June Rankings for Class D-1

<p>The 2019 high school season is going to creep up on you like a a cheap pair of pants. It’s right around the corner, so be prepared.</p> <p>July is when the high school team camps really kick into overdrive, and that’s when we will start to see if reality matches expectations for some teams. It’s far too early to try and pin down the top 10 teams in each class, so here is a look at the top five in each class. We will have updated team rankings in early July, early August and then the actual preseason rankings just before the start of the season.</p> <p>For now, let’s take a look at my projected top five teams in Class D-1.</p> <p>***Note that I’m trying to make educated guesses on the classes teams will be in as well. Especially in the lower classes, there is a decent chance that teams may wind up competing in a different class than what I have them ranked in.***</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#1 - Diller-Odell</strong></span></p> <p>The Griffins took a huge loss last year when Kirsten Bures, a 5'11 senior, went down with an injury and missed nearly the entire season. Diller-Odell still went 26-8 and reached the Class D-1 state quarterfinals last year and that experience should propel it to big things in 2019. Iowa State recruit and dynamic setter Addison Heidemann returns, as do three of the top attackers for the Griffins - Mackenzie Vitosh, Emily Swanson and Madelyn Meyerle.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#2 - Pleasanton</strong></span></p> <p>Pleasanton finished fourth at the Class D-1 state tournament a year ago, falling to eventual championship Archbishop Bergan in the semifinals and the three-time state champions from Johnson-Brock in the third-place match. The team returns most of its core from that 32-4 team but does lose setter McKenna Siegel. The Bulldogs, however, return Kaci Pierce, Isabelle Paitz, Natalie Sigel and 5'11 junior-to-be Katy Linder.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#3 - Meridian</strong></span></p> <p>Meridian has been one of the top small-school programs in the state the past five years, but didn't reach state last season after going 19-13. I suspect the Mustangs will be right back in the state-title hunt as they have usually been this fall as Meridian might have one of the best 1-2 punches in Class D in Halle Pribyl and Josiee Sobotka. A great 1-2 punch can take you a long ways in Class D, and that should be the case for Meridian. </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#4 - Elgin-Pope John</strong></span></p> <p>Elgin-Pope John went 21-12 a year ago and just missed out on a trip to state. Look for that to not be the case this season. Elgin-Pope John did graduate setter Allyson Wemhoff, but returns for key attackers in Haley Zegers, Kayce Kallhoff, Harlie Bode and Kirsten Krebs.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#5 - Lutheran High Northeast</strong></span></p> <p>Lutheran High Northeast is always going to be a team in rankings contention and the Eagles are coming off a solid 22-12 season, but must replace Matty Boning. Fortunately for the Eagles, they have one of the best players in Class D in Becca Gebhardt and they will once again be among the best in Class D-1.</p>