There were positive steps taken this season by the Columbus Wildcats volleyball team (9-21). The Wildcats, who had zero match wins last August to start the 2015 season, posted three victories in this season’s first nine days. Overall the team had a three-win improvement on the season.

The coaches of the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North took notice of the Wildcats’ improvement, naming four Columbus players to the all-conference squad. Shaina Boyd finished her high school career as one of six first-team all-conference hitters. Boyd’s 216 kills ranked fifth in the league, recording 89 more than her junior season. Bailey Stroud was named the second-team all-conference defensive specialist, after leading the Wildcats with 337 digs. Maki Mendenhall and Courtney Zaehringer were named all-conference honorable mentions.

Columbus ended their season in Wapello on October, 18, falling in straight sets to the Arrows (5-25, 12-25, 20-25) in the Class 2A Region 8 tournament opener. The Wildcats finished the year with a 9-21 record. Columbus will lose Boyd, Stroud, Haley Cutkomp, and Asung Biak to graduation.