers)," Harrison said. "Courtney is doing really well. She's a good volleyball player."
Vying to join Dilsaver, Courtney and Schaa in the starting lineup are Gray, outside hitter Delaney Kelley of Rock Island, Ill., right side hitter Sloane Magill of Sigourney, libero Dakota Miles of Dallas Center and defensive specialist Jordan Neely of Tiffin.
Other incoming freshmen competing for playing time include Megan Haley of Creston, Bailey Jennings of Burlington, Eryn Anderson of Houghton and Keirston Klommhaus of Mount Ayr.
Harrison said she likes what she has seen in the preseason scrimmage matches.
"You can just see that confidence, getting that rhythm going and changing old habits," Harrison said. "I told the girls that the team now is going to be a totally difference team come November. We've got a great group of kids, they work hard and they come from good (high school) programs. We just have to be the team that makes the least amount of mistakes."
Harrison's only concerns regarding the season are preventing injuries and an improved passing game.
"We have to continue to build their confidence and that could be part of the challenge," Harrison said. "Our region is so strong that come November it could be who shows up and who doesn't. (Assistant coach) Danielle Lopez is doing a great job with strength and conditioning and will keep the conditioning going throughout the season. I'm very, very excited."
DMACC's opponents in the McHenry Tournament will be Carl Sandburg College (CSC) and Parkland College (PC) on Aug. 23 and Harper College (HC) and Glen Oaks Community College (GOCC) on Aug. 24. DMACC will face Indian Hills Community College (IHCC) on Aug. 28 at Ottumwa, North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) on Sept. 4 at Mason City and will play in the Rochester Tournament Sept. 6 at Rochester, Minn., before opening the home season Sept. 11 against Iowa Central Community College (ICCC).