A Gaze Into the Class 5A Crystal Ball: Top Teams and Athletes

Chris Fitzgerald August 4, 2021 @ 12:19 PM

The Class 5A title has gone through the city of Cedar Falls or Ankeny since 2013 when Bettendorf took home the title. Does it stay put? Will it stay in Central Iowa? Possibly West Des Moines? Or will it head to Iowa City? Possibly the first time ever for a high school. In Class 5A, there are top players in the state and even the country. Athletes who will be playing in front of plenty of national audiences. Who are the top teams? Who takes home the title? And who are the top athletes competing for hardware for the Upcoming 2021 season? In The Hunt [caption id="attachment_151574" align="aligncenter" width="453"]<img class="wp-image-151574 " src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/DSC02247-e1628097105937-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="453" height="340" /> Iowa City Liberty attacking vs. Valley[/caption]   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> [player_tooltip player_id="79685" first="Cassidy" last="Hartman"] of <a href="https://x.com/Liberty_VB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Liberty_VB</a> is 📈📈📈 she is long, athletic and so terminal. Class of 2023 pin <a href="https://t.co/kNaMsbX3QC">pic.x.com/kNaMsbX3QC</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1323344315058368522?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Iowa City Liberty The Bolts are coming off a historic season with their school’s highest finish with a runner up trophy in Class 5A, losing in the championship match to Ankeny. They had huge wins in the statetournament with a 3-1 quarterfinal win over West Des Moines Valley and West Des Moines Dowling in the semifinals. [player_tooltip player_id="79685" first="Cassidy" last="Hartman"] had 35 kills in their semifinal victory against Dowling and will be returning for her Junior season, she is one of the top outside hitters in Iowa from the Class of 2023. Liberty will also return libero, [player_tooltip player_id="103703" first="Gabbie" last="Schroeder"] (Drake), [player_tooltip player_id="103705" first="Sydney" last="Woods"], [player_tooltip player_id="79689" first="Shelby" last="Kimm"], Lilah Van Scoyoc, and setter Mariah Rollins. This core group has plenty of experience and big matches under their belt and will come into the season with unfinished business. [caption id="attachment_151572" align="aligncenter" width="475"]<img class="wp-image-151572" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/DSC02235.jpg" alt="" width="475" height="318" /> [player_tooltip player_id="79693" first="Olivia" last="Lombardi"] and WDM Valley[/caption] West Des Moines Valley There is a high standard for all athletics at Valley. After a quick exit from the state tournament in 2020, the Tigers will be on the hunt for redemption and to cap off an illustrious career for top Class of 2022 athlete [player_tooltip player_id="17322" first="Hayden" last="Kubik"] who will head to Nebraska after high school. She is one of the top outside hitters in the country. She isn’t the only Big Ten commit on this squad as libero [player_tooltip player_id="79693" first="Olivia" last="Lombardi"] recently made her verbal commitment to play at Iowa, she is a top Class 2023 prospect and one of the top defenders in the Midwest. They will also return setter [player_tooltip player_id="132896" first="Ellie" last="Morrow"] and attackers [player_tooltip player_id="79262" first="Meredith" last="Rieker"] and incoming Sophomore, Gabby Lombardi. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Ruff to Cline for <a href="https://x.com/PVVolleyball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PVVolleyball</a> to take set two against Cedar Falls <a href="https://t.co/vVA2si4RtS">pic.x.com/vVA2si4RtS</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1323345409717264385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> [caption id="attachment_135124" align="aligncenter" width="470"]<img class="wp-image-135124" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/03/DSC02177.jpg" alt="" width="470" height="313" /> [player_tooltip player_id="17325" first="Kora" last="Ruff"][/caption] Pleasant Valley The Spartans have made back to back final four appearances and will once again be in the conversation for top teams in Class 5A. They will have to replace Iowa’s top all around in [player_tooltip player_id="41250" first="Emily" last="Wood"] who will be playing softball at Iowa State. She was a key pin with a tough left handed swing to defend. They will be led by Seniors [player_tooltip player_id="17325" first="Kora" last="Ruff"] and [player_tooltip