As the Pella High volleyball continues to transition from a senior dominated team that made last year’s state championship team, coach Catie Brand says that several new faces are stepping up.

Emily Holterhaus and Natalie Clayberg are leading the offensive charge, as expected, but Brand says they’re getting a lot of help.

“Jenna Schulte has done a great job in the middle and Paighton Bogaards has come alive on the right side. She’s feisty in there, she’s smart, and she’s done a great job with blocking on that side. And Kalin Valster is kind of our outlet player – she’s the one who has to play outside and middle and anywhere we ask her to. She’s done a great job with that, so I feel like the offense is really coming into its own.”

Brand also credits Kennady Klein, Pella’s libero, who is tasked with almost single-handedly covering the back 30 feet of the court. She says that allows the rest of the players to focus more of their attention on offense.

The Lady Dutch picked up a five-set win over Indianola on Tuesday to improve to 12-2 on the season and stay perfect at 3-0 in the Little Hawkeye Conference. They’ll head to the Ballard tournament on Saturday.