T-R FILE PHOTO

GRUNDY CENTER — From her first day as a high school volleyball player, Carlie Willis has made an impact.

The Grundy Center senior completed a historic career this fall in leading the Spartans to the Class 2A state semifinals, in a rewarding four-year journey of ups and downs that transformed Willis into one of the elite volleyball players in Iowa and the 2023 Times-Republican All-Area Volleyball Player of the Year.

“She has a strong desire to win in everything, whether it’s a practice, scrimmage, or championship,” Grundy Center head coach Lori Willis said. “Throughout most of her career, she led by example. … Her senior year, she did become more vocal on the court and in huddles. The last four years have been challenging, marked by struggle, heartbreak, learning and growth. Overcoming these obstacles together makes what Carlie and the team achieved so fulfilling.”

No attacker in the state had more kills than Carlie Willis this fall at 661, an average of 6.1 kills per set. She added 2.7 digs per set, was second on the team in total blocks with 49 and converted 95 percent of her serves with 37 aces. Carlie was one of only eight volleyball players across the state named to the Elite All-State Team released by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and was one of three all-state Spartans along with setter Ellery Luhring and libero Lucy Lebo.

“She made significant strides in her offensive game this season,” Lori Willis said. “In addition to her missiles down the line, she developed a powerful cross-court swing and effective off-speed shots. Her connection with Ellery has always been strong, but this season, they took it to another level, making it challenging for opposing teams to defend against them.

“One of her most notable improvements was her serve receive. Towards the end of the season, she demonstrated exceptional court coverage, consistently delivering at a high level.”

The Spartans were coming off a regional final heartbreak in 2022, their season ending in a four-set loss to Denver by the slimmest of margins.

As the core nucleus of a strong senior class, Carlie and her setter wanted to step it up a notch.

“Ellery and I carried great responsibilities and wanted to do even more for the team,” Carlie said. “We not only embraced our roles more fully but also elevated our game to new heights. Ellery has played a key role in shaping me into the player I am today, and I can’t wait for the opportunity to share one more club season with her as my teammate.”

The North Iowa Cedar League volleyball tournament in recent years serves as an exceptional measuring stick for every team and players that participates, and Lori cited two examples of how it showed Carlie’s growth.

As a junior, she smacked 20 kills in a battle with Sumner-Fredericksburg in the fifth-place match. In her senior year and matched up with a juggernaut Dike-New Hartford team, Carlie delivered an impressive performance, even in defeat, smashing 12 kills in two sets with a .450 hitting efficiency against a Wolverine team that ultimately no one in Class 2A could deny.

That led to a straight-set sweep of Denver on Oct. 10 for Grundy’s Senior Night, a memorable way to bring the Spartans’ journey full circle as they prepared to challenge for their first state tournament berth since 2019.

“Unforgettable,” Carlie said. “That victory proved we were the third-ranked team heading into the postseason.”

The remainder of the season was a formality as the Spartans swept their way to the state tournament, and then toppled an experienced Carroll Kuemper team in four sets to reach the semifinals.

While the journey ended there in a loss to second-ranked Hinton, the growth of both Carlie and the Spartans was undeniable.

“I’m proud of all that we’ve achieved,” Carlie said. “There have been so many wonderful memories over the years but the friendships we’ve made along the way doing all the bus rides, team camps and victories together are what I will cherish the most.”

Carlie ends her high school career with the most kills in Spartan history at 1,926, almost 600 more than Sam (Meyers) Lyman who achieved the original record in 2012. She’s also fifth all-time in digs with 1,086 and ninth in ace serves with 135.

“As the saying goes, ‘You must see it to believe it,'” Lori Willis said. “By watching Carlie play, younger athletes now understand what is possible, just as Carlie was inspired by those that came before her. We’ve had many discussions at the dinner table about the potential of her teammates and she’s optimistic about the future of the program.”

Carlie’s future takes her to St. Cloud State University, one of the top Division II programs in the nation led by Kenzie Foley, who was recently named AVCA Division II Player of the Year. Carlie said she wants to follow a business education track while also possibly dabbling in graphic design.

“She’ll be surrounded by amazing athletes and coaches, and I’m confident this environment will help her improve,” Lori said. “I’m looking forward to watching her in a Huskie uniform.”

2023 T-R All-Area Volleyball Team

Player of the Year — Carlie Willis, sr., Grundy Center

Coach of the Year — Abby Stephenson, BCLUW

FIRST TEAM

Sydney Anderson, sr., S, BCLUW

Kruiz Ewoldt, so., OH, North Tama

Addison Hochstetler, so., L, North Tama

Ellery Luhring, sr., S, Grundy Center

Olivia Peters, fr., OH, BCLUW

Kennedy Brant, so., MH, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

SECOND TEAM

Avery Evertsen, jr., MH, West Marshall

Grace Farnsworth, so., MH, BCLUW

Izzy Hallett, sr., OH, North Tama

Lucy Lebo, sr., L, Grundy Center

Gloria Mullen, sr., OH, South Tama

Ella Roush, sr., MH, Marshalltown

HONORABLE MENTION

Skyla Beck, jr., S, South Tama

Josie deNeui, sr., S, West Marshall

Kennedy Feldman, jr., OH, Marshalltown

Raylee Gile, sr., MH, East Marshall

Kailey Larsen, fr., S, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Olivia Maddux, jr., S, GMG

Kailan McEwen, sr., MH, BCLUW

Shirley Monaghan, sr., OH, Grundy Center

Amaya Moore, sr., MH, Marshalltown

Kayden Muller, jr., MH, Grundy Center

Zoey Rausch, jr., S, North Tama

Elly Sieh, so., RS, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Adelyn Sienknecht, sr., OH, GMG

Callie Swanson, sr., L, BCLUW

Paige Venenga, jr., RS, Grundy Center

Kalayna White, sr., MH, Meskwaki