Defending state runner-up Wildcats hungry for more

Humboldt returns 8 letterwinners from championship season

By PHIL MONSON
Humboldt Wildcat volleyball is coming off its best season ever.
In 2025, the Wildcats (33-7 overall) went unbeaten in North Central Conference play and advanced all the way to the Class 3A state championship, where they fell to Davenport Assumption.
Wildcat head coach Kara Waldorf says her team is focused on the new season but admits last year has only fueled optimism for this season.

“Last year created excitement in Humboldt volleyball in general. It gave us the confidence in knowing that we are a great volleyball program. We have great players and we are a great team. We won some tough matches last year and it gave us that overall strong mentality,” Waldorf said.
“Part of the coaching approach is making the players believe their talent level is high. Coaching girls, sometimes they don’t always know how good they are and so teaching grit and competitiveness to gain confidence is something we are always teaching,” Waldorf said.
“We are trying to instill in the younger girls that we are good. We can have that confidence. We have a great program with awesome facilities, great coaches and great families,” Waldorf said. “There is something special about Humboldt and not just the program itself.”
“I’m super excited about this year. We are starting fresh. We aren’t thinking at all about last year. Obviously, we graduated seven seniors overall and four of them had real key roles on the team,” Waldorf said. “This year is truly a different team. We have so much talent right now even though we are a very young team. It is fun to see the growth we have made in pre-season practices and in scrimmages with opposing teams.”

“We return four key players from last year’s varsity in Addie Waldorf at setter, Adelynn Goodell at middle blocker, Jazzie Dodd at outside hitter and Gracie Johnson in the back row,” Waldorf said. “Having that group of players back helps us a lot. And we have a group of players on the other side of the net in practice who push those girls. They are really good players as well battling for playing time. It will be fun to see how it plays out.”
Addie Waldorf, a six-foot junior who has committed to play at the University of Northern Iowa, made 976 assists last year and 52 ace serves. The 6-1 Goodell, another all-state junior, made 307 kills and 81 total blocks last year
“Addie has been on the court since her freshman year. Having that leadership, especially in the setting position, makes a huge difference,” Waldorf said. “I’ve seen huge jumps in her play over the last two years. The leadership is stronger and the level of play is stronger.”
“The middle position is always a hard position to fill as well and we have Adelynn back in the middle. Addie and Adelynn have a lot of fun out there and fill two key positions,” coach Waldorf said.

“We do plan to run a 5-1 offense with Addie on the court. It has been fun to see Adelynn in pre-season. She is even better than where she left off last year. Her leadership and athletic ability is a huge asset,” Waldorf said.
“Jazzie Dodd was a huge piece to the puzzle last year and she is back and has done a great job. She plays all the way around for us and she is one of those solid players that is always helping in some way. That’s always fun to see her as well,” Waldorf said.
“In back we have Gracie Johnson who played a key role last year for us. She brings a lot of energy and intensity onto the court, which I love having in there,” Waldorf said. “After those four we will be very young on the court.”
“Callie Olsen (6-0 soph) is doing a fantastic as a middle and an outside hitter. She was a role player last year. She is one of those kids whom you could put at any position. She’ll end up being our second outside hitter. She has that power to terminate the ball. As she gains strength and experience throughout the year, you will see her jump significantly. She will be fun to see. She is very athletic,” Waldorf said.

“Brayleigh Angstrom (6-2 soph) has done a great job stepping into that second middle position. Her ceiling is real high. As she gains experience playing at a faster pace, she will do a fantastic job as well,” Waldorf said.
“Mollie Emick and Jerzie Wempen (senior) are two hitters that I think will be key pieces in the puzzle. Unfortunately, Jerzie went down with a knee injury in the first week of practice and so she likely won’t be available for at least a month into the season,” Waldorf said. “Mollie has done a great job stepping in. She’s terminating the ball as a freshman and doing great things.”
“I’m honestly excited about our back row. We have four players there fighting for positions. I’m not completely set on anything right now. I think They are all doing a fantastic job. Those girls include Gracie Johnson, Ryah Cirks, Salem Bonnstetter and Kaleigh Vinsand. Ryah plays with intensity and displays a lot of leadership as a freshman. She pushes everyone around her to be better,” Waldorf said.

“Salem does a fantastic job. She reads the court well. Kaleigh is an athlete and a competitor. I love watching her hustle and dive on the floor for balls. We have a lot of options in the back row,” Waldorf said.
“Talent-wise I feel very good and very strong going into the year. We are just young. Volleyball is a game of experience. It takes a lot of mental strength when you are playing tough matches and tough Saturday tournaments. I’m excited to watch us develop and see how we respond to tough opponents and the quickness of the game.”
“As a young team some of the tough matches on our schedule will push them out of their comfort zone to make sure they respond well in those situations,” Waldorf said.
“Everyone on this team is always fighting for something. That is what it is always about. All of us constantly pushing each other,” Waldorf said. “Starting the year that is where I’m sitting as I look at our squad.”

Humboldt continues to have good numbers.
“Last year we had 35 girls total in grades 9-12. This year we are at 42. We have a lot of people playing volleyball. Volleyball is interesting in that only six players from your team play on the court at any given time. We always talk about how everyone has a key role in it, no matter what role you have, whether it be a starter or a practice player. It is energy driven. Bringing good energy and competitiveness at all times is what they need,” Waldorf said.
“One of the key pieces to a program is having fun. Having that energy translates into playing better and being more competitive. In huddles and practices we talk a lot about having energy and having fun. We talk about being good teammates to each other,” Waldorf said.
“We stress celebrating other people’s successes. Not focusing on our own selves but others. It brings good camaraderie to a team. We push the mental game a lot when coaching. I think that is what’s making them successful,” Waldorf said.

