Centennial Early Bird Invite: Breaking Down and Predicting Pool A
Teams are kicking off their second week of practice, rotations are in order, things are getting a little more serious (minus the occasional tiktok video @ Liberty VB :)), but it’s never too early to start taking a look at…
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Continue ReadingTeams are kicking off their second week of practice, rotations are in order, things are getting a little more serious (minus the occasional tiktok video @ Liberty VB :)), but it’s never too early to start taking a look at some matchups we’ll be seeing with teams looking to make a big statement to start the season. Centennial will be hosting a 16 team tournament with some of the top teams across the state. The morning will feature pool play with the afternoon having an eight team championship bracket and an eight team consolation bracket. Here is a quick look at breaking down Pool A with Pool B, C, and D to come later in the week and into next.
Pool A
Cedar Rapids Jefferson
Ankeny
Davenport North
West Des Moines Valley
Yikes. This pool has talent across the board with three teams returning with state tournament experience as well as multiple Division 1 athletes.
CR Jeff took a big hit to graduation, especially when you’re first two contacts are now playing Division 1 volleyball with libero Kaylee Donner at UNI and setter Maddy Baxter at Drake. However, they will have Cassidy Boche back as an outside hitter who had over 200 kills last year and a strong club season at Adrenaline. She will be able to score points and take a bulk of the swings this year for the J-Hawks.
Bailey Ortega setting for NorthAnkeny will have plenty of firepower returning some really strong athletes from their 2018 state tournament team. Two Division 2 recruits are back for their Senior year with Isabelle Vacek (Wayne State) in the middle and Kaci Behrens (William Jewell) at libero. Malea Daugherty will bring a heavy swing from the outside after having over 200 kills in 2018. The X-Factor will be Phyona Schrader, the Junior who has already committed to Notre Dame and is the top recruit in her class.
Davenport North brings a much improved squad and will be highly competitive out of the Quad Cities this year. Bailey Ortega, the Iowa recruit will run the show, setting to Justyus Jackson who has committed to Tulsa. Oretega has a high motor and plays with a lot of intensity, where Jackson out of the middle has the ability to terminate from a variety of tempos.
Olivia Curry setting for Valley.Valley will be without Madi Kubik, who will be starting her career at Nebraska, but they will still have a squad that is extremely physical and athletic. The first contact starts with Payton Lombardi at libero who had All-State honors last year followed by Olivia Curry, an Omaha commit who can set or swing. Hayden Kubik will be back and carrying a bulk of the swings on the pin, but is also a strong backrow players as well. Jacey Spann is extremely athletic out of the middle and very efficient as well.
So what happens?
Valley and Ankeny will be the top two out of this pool. This is going to be a battle to watch these two squads go after it, but I’m going to give round 1 (because they are sure to see each other again) to Ankeny. It will be close, but I still think Valley needs some time to see what life without Madi Kubik will be like. Give them time, and this will be a team nobody wants to play come late October.
- Ankeny
- Valley
- Davenport North
- Cedar Rapids Jefferson