Where Are Iowa’s Top Teams, Athletes Competing Labor Day Weekend?
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There’s little break for these Iowa squads over Labor Day weekend with top tier tournaments happening across the state. Where will the top teams and top players be playing? We have you covered. Gabby Lombardi Gabby Lombardi 5'11" | RS…
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Continue ReadingThere’s little break for these Iowa squads over Labor Day weekend with top tier tournaments happening across the state. Where will the top teams and top players be playing? We have you covered.
Shirley Ryan Invitational – Mount Vernon
Ranked teams scattered across this tournament. This will be a chance for a big opening statement for the host squad, the Mount Vernon Mustangs. Other top teams will be Dike-New Hartford, North Scott, and Des Moines Christian (just to name a few). Chloe Meester Chloe Meester OH Mount Vernon | 2025 State #37 Nation IA of Mount Vernon and Payton Petersen Payton Petersen 6'0" | OH Dike-New Hartford | 2024 State #55 Nation IA of Dike-New Hartford are committed to Louisville, Abbey Hayes Abbey Hayes 6'2" | OH North Scott | 2025 State #82 Nation IA of North Scott and Meester went head to head in pool play last year where it was power verse power. Hayes is committed to Creighton. Des Moines Christian will be an interesting wrinkle to this tournament where they started the year ranked number one in Class 3A before dropping a match to ADM. The Lions are returning semifinalists from Class 3A and return Fresno State commit Gabby Lombardi Gabby Lombardi 5'11" | RS Des Moines Christian | 2024 State IA who can set and swing. They also have a really dynamic right side/setter combo player in Hadley Hardersen Hadley Hardersen 5'11" | S Des Moines Christian | 2025 State IA along with libero Finley Schelhaas Finley Schelhaas 5'6" | DS/L Des Moines Christian | 2024 State IA .
Tiger Invitational – West Des Moines Valley
The Central Iowa powers will be going head to head yet again at West Des Moines Valley this weekend, with the addition of Iowa City Liberty. Five of the six teams are returning from the state tournament last year with Liberty, Valley, Dowling, Waukee NW, and Ankeny. Dowling is currently number one in Class 5A with Mc Kenzie Dean Kenzie Dean 6'3" | OH Dowling Catholic | 2024 State #145 Nation IA , the Kansas commit averaging over four kills per set. Ankeny has a ton of athleticism and have received a huge boost from outside hitter Kamryn Scheib who is leading the team with 45 kills. Waukee NW will look for some revenge to an earlier loss to Ankeny. They picked up some momentum this past week with a big win over Johnston.
City High Tournament – Iowa City High
This will be an interesting combination of teams with Ankeny Centennial, Council Bluffs Lewis Central, Bettendorf, and the host City High. Centennial is coming in with a high powered lineup that features Delaney Miller who has been putting up mega numbers on the outside. Fellow junior Jaeden Pratt Jaeden Pratt MB Ankeny Centennial | 2025 State IA is a tough matchup in the middle as well for the Jags. The senior class for Lewis Central has been having a hot start with attackers Anna Strohmeier Anna Strohmeier 5'11" | MB Lewis Central | 2024 State IA and Ashlynne Haverman Ashlynne Haverman 5'6" | DS/L Lewis Central | 2024 State IA scoring plenty of points with setter Haylee Erickson averaging over 10 assists per match. City High has been off to a strong start with their top two attackers in Claire Ernst Claire Ernst 6'0" | OH City | 2024 State IA and Emmy McComas Emmy McComas 6'0" | MB Iowa City | 2025 State IA while Sidney Slay has over 60 assists and 20 kills.
New Hampton Tournament
This field is loaded with some small school powerhouses. The host, New Hampton cracked into the top 15 of Class 3A with a 5-1 record. They are led by Marissa Cahoy Marissa Cahoy 6'0" | MB New Hampton | 2024 State IA who paces a senior dominated squad. Sumner-Fredericksburg will be in the field with Isabelle Elliott Isabelle Elliott 6'0" | OH Sumner-Fredericksburg | 2024 State #130 Nation IA who is a Northern Iowa commit. They are currently ranked 5th in Class 2A. Another 2A team who is going to huge start is Denver. The Cyclones graduated the Houston commit, Kayla Knowles, but they still have the same big goals after three consecutive state tournament appearances. Sophomore setter, Channing Johnson Channing Johnson 5'10" | S Denver | 2026 State IA is continuing her momentum from a big freshman season with nearly 140 assists so far this season. She has four attackers to create plenty of balance in Elaina Hildebrandt, Bailey Mullihan Bailey Mullihan 5'11" | OH Denver | 2026 State IA , Jessica Gergen Jessica Gergen 6'0" | MB Denver | 2024 State IA , and Grace Mullihan Grace Mullihan 5'11" | MB Denver | 2026 State IA . Don Bosco is a ranked Class 1A squad who is also in the field.