player_id="132854" first="Arra" last="Cottrell"]. Ruff is the top setter in Class 5A where her IQ for the game is off the charts, she knows what her matchups are, who can score, and is also an extremely solid defender of her position. She is committed to Evansville where she will be joined by another high school teammate in [player_tooltip player_id="79675" first="Chloe" last="Cline"], a long athletic middle blocker who could also play on the pin. At libero will be Livia Thomsen who is always consistent and provides a dependable first contact. <img class=" wp-image-151575 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/DSC02118.jpg" alt="" width="452" height="301" /> Ankeny The defending Class 5A State Champions will have to replace the top setter from 2020 with [player_tooltip player_id="17214" first="Phyona" last="Schrader"] heading to Notre Dame and middle blocker, [player_tooltip player_id="41274" first="Mckenna" last="Scheib"] going to Bradely, but their cupboard is far from bare for the Hawkettes. They will return Denver recruit in outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="79234" first="Ava" last="Reynolds"], pin attacker [player_tooltip player_id="79671" first="Hannah" last="Baier"], and 2020 All Tournament Team member with incoming Sophomore Aowyn Schrader. [player_tooltip player_id="103730" first="Lexi" last="Stephens"] will be the returning libero who was really key in their stretch to the state championship. <img class=" wp-image-151576 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/DSC02054.jpg" alt="" width="462" height="308" /> Ankeny Centennial The Jaguars had a crosstown matchup in the quarterfinals of the state tournament with Ankeny where they gained valuable experience. They return plenty of kills with all of their key attackers back with [player_tooltip player_id="132874" first="Marissa" last="Meyer"], Monica Merimbe, [player_tooltip player_id="135813" first="Delainey" last="Winkel"], [player_tooltip player_id="132898" first="Olivia" last="Anderson"], and [player_tooltip player_id="79691" first="Hannah" last="Kurth"]. Kurth will be a physical right side who brings plenty of power offensively and a solid block. Their 6-2 system was efficient in 2020 and will return both setters in [player_tooltip player_id="132875" first="Morgan" last="DenBeste"] and Reagan Angus. Senior, [player_tooltip player_id="103731" first="Ella" last="Becker"] will return to anchor the defense as their libero. <img class=" wp-image-151577 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/DSC02202-300x195.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="333" /> Cedar Falls The Tigers are always going to be in the conversation, their tradition is that strong. They will have to replace key Seniors in Emmy Wedgbury and [player_tooltip player_id="41247" first="Halia" last="Mahi"], but return Northern Iowa recruit [player_tooltip player_id="79256" first="Alivia" last="Bronner"] at libero, outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="79274" first="Anisia" last="Smith"], and attackers [player_tooltip player_id="79702" first="Katie" last="Remmert"] and Ellie Gerdes. [player_tooltip player_id="79694" first="Nohea" last="Mahi"] will most likely step in as full time setter where she had 300 assists as a Sophomore.   Who Else Will Make a Run?   Des Moines Roosevelt - After Des Moines Public Schools were unable to participate in 2020, the Riders will be eager to get back on the court and show the offseason work they have put in.   Urbandale - Top 2023 outside hitter, [player_tooltip player_id="79678" first="Lily" last="Dykstra"] will be looking to lead the J-Hawks as well as returning setter Riley Peters   Johnston - The Dragons will look to breakthrough the gauntlet of teams in the CIML with Senior [player_tooltip player_id="79271" first="Dasha" last="Svitashev"] as their top attacker who had just under 300 kills in 2020 as well as setter [player_tooltip player_id="108432" first="Molly" last="Trachta"] who had nearly 700 assists.   Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln - The Lynx made the state tournament in 2019 with a really talented Senior class who are finding success at the collegiate level. They are reloading and will be returning top attacker Bailey Girres and setter Molly Romano.   West Des Moines Dowling - The Maroons have made it a tradition to qualify for the state tournament and in 2020 had a roster full of Seniors. They will return [player_tooltip player_id="79269" first="Samantha" last="Schroeder"] and [player_tooltip player_id="79254" first="Piper" last="Kirchoff"] as attackers and [player_tooltip player_id="79245" first="Calliope" last="Coppola"] who can be used as a libero or outside hitter.