T-R FILE PHOTO - South Tama County junior outside hitter Gracie Vest (5) goes up for the attack against East Marshall during their Aug. 31 contest in Tama.

The South Tama volleyball team struggled to make a place for itself in the WaMaC West Division this season, so spots for the Trojans on the season-ending all-conference squads were hard to come by as well.

The Trojans capped their 7-19 season with all-conference honorable mention selections for senior right-side hitter Gwen Upah and junior outside hitter Gracie Vest.

South Tama went 0-6 in the competition-rich WaMaC West, which featured two ranked teams in Independence (Class 3A No. 13) and Clear Creek-Amana (4A No. 9). The Trojans’ postseason ended just as soon as it started, as 3A No. 5 Union Community swept STC in the first round of regional play on its way to state.

Vest closed out the fall as South Tama’s offensive leader, racking up 152 kills (2.5 kills per set) on her way to all-conference honorable mention. Vest ranked 12th in the WaMaC West in kills, and her .141 hitting efficiency was tops on the Trojans as well.

Vest finished with 12 blocks, second on the team to Upah’s 15, while also ending up fourth on the team with 130 digs. Vest also served at a 96 percent efficiency, going 120-for-125 with 13 aces.

Upah ranked 21st in the WaMaC West with her 86 kills and 15 blocks, and she spent more time at the service line than any other Trojan. She finished 212-for-228 (93 percent) to go along with 16 aces.

Independence senior middle hitter Reese Martin was named the WaMaC West’s Player of the Year after finishing with 292 kills and 63 blocks — both ranking second in the division.

All-WaMaC West Division Volleyball Teams

Player of the Year — Reese Martin, sr., Independence

FIRST TEAM

(* — unanimous selection)

*Reese Martin, SR, Independence

*Elle Greiner, JR, Independence

*Calia Clubb, JR, Clear Creek-Amana

Brooke Beatty, SR, Independence

Hailey Pollock, SR, Clear Creek-Amana

Gracie Ehret, SR, Williamsburg

Jesse Julius, SO, Williamsburg

Brynn Patterson, JR, Vinton-Shellsburg

SECOND TEAM

Grace Bohlken, SR, Independence

Lexi Hearn, JR, Independence

Lauren Riggle, SR, Clear Creek-Amana

Erin Francis, SR, Williamsburg

Grace Embretson, JR, Benton

Emma Porter, SR, Center Point-Urbana

Sophie Gaffney, JR, Center Point-Urbana

Kate Hyland, JR, Vinton-Shellsburg

HONORABLE MENTION

Caitlyn Kieper, sr., Benton; Addison Phillips, so., Benton; Claire Neighbor, sr., Center Point-Urbana; Katie Droste, sr., Center Point-Urbana; Morgan Etscheidt, jr., Clear Creek-Amana; Meg Berkland, fr., Clear Creek-Amana; Hannah Johnson, sr., Independence; Shanna Kleve, jr., Independence; Gwen Upah, sr., South Tama; Gracie Vest, jr., South Tama; Kayla Griffith, sr., Vinton-Shellsburg; Samantha Walton, jr., Vinton-Shellsburg; Savanna Busch, sr., Williamsburg; Mia Brecht, jr., Williamsburg

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Final Conference Standings

Conf, All

W-L, W-L

Independence, 6-0, 25-8

Clear Creek-Amana, 5-1, 25-6

Williamsburg, 4-2, 19-16

Center Point-Urbana, 3-3, 11-20

Vinton-Shellsburg, 2-4, 16-23

Benton Community, 1-5, 11-25

South Tama County, 0-6, 7-19