DES MOINES, Iowa – Durant-Bennett put one player on each of the first three Class 2A all-state volleyball teams that were announced this week.

The Wildcats breezed through an unbeaten regular season before being upset by Dike-New Hartford in the first round of the state tournament.

That success led to coach John Walsh’s team landing three all-staters, along with another special mention. Durant-Bennett was the only local or area school with an all-stater.

The top selection was senior outside hitter Julia Brus, who was named to the first team.

Senior setter Kourtney Lilienthal landed a second-team berth. Julia Brus’ twin sister, Heather, was a third-team choice at outside hitter.

Just missing a berth on the third team was senior Katelyn Lilienthal, the twin sister of Kourtney Lilienthal.

The Iowa Volleyball Coaches Association also released their all-district selections.

The four Durant all-staters were on the Class 2A Southeast all-district team. They were joined by Wilton’s Katie Tietz.

Durant’s excellent season also rewarded the efforts of coach Walsh, who was named the Class 2A Southeast District Coach of the Year.

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All-State Volleyball

Elite – Brittany Ridenour, C.B. Lincoln, Sr.; Mindy Moody, Bishop Heelan, Sr.; Haley Eckerman, Waterloo East, Fr.; Emily Heffernan, West Delaware, Sr.; Francis Xin, Ames, Sr.; Tiffany Nilges, Tripoli, Sr.; Hannah Willms, Dike-New Hartford, So.; Jessica DeStiger, Western Christian, Sr. Player of Year – Ridenour.

4A first team – Brittney Ridenour, C.B. Lincoln, Sr.; Chelsey Semprini, Ankeny, Jr.; Taylor Knuth, Johnston, Jr.; Haley Eckerman, Waterloo East, Fr.; Nina Savage, Cedar Falls, Sr.; Lauren McKissick, Bettendorf, Sr.; Mallory Husz, C.B. Lewis Central, Sr.; Frances Xin, Ames, Sr.

4A second team – Abby Sonner, Johnston, Jr.; Hannah Johnson, Ankeny, Jr.; Brittany Nelson, IC High, So.; Erin Higgins, Pleasant Valley, Sr.; Chrissie McGaffigan, Bettendorf, Jr.; Abby Nauman, Dub. Hempstead, Sr.; Beth Carver, C.R. Prairie, Sr.; Caitlin Haggerty, Cedar Falls, Sr.

4A third team – Jessica Garland, Indianola, Sr.; Jessica Gerhke, IC West, So.; Candice Burke, Waterloo East, Sr.; Haley Brightwell, C.R. Kennedy, So.; Laura Boenish, C.R. Kennedy, So.; Tahler Johnson, Marshalltown, Sr.; Drennon Ford, Boone, Sr.; Sarah Jane Bowden, S.C. North, Sr.

4A Player of the Year – Ridenour, C.B. Lincoln. Coach of the Year – Rick            Brooks, Johnston.

3A first team – Emily Heffernan, West Delaware, Sr.; Mindy Moody, Bishop Heelan, Sr.; Shelby Kintzel, Mt. Vernon, Jr.; Jody Purdy, Winterset, Jr.; Brittany Thomas, Marion, Jr.; Haley Brillhart, Pella, Sr.; Molly Steffens, Western Dubuque, Sr.; Kayla Karpuck, Bishop Heelan, Sr.

3A second team – Brooke Fessler, Pella, Fr.; Krista DeGeest, Spencer, Sr.; Brianna Strong, Mt. Vernon, So.; Natalie Hackbarth, Algona, So.; Michelle Reidy, Dub. Wahlert, Sr.; Kayla Bries, West Delaware, Sr.; Monica Iverson, Bishop Heelan, Sr.; Maryn Fulton, Fairfield, Jr.

3A third team – Chelsea Grieger, Pella, Sr.; Ali Stark, Mt. Vernon, Fr.; Rachael Nelson, Algona, Sr.; Morgan Paige, Marion, So.; Melanie Babcock, MOC, Sr.; Megan Hughes, Carroll, Sr.; Megan Otting, C.R. Xavier, Sr.; Carli Tritz, Bishop Heelan, So.

3A Player of the Year – Heffernan, West Delaware.. Coach of the Year – Shirley Ryan, Mt. Vernon.

2A first team – Hannah Willms, Dike-New Hartford, So.; Jessica DeStigter, Western Christian, Sr.; Jana Van Zanten, Pella Christian, Jr.; Kate Buyert, Western Christian, Sr.; Kaity Frost, Waterloo Columbus, Sr.; Julia Brus, Durant-Bennett, Sr.; Brandee Schaap, Western Christian, Sr.; Chellsea Poppens, Aplington-Parkersburg, Jr.

2A second team – Alex Hanna, Red Oak, Sr.; Bobbi Bayer, Eddyville-Blakesburg, Sr.; Jenny Willms, Dike-New Hartford, Jr.; Sarah Tjaden, East Sac, Jr.; Kristy Hinrichs, Solon, Sr.; Kourtney Lilienthal, Durant-Bennett, Sr.; Riley Hulstein, Sioux Center, Sr.; Jaclyn Moret, Unity Christian, Jr.

