PANORA — The 2018 volleyball season will be long remembered at Panorama high school.
The Panthers flipped a 7-25 overall record and 1-7 WCAC mark in 2017 to a 17-12, 7-3 effort in 2018. The wins were the most in a season in school history, and a 3-2 victory over Van Meter in regional play gave the Panthers their first-ever postseason triumph.
First-year head coach Jessica Nail helped guide the transformation and was rewarded with co-Coach of the Year honors in the WCAC. Senior Brooke Halterman was named to the All-WCAC First Team and senior Morgan Johnk to the Second Team, with seniors Olivia Richey and Kennedy Kuta earning honorable mention recognition.
The team finished with 617 kills, or 7.26 per set, and finished with 181 total blocks. The Panthers were 1,414-of-1,593 (.888) serving. They matched their block total with 181 aces serves.
Halterman’s 239 kills led the team, with Johnk adding 164 kills, Richey 88, Bailey Beckman 74 and Erica Block 31. Kuta had 460 assists, or 5.48 per set.
The defense was led by Halterman, who had 121 digs and 56 blocks. Johnk provided 45 blocks, Kuta 33 and Block 26, with Beckman tallying 118 digs, Richey 117, Johnk 114, Kuta 94, Block 58 and Hannah Woodworth 62.
Kuta served 342-of-369 with 55 aces, with Richey 203-247-44, Halterman 249-278-30 and Johnk 205-236-24. Beckman was 162-172-10 behind the line, with Woodworth 145-169-10 and Block 95-108-7.
The Panthers finished 42-36 in all sets played.
Halterman, Johnk, Kuta, Richey, Beckman, Block, Woodworth and Vallerie Storesund were the seniors who took the court for the Panthers this season.