Humboldt dominated the North Central Conference last year with a perfect 7-0 record. Algona was runner-up at 6-1 with Webster City and Clear Lake both 4-3. Charles City, Webster City, Garner-Hayfield/Ventura and Forest City are newcomers. Waldorf is okay with Humboldt getting pre-season attention.
“It will be interesting with the four new schools being added to our conference. I don’t know much about the new schools’ volleyball programs so we’ll be doing research on them,” Waldorf said.
“I think the NCC will be similar to last year. I feel like age-wise each team will be similar. Algona will be a strong team this year so that will be a fun match to play. Overall, the NCC is a fun conference to compete in. Our school has long rivalries with a lot of those schools in all sports. The history is fun to be a part of,” Waldorf said.

Coaching staff
Waldorf will be assisted by Cassie Harklau, who will lead the junior varsity for the third straight year. Kathi Beach will coach the freshman girls. Jamie Flaherty and Alison Angstrom will volunteer their services.
“I’m so grateful to have the coaches at my side that I have. Kathi Beach is going to step into a freshman role to help Carlie Gidel, who recently had a baby. Carlie is more of a volunteer this year and then she’ll step back into her coaching role next year. It’s nice to have Kathi step in for us,” Waldorf said.
“Cassie Harklau is our JV coach and she does a fantastic job. Jamie Flaherty and Alison Angstrom volunteer with us. That says a lot about our program to have two former volleyball players, people who know the game well and want to be a part of it,” Waldorf said.
“As coaches we get along really well and focus on the right things, how we can be the best that we can be in providing the best for the girls. We have fun together each night out,” Waldorf said.

“The girls this year have a motto, ‘unfinished business.’ They are ready to roll. They are excited about the opportunity this year. The biggest focus we talk about is attitude and effort. I truly think that we have the skillset. It is more about how can we take that skillset and make sure we can compete at the highest level. As a staff that is what we are focusing on,” Waldorf said.
“We talk a lot about attitude and effort. Making sure we get better every single day because we have a lot of improvement to make that step up,” Waldorf said. “Always getting better and being great teammates, having fun. If they do all of those things it will click and come together.”
“It’s not where you start but where you finish. With a young squad, as a coach that is my mentality, making sure I have patience for them to grow because I do really think they can be a special group. It will be a really fun season. I love this group of girls,” Waldorf said.
Look for daily news and updates online at www.humboldtnews.com.

2026 HUMBOLDT VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
Aug. 27 at Charles City
Aug. 29 Humboldt Invite
Sept. 3 Webster City
Sept. 10 at EG w Alg, FDSE
Sept. 12 at Cedar Falls Invite
Sept. 15 Clear Lake
Sept. 19 at Dike-New Hartford
Sept. 21 Aplington-Parkersburg
Sept. 24 at IFA w CGD
Sept. 26 at Nevada Invite
Oct. 1 at Algona
Oct. 8 Alg, FC, GHV
Oct. 10 at Mason City
Oct. 15 at Hampton
Oct. 20 Regional
Oct. 22 Regional
Oct. 27 Regional

HUMBOLDT ROSTER
Seniors: Gracie Johnson, Jerzie Wempen, Zoey Montag.
Juniors: Salem Bonnstetter, Jazzie Dodd, Addie Waldorf, Adelynn Goodell, Landry Lash, Brooklyn Sernett, Bayleiy Lara.
Sophomores: Shyann Wimmer, Saylor Palmer, Kaleigh Vinsand, Kesley Emick, Brayleigh Angstrom, Callie Olsen, Charlie Smith, Alexis Schroeder, Gabi Herzog, Tessa Thompson, Ella Dencklau, Hayden Smith, McKenna Johnson, Riley Phillips, Elyn Olson.
Freshmen: Layla Abbas, Ryah Cirks, Allie Lewis, Veronyca Hilton, Addisen White, Addie Burtch, McKinley Rasmussen, Ella Dieleman, Natalie Wurth, Liv Miller, Adi Tille, Madi Wedemeyer, Izzy Montag, Hannah Hauser, Asa Arnold, Amy Fridolfson, Abby Amen.

Members of Humboldt’s junior varsity volleyball squad, front row (l-r): Ryah Cirks, Kaleigh Vinsand, Saylor Palmer, Elyn Olson, Kesley Emick and Salem Bonnstetter. Middle row: Shyann Wimmer, Makena Johnson, Riley Phillips, Ella Dencklau, Gabi Herzog, Bayleiy Lara and Tessa Thompson. Back row: Alexis Schroeder, Charlie Smith, Mollie Emick, Brayleigh Angstrom, Callie Olsen and Brooklyn Sernett. Independent photo. To buy this photo and more from our gallery, visit our website at www.humboldtnews.com

Humboldt’s varsity volleyball team, front row (l-r): Hayden Smith, Ryah Cirks, Kaleigh Vinsand, Salem Bonnstetter, Tessa Thompson and Gracie Johnson. Middle row: Callie Olsen, Zoey Montag, Jazzie Dodd, Addison Waldorf and Charlie Smith. Back row: Jerzie Wempen, Mollie Emick, Adelynn Goodell, Brayleigh Angstrom and Brooklyn Sernett. Independent photo by Phil Monson. To buy this photo and more from our gallery, visit our website at www.humboldtnews.com.

Returning letterwinners for the Humboldt volleyball team, from left: Salem Bonnstetter, Gracie Johnson, Callie Olsen and Addie Waldorf. Back row: Jerzie Wempen, Jazzie Dodd, Adelynn Goodell and Brayleigh Angstrom. Independent photo.