A dominating force at the net can be the difference-maker in a volleyball match, and seniors Natalie Vondrak, Lindsey Brown and Katie Dentlinger certainly fit the bill.

Vondrak of Sioux City Heelan, Brown of Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto and Dentlinger of Coon Rapids-Bayard carried their teams to outstanding seasons with dynamic front-row play, but they also were comfortable in the back row.

For their all-around contributions, Vondrak (4-A/3-A), Brown (2-A) and Dentlinger (1-A) are the honorary captains of The World-Herald's All-Western Iowa volleyball teams.

The newspaper again has selected six-player first and second teams in 4-A/3-A, 2-A and 1-A.

Six western Iowa teams participated in the state tournament this season, but Vondrak's Heelan squad was the only one to make it out of the first round. The Crusaders advanced to the 3-A title match, where they dropped a hard-fought 28-26, 25-18, 25-27, 25-15 decision to Waverly-Shell Rock.

Vondrak, who will join Iowa State as a walk-on next year, turned in a memorable performance in her final prep match, blasting 24 kills and scrapping for 17 digs, also a team-high.

No Iowa player had more kills in 2011 than the 6-foot-1 Vondrak, who slammed 617, or 4.14 per set, to go with .306 kill efficiency from the outside. She also led the Crusaders with 3.84 digs per set.

Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto had the misfortune of being placed in the same Class 2-A regional as Hull Western Christian, which kept it from reaching the state tournament. Nonetheless, Brown had an outstanding year. She averaged 3.20 kills per set with .270 efficiency and was a 95-percent server with a team-high 61 aces.

Brown also ranked second on her team in digs (188) and blocks (69), teaming with fellow All-WI first-teamer Meagan Kerns to give the Rams a formidable duo at the net.

At Coon Rapids-Bayard, Dentlinger got her first taste of experience as a freshman, when the Crusaders squandered six match points in a heartbreaking five-set loss to Springville, dropping the final set 24-22. She couldn't get her school back as a senior, but it wasn't for a lack of effort.

The 5-11 Dentlinger led Coon Rapids in kills per set (3.70), aces (69) and digs (204) and tied for second with 34 total blocks. The Crusaders reached the regional final, but were swept by Woodward-Granger.

Dentlinger becomes a three-time All-Western Iowa performer, after making the 1-A second team as a sophomore and the first unit last season. Three others become two-time, first-team All-WI selections: Heelan's Vondrak, along with Carroll senior Lindsey Schulz and Ar-We-Va senior Morgan Roecker.

Five others in their respective classes make the jump from last year's second team to this year's first team: Carroll Kuemper senior Madi Drees, Red Oak senior Gabi French, Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto's Brown, Bedford senior Caila Raymond and Stanton sophomore Carmen Subbert.

The All-Western Iowa selections are based on nomination ballots returned by coaches and a look at statistical information, along with observations made by World-Herald staff writers.