State Powers Collide in MV at Shirley Ryan Invite

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Labor Day weekend is a time to kickoff the college football season and also a time to see what top volleyball teams in the state can make a statement.&nbsp; Mount Vernon High School will be hosting the Shirley Ryan Invitational where top ranked teams and plenty of state tournament contenders will clash.&nbsp; I'll be on the campus of Mount Vernon schools with matches at the high school, middle school, and rec center (LBC).&nbsp; Let's take a look at the pools and who some of the key players will be heading into Saturday!&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":222348,"width":344,"height":345,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/08/DSC01217-scaled-e1661960195111-1020x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-222348" width="344" height="345" /><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='79696' first='Ella' last='Meyer']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ali Stark Pool - Dike-New Hartford, Western Dubuque, Davis County, and Waverly-Shell Rock</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All of the pools at the Shirley Ryan Invite are named after historic athletes who have put on a Mustang jersey.&nbsp; Ali Stark was an all around athlete at Mount Vernon, earning 2010 Iowa Player of the Year and went on to play at Illinois.&nbsp; In this pool there are plenty of athletes who have won hardware at the state tournament and are on track to play at the next level.&nbsp; Dike-New Hartford is no secret where they are receiving national attention after their back to back state championships and returning the likes of <strong>Jaydn Petersen, [player_tooltip player_id='168149' first='Payton' last='Petersen']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='108422' first='Madelyn' last='Norton']</strong> (Western Illinois).&nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='251662' first='Maryn' last='Bixby']</strong> is another attacker to watch out for with Dike-New Hartford.&nbsp; Western Dubuque is coming in as the defending Class 4A state champions where they will have one of the top senior liberos in the state in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='79696' first='Ella' last='Meyer']</strong>.&nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='79692' first='Libby' last='Lansing'] </strong>is a dominant attacker out of the middle for the Bobcats and has plenty of experience.&nbsp; Davis County will be coming up from Southern Iowa and are paced by senior attacker <strong>Sophia Young</strong>.&nbsp; Waverly-Shell Rock is coming off a huge weekend, winning the Bondurant-Farrar tournament, defeating the likes of Pella, Wapsie Valley, and defending Class 1A state champion Burlington Notre Dame.&nbsp; Senior middle blocker, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='108440' first='Averi' last='Weichers'] </strong>had a big state tournament in 2021 and will be key for the Go-Hawks this weekend.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":193996,"width":342,"height":329,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/05/DSC01699-e1661960046168-1024x984.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-193996" width="342" height="329" /><figcaption>Miller</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joy Jordan Pool - Mount Vernon, North Scott, Dubuque Wahlert, and Ottumwa</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mount Vernon highlights this pool as the top ranked team in Class 3A. They have depth and they have some of the top players in the state.&nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='108438' first='Madeleine' last='Miller'] (New Mexico)</strong> is one of the top setters in the Class of 2023 from Iowa and her favorite targets are <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215385' first='Chloe' last='Meester'] and Emma Meester</strong>.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='215385' first='Chloe' last='Meester'] is one of the top sophomores in the state and was recently named MVP of the American Division at USAV Nationals with her Adrenaline club team out of Cedar Rapids.&nbsp; Mount Vernon has the physicality at the net, but also the ball control paced by senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='193197' first='Kameron' last='Brand']</strong>.&nbsp; North Scott is another state tournament team from 2021 in attendance this weekend.&nbsp; The [program_tooltip program_id='431978' first='[program_tooltip program_id='431978' first='Lancers' last='']' last=''] have an electric pin in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215406' first='Abbey' last='Hayes']</strong>.&nbsp; Hayes is a six rotation outside hitter who can score from anywhere on the court and is only a sophomore.&nbsp; Wahlert Catholic will be coming in with attackers <strong>Ella Kelleher, [player_tooltip player_id='538938' first='Anna' last='Roling']</strong>, and <strong>Alicen Bainbridge</strong>.&nbsp; Ottumwa is coming into the tournament winning their last four matches and are led by two sophomores in attacker <strong>Miya Fuller </strong>and setter <strong>Rylea Hinebaugh.</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":222347,"width":416,"height":277,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/08/DSC01521.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-222347" width="416" height="277" /><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='79708' first='Ava' last='Schubert'] taking a swing against DMC at the 2021 state tournament.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shelby Kintzel Pool - Davenport Assumption, Iowa City West, Waterloo Columbus, Tipton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davenport Assumption has made it a routine to finish at the state tournament, but they have their eyes on the top prize this year.&nbsp; The Schubert sisters will be a solid combination to watch this season.&nbsp;<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='79708' first='Ava' last='Schubert'] </strong>(Tennessee Tech) has been tearing it up her whole career, she enters her season as one of the top attackers in the state with a big left handed swing.&nbsp; Her younger sister,<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='215761' first='Ellie' last='Schubert'] </strong>will be setting for the Knights this season.&nbsp; Iowa City West will have two dominant middles in <strong>Melae' Lacy</strong> and senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='194002' first='Sophia' last='Deyak']</strong>.&nbsp; Deyak could be a late steal at the next level as a middle/right side. Columbus will be led by top attacker <strong>Morgan Bradley </strong>while Tipton will look to score points with <strong>Avary Calonder a</strong>nd <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='730822' first='Kaylee' last='Pelzer'].&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":222346,"width":513,"height":342,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/08/DSC01603.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-222346" width="513" height="342" /><figcaption>Gabby and [player_tooltip player_id='79693' first='Olivia' last='Lombardi']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shirley Ryan Pool - Des Moines Christian, Beckman, Mid-Prairie, and Center Point-Urbana</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another top 3A team is in the house with Des Moines Christian.&nbsp; The Lions lost a tough state quarterfinal match to Assumption in 2021, but return some key athletes from that team.&nbsp; This is a team who is deep and balanced, but there is another set of sister who will look to take over.&nbsp;<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='168160' first='Gabby' last='Lombardi'] </strong>is a dynamic athlete who can set and swing for Des Moines Christian where she can create a lot of points for her side.&nbsp; <strong>Olivia Lomardi</strong> is one of the top liberos in the state and has verbally committed to Iowa.&nbsp; Beckman was a state tournament participant in Class 2A last season and will be led by attacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='193196' first='Jenna' last='Lansing']</strong> who controls the front row with her swing and block.&nbsp; Mid-Prairie is an up and coming program where they have quite a setter/attacker duo in freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215390' first='Jovi' last='Evans'] and Landry Pacha.</strong>&nbsp; The Hawks also have a sophomore libero to keep tabs on this season in [player_tooltip player_id='215395' first='Dakota' last='Mitchell'].&nbsp; CPU will be led by their two setters in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='457484' first='Logan' last='Keller'] and Lauren Langridge.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->