Concordia Volleyball Team Holds Year-End Banquet
The Concordia High School Volleyball team put the cap on its 2023 season with an awards banquet on Monday, November 13th.
This year, the Concordia High School Volleyball program had five players represented on the 2023 All-North Central Kansas League teams. Seniors Carlie Carlgren and Callie Parker and Sophomore Kynlee Hamel picked up first-team accolades for the Panthers. Teammates Baylen Arnold and Taylor McDaniel received All-NCKL Honorable Mention.
Carlgren, returning from an off-season injury, played in 51 sets where she finished with 100 kills, 246 digs and 22 blocks.
Parker finished with 174 kills, 97 assists and 46 blocks.
Hamel led the team with 219 kills and 120 digs. She also had 67 blocks, the fourth most of any player in the NCKL.
Arnold, a sophomore who moved to libero this season, notched a team-high 479 digs, the second most in Class 4A. Arnold also led the team with 740 serve receptions and had 16 serving aces
McDaniel contributed 149 kills, 194 digs and 15 serving aces.
Also during the banquet, Panther Coach Rio Brown presented Senior Setter Hattie Blackwood with the "Communication Award." Blackwood was first in the North Central Kansas League in serving efficiency at 99.4 percent, only missing two serves in 331 attempts. Blackwood also led the team with 25 aces. She totaled over 1,500 assists in her career, including 455 assists in 2023, and finishes her career second all-time in serving efficiency and third all-time in setting efficiency.
Junior Middle Hitter Kenlee Williams ended the season third in the league in blocks with 69.
The Concordia Volleyball coaching staff honored Senior Madison Meyer with their "Positive Attitude Award." Rylie Jessup and Stella Trost received the team's "Effort Award," while the coaches presented their yearly "I Challenge You" ball to Panther Freshman Jaylin Roush. The ball is given every year to a player who has great potential to contribute to the success of the team next season.
Concordia concluded the 2023 season at 20-17 overall and 9-1 in North Central Kansas League play, capturing their first league title since 2017.