T-R FILE PHOTO - BCLUW junior Grace Farnsworth (10) goes up for the attack during the Comets’ state finals loss to Ankeny Christian Academy at the Class 1A state tournament on Nov. 7 at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

A season of good health brought good fortune to Grace Farnsworth and the BCLUW volleyball team.

Farnsworth’s 414 kills were the third-most in Class 1A this season, the leading attacker on a Comet team that reached the state championship game for the first time in school history. The Class 1A all-state tournament team member and second-team all-state selection is also the Times-Republican All-Area Volleyball Player of the Year.

“I knew from day one that this team was special,” Farnsworth said. “We had many returners from our state team last year and elite athletes that could step into the open positions. … It was a true team effort, our coaches, our families and our community supported us each step of the way and I am grateful for this.”

As a sophomore last year, Farnsworth missed almost half of the season’s matches with a mid-season injury. Even when she returned to the lineup in time for regional play to help guide BCLUW to its first state tournament appearance in school history, her efforts as a junior this fall showed noticeable improvement.

“A year of growth helps a player but you could see the change in her being healthy all year,” BCLUW head coach Megan Yantis said. “Her jumping, her power, she just built a lot more confidence and was able to do a lot of good things.”

Farnsworth knew that in addition to being healthy, expectations would be raised with the returning pieces from the 2023 team that reached the 1A semifinals.

“I would be counted on as a leader to model sportsmanship, positivity, and aggressiveness at the net,” Farnsworth said. “I focused on swinging hard with intention each time I was at the net. We had hitters at every position and I knew Cassie [Nason, BCLUW’s setter] could give them all a beautiful set if she received a solid pass.”

One of the bigger holes for the BCLUW volleyball team to fill heading into 2024 was at that setter position following the graduation of all-state setter Sydney Anderson.

“As a new setter, it can sometimes be hard to adjust for hitters,” Yantis said. “But Grace does a great job of adjusting to any set she gets and can handle pretty much anything. … I really feel like the middle of the season was when they really started to connect and figure each other out.”

Yantis added that she felt like Farnsworth was a vocal leader from the start, and also elevated her play in the back row, where Farnsworth averaged 2.2 digs per game. She added 22 total blocks and 39 ace serves on 92.4 percent serve effectiveness this fall.

“She was really able to show what she could do this year,” Yantis said. “Just a good kid to have on your team, and always there to lift others up when someone makes a mistake.”

Farnsworth hasn’t decided if she’ll continue to play volleyball after her senior season next fall, but she plans to major in business at a college, wherever that may be.

In the meantime, she’ll put in the work in the offseason in club volleyball while also contributing to the Comets as a year-round multi-sport athlete, including qualifying for state track earlier this year in the shot put in addition to playing basketball and softball.

After Nason graduates later this school year, another setter will come in to work with Farnsworth and the Comet attackers for another attempt at a state championship run.

“Figuring out a new setter or different people on the court is really one of her strengths,” Yantis said. “She’s very resilient, doesn’t let a lot of things like that bother her and I think her experiences as a sophomore and junior are only going to help her both production and leadership-wise.”

This fall, the Comets defeated Holy Trinity and Janesville in the 1A state tournament en route to the championship game, where they were turned away by Ankeny Christian in straight sets for a runner-up finish.

After two big steps forward for the BCLUW volleyball program in the last two seasons, Farnsworth is excited for her opportunity to be one of the senior leaders trying to once again make history for BCLUW in 2025.

“The talent is there,” Farnsworth said. “With Olivia Peters and I hitting outside, the younger athletes are excited to step up. We have a dedicated and passionate coaching staff that know the game and care about their athletes and us as individuals.

“Before I graduate, I hope to bring home a state championship and after I graduate, I hope my name will be remembered at BCLUW as a great volleyball player.”

2024 T-R All-Area Volleyball Team

Player of the Year — Grace Farnsworth, jr., BCLUW

Coach of the Year — Megan Yantis, BCLUW

FIRST TEAM

Kennedy Brant, jr., MH, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Ryanne Brubaker, so., MH, Grundy Center

Kruiz Ewoldt, jr., OH, North Tama

Kennedy Feldman, sr., OH, Marshalltown

Addison Hochstetler, jr., L, North Tama

Cassie Nason, sr., S, BCLUW

SECOND TEAM

Cayleigh Heller, jr., S, North Tama

Virginia Kaisand, sr., MH, BCLUW

Kayden Muller, sr., MH, Grundy Center

Olivia Peters, so., OH, BCLUW

Elly Sieh, jr., RS, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Lily Zahnd, sr., OH, West Marshall

HONORABLE MENTION

Landry August, jr., GMG

Paisley Bro, fr., South Tama

Kylie Calderwood, sr., North Tama

Janette Cervantes, sr., South Tama

Laney Danielson, sr., Marshalltown

Gaby Estabrook, sr., Marshalltown

Avery Evertsen, sr., West Marshall

Bailey Grant, sr., East Marshall

Jaden Hansen, sr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Hadlee Hempy, jr., GMG

Ellie Hughes, sr., Marshalltown

Kailey Larsen, sr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Olivia Maddux, sr., GMG

Braelynn Morgan, sr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Natalie Nichols, sr., West Marshall

Zoey Rausch, sr., North Tama

Madison Rogers, sr., Marshalltown

Lily Sell, so., North Tama

Paige Venenga, sr., Grundy Center

Lauren Zajac, jr., Grundy Center

Past Players of the Year

2023 – Carlie Willis, sr., OH, Grundy Center

2022 – Ava Wyatt, sr., OH, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

2021 – Jadyn Rausch, jr., S, North Tama

2020 – Saari Kuehl, sr., OH, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

2019 – Saari Kuehl, jr., OH, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

2018 – Easton Swanson, sr., OH, BCLUW

2017 – Regan Mazour, sr., OH, Marshalltown

2016 – Regan Mazour, jr., OH, Marshalltown

2015 – Regan Mazour, so., OH, Marshalltown

2014 – Rachel Whaley, jr., OH, Marshalltown

2013 – Riley Sents, sr., L, Grundy Center

2012 – Heather Hook, sr., S, Grundy Center

2011 – Sam Meyers, jr., OH, Grundy Center

2010 – Jordan Loney, sr., OH, Marshalltown

2009 – Lauren Lockhart, sr., MH, Marshalltown

2008 – Macy Ubben, sr., OH, AGWSR

2007 – Tahler Johnston, sr., OH, Marshalltown

2006 – Ali Dolphin, sr., OH, Marshalltown, and Kelsey Sents, S/OH, Grundy Center

2005 – Megan Ewoldt, sr., MH, Eldora-New Providence

2004 – Kristin Harris, sr., OH, and Nicole VanderPol, sr., MH, Grundy Center