T-R GRAPHIC

The two-time kills leader in the NICL West Division has earned all-conference first-team honors for the second year in a row, too.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck junior outside hitter Saari Kuehl was named first-team all-NICL West in back-to-back seasons to go along with her second-team honor from a freshman campaign that signaled a turnaround on the volleyball court for the Rebels.

G-R has climbed from an 0-6 conference showing in 2016 to a runner-up finish in 2019 with Kuehl leading the charge. The 6-foot scoring threat led the NICL West again this fall with 114 kills in conference play, putting down 4.75 kills per set in helping the Rebels gain a share of second place in the final league standings.

Conference champion Grundy Center was represented by three first-team selections, including the league’s Outstanding Player. Emerson Kracht, a senior setter and outside hitter finished sixth in kills and seventh in assists in NICL West play on her way to the top honor.

BCLUW, which shared second place in the conference with G-R, had two first-team selections in senior middle hitter Madison Ubben and junior middle Lizzie Garber. Ubben was fifth in conference kills and blocks, while Garber was eighth in kills per set.

The award was Garber’s first all-conference accolade, while Ubben was promoted from last year’s second team.

West Marshall senior middle hitter Teresa Disney earned her first all-conference volleyball honor after leading the Trojans in kills, hitting efficiency and sharing the lead in blocks.

East Marshall’s top honoree was senior libero Zoeie Fontanini, an honorable mention selection.