Since Jackson County Central became a district in 1997, the school routinely produced student-athletes who have gone on to play volleyball on the collegiate level and a few remained with the sport after that by coaching.
That means several times each season a couple of former Huskies are going to see each other on opposite sides of the net.
The first of those meetings in 2023 occurred on Friday, although they weren’t literally on opposite sides of the net at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.
Alaina Wolff is a 5-foot-6 junior libero at South Dakota, while Michelle (Van Epps) Aggen is in her first season as director of volleyball operations at Iowa State.
The Cyclones defeated the Coyotes 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-17) in the first match of the three-team round-robin Cardinal and Gold Challenge.
USD then picked up its first win of the season Saturday with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-19) win over DePaul. Iowa State and DePaul play the final match of the event today (Sunday).
Wolff has transitioned into the libero position after playing in the back row in her first season with the Coyotes in 2022.
She had nine digs, two set assists and one ace serve Friday vs. the Cyclones including this one at the start of this video clip:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1695235434446467469
Alaina followed that up with a match-high 17 digs and three assists vs. the Blue Devils.
Wolff was one of two USD players named to the all-tournament team.
South Dakota is at the Tiger Invitational hosted by Missouri Labor Day weekend, playing No. 4 Louisville Friday, the host team Saturday, and Northern Kentucky on Sunday.
The Coyotes host the South Dakota Classic Sept. 7-8, playing matches vs. Drake, IUPUI and South Florida and then play in the Green Bay Invite Sept. 14-16.
USD opens Summit League play at Omaha on Sept. 23. South Dakota has been selected as the favorite to win the Summit regular season title by league coaches with North Dakota State second and Omaha third.
As director of volleyball operations at Iowa State, Aggen assists with team travel, community outreach and facility and camp coordination.
The Cyclones were 20-12 last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Iowa State handed national champion Texas its only loss during the regular season.
ISU defeated DePaul 3-0 (25-8, 25-13, 25-13) Sunday to start the season 2-0.
The Cyclones are in Phoenix next weekend for the Grand Canton University Invite and matches vs. Arizona, Long Island and the host school. Iowa State opens its Big 12 schedule Sept. 21 at West Virginia.
Michelle’s husband, Chris, is a former teacher and coach at JCC and was the head girls basketball coach when Alaina was playing for the Huskies.
Chris Aggen was recently named dean of students for Perry Elementary School in Perry, Iowa.
You can find news on other local graduates in the latest edition of Lots O’ Stuff:
https://open.substack.com/pub/leelarson/p/lots-o-stuff-435?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web