IGHSAU Week 1 Rankings – Here Is Your Study Guide For The Season
The first rankings are out by the IGHSAU and there are some programs that we predicted to be up there and some others that are new names to the state scene for high school volleyball. The top is dominated by…
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Continue ReadingThe first rankings are out by the IGHSAU and there are some programs that we predicted to be up there and some others that are new names to the state scene for high school volleyball. The top is dominated by programs who have made it part of their season to find a way to finish in Cedar Rapids, some holding up championship trophies. Here are some quick thoughts about the initial IGHSAU with an outlook for the season!
Nailed The Number Ones
1A – Tripoli
2A – Western Christian
3A – Mount Vernon
4A – Dubuque Wahlert
5A – Cedar Falls
The number one teams are extremely solid and no surprise to see them at the top. Filled with experience, balance, and tradition, these five head in with a target on their back, but there are plenty of teams who are right behind. Cedar Falls went through 2018 with an undefeated regular season and will have just as strong of a team in 2019. I just find it hard to imagine a Class 5A team going undefeated again, especially with all of the top teams playing difficult schedules loaded with rated teams at all of their tournaments along with high-level teams in their conference. Class 3A is going to be quite the battle throughout the whole season with plenty of those teams in Eastern Iowa seeing each other throughout the season. #4 Dike-New Hartford will play #6 Union multiple times this season, same goes with #3 Tipton and #5 West Liberty, who are in the same conference. What will be interesting to see is where all these top teams who are within close proximity get sent for their regional.
Sorting Through Changes In Class 2A and Class 3A
We projected there would be some teams bumping up and down, especially between Class 2A and Class 3A. The big ones that jump out right away are Osage and Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, who made the Class 3A state tournament last year will be in Class 2A. Dike-New Hartford has found itself bouncing back and forth between the two classes for years. This year, they will be in Class 3A. Some other changes to note will be Sioux City Heelan is in Class 3A after being in Class 4A for years. Iowa City Liberty will be making its appearance in Class 5A and will be a contender right away to make their first state tournament appearance. Can they avoid the regional with Cedar Falls?
Cedar Valley Dominance
I’m not sure how big of a radius we draw to consider “Cedar Valley”, but there are teams scattered through all classes that are from the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area that are ranked. Tripoli, Janesville, and Wapsie Valley continue their strong tradition in Class 1A. Hudson and Grundy Center will battle it out in 2A while Dike-New Hartford and Union will be big contenders in Class 3A. Waverly-Shell Rock will be going for a run in Class 4A while Cedar Falls sits atop of the Class 5A preseason poll. The impact of Six Pack, Club Iowa (CIA), and even the opportunities of youth volleyball through camps at Northern Iowa continue to impact the area.
The Depth of Central Iowa in Class 5A
Class 5A Central Iowa Teams
#2 – Dowling
#3 – Ankeny
#4 – Valley
#5 – Waukee
#6 – Centennial
#10 – Indianola
#11 – Des Moines Roosevelt
#14 – Johnston
Last season Dowling, Ankeny, Valley, Waukee, and Centennial all made it to the state tournament. How will the regionals look this season? Dowling is going to be so deep, not only with the key athletes on the court, but their whole roster will provide an extremely competitive practice atmosphere. They defeated Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln in the regional final last year, but this year Abe Lincoln will be a squad to take note of with everyone returning. I know I ask this question often, but how will the regional lines be drawn?
East vs. West
What you find in Iowa that isn’t necessarily the same for most states is there is quite a balance between the East and West side of the state. Each quadrant has at least one metro area (Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Dubuque, Quad Cities) all surrounding Des Moines and obviously Cedar Falls to Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Taking a look at Class 1A there are the likes Tripoli, Janesville, and North Tama in the East and Sidney, LeMars Gehlen, and Council Bluff St. Albert in the East. In Class 2A and 3A there is always talent in Northwest Iowa which would pair up greatly against the Cedar Valley area. In Class 4A Sergeant Bluff and Lewis Central and going to compete on a state level and a potential state tournament battle against the Wahlert and Xavier.
Let the games begin!