Wolves host triangular to open season

It was a struggle for the IKM-Manning Wolves volleyball team last season with just four wins, but with a new season right around the corner, the team is excited for a new journey.
“I’ve been looking forward to this season for a while now,” said Junior Karlee Arp. “I’m excited to play with the people on our team. I think we’re all good friends and we can all work good together. I think we have a lot of potential in these first few games to compete.”
During the 2023 season, the Wolves were led by Ella Richards with 195 assists and 31 serve aces, Megan Williams with 146 kills and 40 blocks, and Grace Carroll with 242 digs.
The Wolves four wins came against Coon Rapids-Bayard, Ar-We-Va, Lawton-Bronson, and Logan-Magnolia. When Regionals began, the lost the Class 1A – Region 1 First Round Tournament Game in five sets to the Glidden-Ralston Wildcats.
The Wolves will open this season with a triangular they will host against Ar-We-Va and Exira-EHK. Last season, Ar-We-Va finished 2-24, losing in three sets in the Class 1A – Region 1 First Round Tournament Game to the River Valley Wolverines. Exira-EHK finished 10-13, making it to the Class 1A – Region 4 Quarterfinal Game losing in four sets to the CAM Cougars.
“We just need to work on consistency and controlling our side of the court,” said Wolves Head Coach McKaylie Croghan. “We have talked a lot about communication already this year. We have a great group of girls who are out, and they all have great attitudes and are fun to be around.”
Before the season begins, the Wolves will have a chance to see some game action when they scrimmage Aug. 24 at Atlantic High School where they will be one of 16 teams in attendance.
“I think that’ll be good for us,” Arp said. “We went to the Central Camp a couple of weeks ago, and that was the first time playing with each other since open gym, so that was our first time in a real rotation, and I think since we’ve put together a lot of work in these practices. I’m looking forward to that scrimmage because now we know how the other one likes to play, so that’ll be good to prepare us for our real games.
Following its season opener, the Wolves will face tough opponents, including Western Iowa Conference rivals Underwood, Tri-Center, Treynor, and others.
“I think we can compete with anybody in our conference this year,” Arp added. “We have a lot of potential on our team, and as long as we keep working towards it, we just need to take it one game at a time, and keep pushing ourselves and doing what we know we can do.”