Union’s Avery Knoop, right, pictured last season playing Wapsie Valley during which she completed her 2,000th high school career assist. Knoop leads the Knights this season as the only returning senior. TELEGRAPH FILE PHOTO

LA PORTE CITY – Union volleyball served up a quartet of wins while taking just one loss at the Independence Varsity Volleyball Invite last weekend, coming away with a second place finish overall and setting the tone for what is most likely to be another high performing season for the team.

The Knights closed out last season as state semifinalists (39-12) after winning both the NICL East Conference championship and Class 3A Region 5 championship. In the state semifinals, they lost to the eventual 3A champions, Western Christian.

This season, ahead of the Aug. 31 Independence tournament, the Knights were ranked No. 12 in Class 3A by IGHSAU and in the top-15 in 3A by The Gazette newspaper in preseason rankings.

The Knights are led this season by the team’s only returning senior, setter Avery Knoop who ended the 2023 season No. 1 in the state for assists. Veteran players also returning this season include junior outside hitter Reagan Glenn, junior libero Emily Anton, and junior defensive specialist Addie Pospisil.

At Indee, Union began the day with a 2-1 win over Osage, followed by 2-0 sweeps of Alburnett, Independence, and Sumner-Fredericksburg before losing to 3A No. 14 West Delaware. (Complete stats for the tournament were not available as of press time.)

The Knights head to Traer this Saturday (Sept. 7) for the North Tama Volleyball Tournament where in addition to the 1A No. 3 Redhawks, Union has the potential to face AGWSR, Dunkerton, 1A No. 10 Gladbrook-Reinbeck, 2A No. 14 Grundy Center, HLV, and Waterloo Christian.

Union’s coaching staff this season includes longtime head coach Brian Jesse and assistant coaches Barry Jesse and Beth Harting.