2A third team – Justine Young, Aplington-Parkersburg, Sr.; Amy Dentlinger, Carroll Kuemper, Sr.; Lauren Freidman, Waterloo Columbus, Jr.; Lacey Alexander, Eddyville-Blakesburg, Jr.; Staci Magnussen, Pella Christian, Sr.; April Solsma, Western Christian, Sr.; Heather Brus, Durant-Bennett, Sr.; Heather Rekers, Dike-New Hartford, Jr.

2A special mention – Katelyn Lilienthal, Durant-Bennett.

2A Player of the Year – DeStigter, West Delaware. Coach of the Year – Tammi Veerbeck, Western Christian.

1A first team – Tiffany Nilges, Tripoli, Sr.; Emily Fullenkamp, Holy Trinity, Sr.; Amber Boevers, Wapsie Valley, Sr.; Bailey Halbur, Manning, Jr.; Kamille Van Natta, Wapsie Valley, Sr.; Murphy Olsen, New London, Sr.; Victoria Weatherly, Grandview Park Baptist, Jr.; Amanda Bates, Iowa Mennonite, Sr.

1A second team – Jordan Mangrich, Don Bosco, Sr.; Jayna Blome, North Sentral, Sr.; McKaylie Croghan, Manning, Jr.; Elaine Mauderly, Bedford, Sr.; Rebecca Lampe, Highland, Sr.; Sarah Fedler, Holy Trinity, Sr.; Kinzie Van Voorst, Boyden Hull, Sr.; Kelsie Petersen, Alta, Sr.

1A third team – Cassie DeBruin, George-Little Rock, Sr.; Erica Dalton, Bedford, Sr.; Jessica Panther, Holy Trinity, Sr.; Carlie Wehling, Wapsie Valley, So.; Trista Wurr, Manning, Jr.; Kelsey Geist, Mt. Ayr, Sr.; Abbie Breitback, Don Bosco, So.; Kacie Woodley, Laurens-Marathon, Sr.

1A Player of the Year – Nilges, Tripoli. Coach of the Year – Kathy Lage, Manning.

All-District Volleyball

Southeast District

Class 4A – Brittany Nelson, I.C. High; Erin Higgins, Pleasant Valley; Lauren McKissick, Bettendorf; Alexis Mitchell, Davenport Central; Chrissie McGaffigan, Bettendorf; Carissa Coopman, Davenport North; Jamie Paul, I.C. High; Jessica Gehrke, I.C. West; Keeley Grimm, I.C. West; Whitney Miller, Clinton; Katy Baker, Davenport Central; Laura Tucker, Oskaloosa; Megan Dunlavy, Bettendorf; Caitlin Nagle, North Scott. Coach of the Year – Diane Lichtenberg, Bettendorf.

Class 3A – Maryn Fulton, Fairfield; Danielle Fry, Fairfield; Courtney Dever, Maquoketa; Stephanie Till, Maquoketa; Kaitlin McClimon, DeWitt; Katie Dekker, Centerville; Monica Goudy, Fairfield; Brittney Fry, Fairfield; Alyssa Weller, DeWitt; Lindsey Helton, Davis County; Kelly Wolter, Benton; Kari Goodchild, Benton; Hadley Shipley, Davis County; Haleigh Brockman, Washington; Jonte Thornton, Washington. Coach of the Year – Nancy Diers, Fairfield.

Class 2A – Julia Brus, Durant-Bennett; Kourtney Lilienthal, Durant-Bennett; Kristy Hinrichs, Solon; Skylar Lesan, Solon; Cari Brenneman, Mid-Prairie; Heather Brus, Durant-Bennett; Katelyn Lilienthal, Durant-Bennett; Danielle Jackson, Mediapolis; Kasey Abel, Mediapolis; Magie Rummells, West Branch; Jordyn Akers, I.C. Regina; Katie Tietz, Wilton; Katie Etter, Sigourney; Stephanie Beck, BGM; Casey Becker, Davenport Assumption. Coach of the Year – John Walsh, Durant-Bennett.

Class 1A – Emily Fullenkamp, Holy Trinity; Murphye Olsen, New London; Rebecca Lampe, Highland; Amanda Bates, Iowa Mennonite; Megan Wagner, Holy Trinity; Jessica Panther, Holy Trinity; Sara Fedler, Holy Trinity; Ashley Blint, New London; Beth Helling, Holy Trinity; Savannah Savage, Lynnville-Sully; Theyrn Potts, North Mahaska; Paige Hartgers, Lynnville-Sully; Kristi Branham, Highland; Ashley O’Neill, Calamus-Wheatland; Lindsay Hoehns, Twin Cedars. Coach of the Year – Melissa Freesmeier, Holy Trinity.