The 2018 fall sports season officially kicked off Monday for area teams with the first day of practices for the upcoming season.

The volleyball season is set to get underway Saturday, August 25 and several all-league selections from a year ago are back.

The Big 7 League is expected to be loaded once again with 15 all-league selections back from a year ago.

Nemaha Central will look to repeat as league champs in 2018 and make a return trip back to the 3A state tournament after going 42-6 a season ago. The Thunder bring back three first team all-league selections in Jacy Dalinghaus, Ashley Larkin and Riley Bontrager, with Dalinghaus returning as a second team all-state selection as well.

The biggest surprise from last season came from Royal Valley in the Big 7, as the Panthers went 13-3 in league play to take second. Mary Broxterman and Ivy Fink each return this season after being named first team all-league selections a year ago and look to get the Panthers over the hump.

Holton also returns two all-league selections from a year ago in Regan Baum and Josie Marriott after finishing third in the league in 2017 with a league record of 11-5 and an overall record of 24-19. Baum was also named a 4A-II honorable mention all-state selection last season, while the Wildcats are looking to once again make it back to the 4A-II state tournament after going 1-2 at state last season. 

Just like the Big 7 the Northeast Kansas League is expected to be highly competitive with eighth all-league selections returning.

Valley Falls is expected to once again be the favorite with two first team all-league selections back after winning a fourth straight league title going a perfect 14-0 in league play in 2017. Senior Reagan Kirkwood and junior Jaci Brinker are each back after helping lead the Dragons to an overall record of 30-7 last season.

Jefferson County North lost a talented senior class that finished second in the league with a record of 12-2 and an overall record of 32-9, but return senior Crystal Feldkamp who was named an honorable mention all-league selection.

Just like Valley Falls, Jackson Heights returns two all-league selections in 2018 in junior Kylie Dohl and senior Karley Dieckman after taking third in the league last season with a league record of 8-6 and an overall record of 20-17.

The Twin Valley League was dominated by Centralia and Valley Heights last season as both teams finished 11-1 in the league schedule.

Centralia was practically unbeatable as they finished with just one loss on the season which came to the Mustangs, before running the table and ending the year with a 1A-I state championship and an astounding record of 43-1. Four all-league returners are back for the Panthers led by first team all-TVL and first team all-state selection from a season ago in senior Madison Lueger. Two more seniors are back for Centralia heading into the year with Kate Elliott and all-state selection Maegan Koch returning, while junior Morgan Kramer also returns.

After finishing in a tie for the league title with the Panthers with a league record of 11-1 last season, Valley Heights lost a strong senior class that produced three all-state selections a year ago. The Mustangs still have talent and experience coming back, but don’t return a single all-league selection. Valley Heights is looking for a repeat trip to the 2A state tournament, after taking third place last season at Emporia. 

After finishing in a tie for third in the league last season with a 9-3 league mark, both Hanover and Frankfort each return two all-state selections in seniors Macy Doebele and Emilee Ebert, respectively. Frankfort also brings back junior Kennan Brandt, who was named a second team all-TVL selection last season.

For the fifth straight season the Atchison Lady Red dominated the Kansas City-Atchison League in 2017 going a perfect 10-0 in league play, while going 28-10 overall falling to Basehor-Linwood in the 4A-DI sub-state championship.

The Lady Red return five players who were named to the KCAL all-league team last season led by senior Mattie Dougherty who has been named to the all-league first team two straight seasons. Atchison also brings back junior and first team all-league selection Winny Harris, along with three second team selections in senior Mya Lacey, junior Ashley Tull and junior Anna Mikkelson.

The 2018 season is expected to be highly contested around the Northeast Kansas area, and below is a complete list of all-league returners from each league.

NEKL

Katie Beien – ACCHS (Big 7)
Kylie Dohl – Jackson Heights
Jenna Pfau – Oskaloosa
Bailey Ko – Pleasant Ridge
Reagan Kirkwood – Valley Falls
Jaci Brinker – Valley Falls
Sara Johnson – ACCHS (HM Big 7)
Karley Kieckman – Jackson Heights (HM)
Crystal Feldkamp – Jeff County North (HM)
Kimmi Patterson – McLouth (HM)

Big 7

Regan Baum – Holton
Jacy Dalinghaus – Nemaha Central
Ashley Larkin – Nemaha Central
Riley Bontrager – Nemaha Central
Talisa Stone – Perry Lecompton
Jenna Keller – Perry Lecompton
Mary Broxterman – Royal Valley
Ivy Fink – Royal Valley
Melinna Schumann – Sabetha
Hillary Krebs – Sabetha
Josie Marriott – Holton (HM)
Tabor Barta – Holton (HM)
Nikki Kuenzi – Sabetha (HM)

KCAL – Atchison

Mattie Dougherty
Winny Harris
Ashley Tull (2nd Team)
Mya Lacey (2nd Team)
Anna Mikkelson (HM)

TVL

Madison Lueger -- Centralia
Emilee Ebert – Frankfort
Kennen Brandt Frankfort
Macy Doebele – Hanover
Kate Elliott – Centralia
Maegan Koch – Centralia
Morgan Kramer – Centralia
Olivia Nobert – Clifton-Clyde