A quartet of freshmen from the Carl Sandburg College volleyball team were voted to the All-Arrowhead Conference team after helping lead the Chargers to a second straight league title this fall.
Grace Vyhnanek, Madeline Mooney, Natalie Burden and Ayla Cannon were selected to the team by Arrowhead coaches as the Chargers shared the conference title with Sauk Valley at 9-1. Sandburg’s four selections tied Sauk Valley for the most by any school. Additionally, Chargers coach Todd Winkler shared Coach of the Year honors with Sauk Valley’s Jay Howell.
Vyhnanek, a setter from West Prairie High School, had 317 assists in 10 Arrowhead matches and played in all 33 sets against conference foes. She also had 42 kills, 51 digs and served four aces. Vyhnanek also was voted to the All-Region 4 team this season and finished 14th in the country with 1,179 assists.
The Chargers’ libero, Mooney led the team with 215 digs in 33 Arrowhead sets. The Metamora High School product also had 10 aces in league play. Mooney recorded at least 16 digs in each conference match, including 29 in a win Sept. 28 at Highland.
Burden, an outside hitter from New London, Iowa, had a team-best 96 kills while playing in all 33 Arrowhead sets. She finished with a .263 hitting percentage against conference opponents, tied for third on the team with 63 digs and was second with 115 points. Burden’s 14 kills Sept. 6 against Sauk Valley were her second-most in any match this season.
Cannon, a middle hitter from Burlington, Iowa, had team-highs of 123.5 points, 41 blocks and a .335 hitting percentage against conference opponents. Cannon’s 86 kills in league play were second on the team to Burden, and 28 of her blocks were solo efforts.
2023 ALL-ARROWHEAD CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL TEAM
Most Valuable Player: Lacey Eissens (freshman, Sauk Valley)
Grace Vyhnanek (freshman, Sandburg)
Madeline Mooney (freshman, Sandburg)
Maya Gartin (sophomores, Sauk Valley)
Mary Zettle (sophomore, Highland)
Natalie Burden (freshman, Sandburg)
Ayla Cannon (freshman, Sandburg)
Ava Wright (freshman, Sauk Valley)
Ella Sibert (freshman, Illinois Valley)
Katie Bates (sophomore, Illinois Valley)
Maggie Drew (sophomore, Highland)
Cadence Stonitsch (sophomore, Sauk Valley)
Coaches of the Year: Todd Winkler (Sandburg), Jay Howell (Sauk Valley)
2023 ARROWHEAD CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS
Sandburg 9-1
Sauk Valley 9-1
Illinois Valley 6-4
Highland 4-6
Black Hawk 2-8
Kishwaukee 0-10
***Courtesy of Carl Sandburg College***
