Class 4A and 5A: Potential Road Blocks Come Regional Pairing Time
One thing about Iowa that I think is absolutely progressive and smart is that the regionals can be different every year. That may provide some anxiety for coaches, players, and of course parents, but overall this is much different than…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingOne thing about Iowa that I think is absolutely progressive and smart is that the regionals can be different every year. That may provide some anxiety for coaches, players, and of course parents, but overall this is much different than other states. In being able to cover volleyball at a very indepth level for Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. What separates Iowa from the other two is that the regionals are not drawn until October. For Minnesota and Wisconsin, these teams know well in advance who they will see in their road to state.
In Minnesota:
In the largest class, you have #2 Northfield, #4 Lakeville North, and #6 Lakeville South all in the same section to compete in the final eight at state. #1 Eagan (one of the top teams in the country) is in the same section as #5 East Ridge, both very deserving to be in the state tournament.
In Wisconsin:
There is one section in the Milwaukee area where there are five top ten teams in one section that compete for one spot in the final eight at state.
Another section out of the Madison area has eight top ten teams where only one will get to state.
What could be potential regional matchups in Class 5A that would create some tough roads to Cedar Rapids?
Central Iowa – Will Ankeny, Waukee, Valley, and Dowling all be the top seed in their region? Most likely. Central Iowa got five teams to state last year, however what about Ankeny Centennial who could be real scary by the end of the year. Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln is much improved and has been hovering around the top eight. Could they be put in a Central Iowa region like last year where they had to take on Dowling or will they be sent North with the Sioux City schools and Fort Dodge that would change the whole dynamic of Class 5A.
Cedar Valley – Waterloo West is having one of the best seasons in school history, but just down the road is Cedar Falls, another program that is in the talks of one of the top teams in the country, not just in Iowa. Will Waterloo West get sent to another region to avoid Cedar Falls? Another wildcard in the mix is Pleasant Valley who was one match short of the state tournament last year. They have a loaded lineup and are one of the top teams out of the Quad Cities, but will they go North and play the Cedar Rapids schools or go extremely West and have to play in a Central Iowa region?
Eastern Iowa Class 4A Teams Are Extremely Deep
Dubuque Wahlert, Xavier, North Scott, West Delaware, Waverly-Shell Rock, Marion, and Clear Creek-Amana are all in the top eleven. I can assume that Wahlert and Xavier will be separated as will Waverly Shell-Rock and West Delaware. The definite wildcards here would be Marion and CCA. Geographically these two teams are sandwiched in a bunch of really good teams. Could they be sent to other regionals where they might see a Central Iowa team like Dallas Center-Grimes, Norwalk, or Oskaloosa?
Western Iowa has been dominated by Sergeant Bluff-Luton and Lewis Central. SBL was able to beat some top 5A schools in Waukee this past weekend and recently defeated Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln in MRAC play. Would Lewis Central and SBL in the same region? I doubt it. Lewis Central will mostly likely be with the likes of Winterset, Gilbert, Norwalk, or DCG. Central Iowa will mostly likely be split up where it will be a battle of Central Iowa vs. Western Iowa or Central Iowa vs. Eastern Iowa.