State Tournament Powers To Battle In Mount Vernon

It may only be labor day weekend, but the fireworks are ready this weekend in Mt. Vernon at the Shirley Ryan Invite that will feature multiple teams who have state tournament experience and plenty of volleyball hardware in their trophy cases. This will be a chance for early statements to be made for many of these teams heading into September. Let the games begin as the season flys by and state champions will be awarded two months from now. We're breaking down the pools in what will be an electric day in Mt. Vernon. [caption id="attachment_155652" align="alignright" width="393"]<img class="wp-image-155652" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/DSC03013-e1630541203797-300x283.jpg" alt="" width="393" height="372" /> [player_tooltip player_id="108422" first="Madelyn" last="Norton"][/caption] Joy Jordan Pool Dike-New Hartford Red Oak Center Point-Urbana Waverly-Shell Rock Dike, Red Oak, and Waverly-Shell Rock have all been in the state tournament within the past two years and Dike-New Hartford is the defending Class 2A State Champion. The Wolverines already had wins over highly ranked teams in West Delaware, Iowa City Liberty, and West Des Moines Valley. What's still scary about this team is that they are still young. The Petersen Twins 2.0 with Jadyn Petersen and Payton Petersen are two of the top players in the Class of 2024 and score the majority of the points for DNH. Junior setter, [player_tooltip player_id="108422" first="Madelyn" last="Norton"] does it all with her quick hands and ability to swing if needed. She puts plenty of pressure on the other side of the net. Red Oak has made back to back state tournament appearances and will rely heavily on Senior attacker Lexi Johnson. CPU started the season with two tough opponents in Solon and Mt. Vernon and will have Senior attacker Kylie Henry. Waverly-Shell Rock was upset in the regional finals by Gilbert in 2020, but has an experienced team led by South Dakota commit [player_tooltip player_id="79237" first="Avery" last="Beckett"] and setter, Sophie Sedgwick who was one of the top assist leaders in the state last season.   Shelbey Kintzel Pool [caption id="attachment_108296" align="alignright" width="352"]<img class=" wp-image-108296" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/DSC00270-e1630541286510-291x300.jpg" alt="" width="352" height="363" /> [player_tooltip player_id="79259" first="Madison" last="Maahs"], 2022, S, Western Dubuque.[/caption] Western Dubuque Des Moines Christian Nevada Waterloo Columbus Western Dubuque has plenty of unfinished business that will be a driving force the entire season. They have a senior class that has experience and talent with two outside attackers in [player_tooltip player_id="79233" first="Meredith" last="Bahl"] and [player_tooltip player_id="79244" first="Maddie" last="Harris"] who are solid in all six rotations. However everything goes through the first two contacts in libero [player_tooltip player_id="79696" first="Ella" last="Meyer"], and one of the top Senior setters in the MVC in [player_tooltip player_id="79259" first="Madison" last="Maahs"]. [player_tooltip player_id="132685" first="Libby" last="Lansing"] in the middle was a Class 4A All Tournament Team member in 2020. Des Moines Christian has been so close to punching their ticket to Cedar Rapids and will be led by Gardner-Webb commit [player_tooltip player_id="103729" first="Emma" last="Cross"] who can score points from anywhere. Nevada is always going to be ready to compete. Well coached and disciplined they were state tournament participants in 2019. The Cubs are always battle tested and will be led by Junior attacker [player_tooltip player_id="79682" first="Lily" last="Goos"]. Waterloo Columbus will be looking to contend in a loaded conference with the NICL and will have UW-La Crosse commit [player_tooltip player_id="79249" first="Faith" last="Freshwater"] who can control the net with her block and score points with her swing.   Ali Stark Pool Assumption <img class="alignright wp-image-115497" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/11/DSC02753-e1616440034605-300x193.jpg" alt="" width="413" height="267" /> Mount Vernon Dubuque Wahlert Ottumwa Plenty of history with these programs here. Assumption is coming off of three straight state tournament appearances and are led by a big left handed swing on the right side in [player_tooltip player_id="79708" first="Ava" last="Schubert"], one of the top players in the Class of 2023. She has plenty of weapons around her and will receive the majority of her sets from Rockhurst commit [player_tooltip player_id="132691" first="Carly" last="Rolf"] who can sent and swing for the Knights. Mount Vernon graduated a successful senior class who won a state title in 2019 and were state runner-up in 2020. However, like all good programs they reload. Kameron Brand will pace the defense as their returning libero and plenty of points will come from sophomore attacker, Brooke Ellyson. Madeleine Miller is the top setter you probably haven't heard much about yet. She is going to take the state by storm and will be a big time player for the Mustangs. She has already committed to New Mexico to play college volleyball. Wahlert will be much improved and will have a solid first touch with libero [player_tooltip player_id="132850" first="Mia" last="Kunnert"] and a physical middle blocker with [player_tooltip player_id="132861" first="Addison" last="Poppe"]. Ottumwa will look to get into the win column this weekend behind their top attacker, Kennedy Hugen.   [caption id="attachment_155654" align="alignright" width="442"]<img class="wp-image-155654" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/DSC00252.jpg" alt="" width="442" height="296" /> [player_tooltip player_id="132853" first="Olivia" last="Hogan"][/caption] Shirley Ryan Pool Iowa City West Beckman Grundy Center Tipton Iowa City West is a team that will sneak up on plenty of opponents this season with solid attackers and defenders. [player_tooltip player_id="103707" first="Katherine" last="Kouba"] controls the backcourt as libero and will have two middle blockers in front of her who are offensive and defensive threats in Sophia Deyak and Melae Lacy. [player_tooltip player_id="103705" first="Sydney" last="Woods"] is an outside hitter teams will have to key on who can score with plenty of shots. Beckman is led by Iowa State commit, [player_tooltip player_id="79239" first="Kiersten" last="Schmitt"] who was a setter/right side two years ago in the state tournament and is now at the point where she can play any position. She can set from the backrow and take her pick on where to attack in the front row. They will also have [player_tooltip player_id="132853" first="Olivia" last="Hogan"] as libero who recently committed to Northern Illinois. Grundy Center is always among teams who are in the conversation of making it to Cedar Rapids. The Spartans are off to a 7-0 start with top attackers Lainey Thoren and Carlie Willis. They also have an up and coming sophomore setter in Ellery Luhring who already has over 100 assists. Tipton has a young lineup with plenty of talent where they are led by two freshmen in kills and assists with Kaylee Pelzer and Claire Montgomery.