Knights senior setter Avery Knoop, front center, pictured alongside her teammates last Saturday, Sept. 7, in Traer at the North Tama Volleyball Tournament. Knoop notched the 3,000th assist of her high school career during the tournament which Union won by sweeping five teams including the top-ranked hosts. PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM GLENN

TRAER – The 3A No. 13 Union Knights volleyball team came out on top in the Redhawks Nest last Saturday, Sept. 7, winning the North Tama Volleyball Tournament in a sweep of all five teams including the top-ranked hosts.

The Knights were led on Saturday by senior setter Avery Knoop who added another milestone to what has become a storied high school athletic career by making her 3,000th assist during the tournament. As of this past Monday, Knoop was No. 5 in 3A for assists this season with 195.

Union swept up the competition in Traer, notching 2-0 victories over AGWSR, Grundy Center, 1A No. 8 Gladbrook-Reinbeck, HLV, and No. 9 North Tama.

The Knights ultimately took down the eighth-ranked Rebels for a second time to win the final, championship round.

While complete tournament statistics were not available as of press time, against the host Redhawks, Knoop racked up 19 assists, six kills, 10 digs, and a pair of aces on 14-for-15 serving to lead her team. Sophomore Bianca Grimm contributed an ace on 13-for-13 serving along with a team-leading seven kills. Juniors Emily Anton and Reagan Glenn were formidable on defense for Union with Anton recording a dozen digs and Glenn contributing 10.

The Knights beat the ninth-ranked Redhawks (10-8) in extended sets (28-26, 26-24) which was not a particularly easy feat as North Tama currently boasts a roster of high-performing talent including junior Addy Hochstetler who, as of this past Monday, was No. 1 in the state for digs, while her teammate, senior Kylie Calderwood was No. 2 for serve successes.

Heading into this week, the Knights (10-2) were scheduled to play Oelwein (6-3) in a road match on Tuesday followed by the Haley Eckerman Tournament at Waterloo East High School on Saturday, Sept. 14. Due to an accident affecting Union High School students on Tuesday evening following the Oelwein match, the Knights will not be participating in the tournament as scheduled.

Union claimed the tournament title last year which is named for current Kent State volleyball head coach Haley Eckerman, a former Waterloo East player whom the Des Moines Register once called “one of the greatest volleyball players to ever come out of Iowa.”