Bracket Breakdown: Clippers Team to Beat in 4A
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The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released regional volleyball pairings on Wednesday. Clear Creek Amana is the Class 4A favorite after returning most of its roster from last year’s state runner-up squad. Region 1 Top Seed: Lewis Central Others:…
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Continue ReadingThe Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released regional volleyball pairings on Wednesday. Clear Creek Amana is the Class 4A favorite after returning most of its roster from last year’s state runner-up squad.
Region 1
Top Seed: Lewis Central
Others: Bishop Heelan, Seargeant Bluff Luton, LeMars, Sioux Center, Spencer.
Players to Watch: Brooke Larsen Brooke Larsen 5'11" | S CB Lewis Central | 2025 State IA , Lewis Central; Anna Strohmeier Anna Strohmeier 5'11" | MB Lewis Central | 2024 State IA , Lewis Central; Ashlynne Havermann, Lewis Central; Maliyah Hacker Maliyah Hacker 6'1" | OH Sioux City Heelan | 2025 State IA , Heelan; Maddie LaFleur, Heelan; Melina Snoozy, Heelan; Holly McNaughton, LeMars; Aubree Leusink, LeMars; Bre VanDenTop, Sergeant Bluff Luton; Aussie Obbink, Sergeant Bluff Luton; Margo Schuiteman, Sioux Center; Laney Franken, Sioux Center; Addison Hoben, Spencer.
Outlook: Lewis Central must emerge from a regional including two state teams (Heelan, Sioux Center) from a year ago. The Titans would earn a berth for the first time since ’17 and look the part with wins against Heelan, Iowa City High (5A No. 12), Sioux City East (5A No. 13) and Council Bluffs Lincoln (5A No. 15). The victory against Heelan was 21-18, 24-22 at the Sioux City East Tournament late last month.
Region 2
Top Seed: Indianola
Others: Glenwood, Carroll, Denison-Schleswig, Winterset, Creston
Players to Watch: Camryn Overton Camryn Overton 5'11" | RS Indianola | 2025 State IA , Indianola; Aspen Nelsen Aspen Nelsen 5'10" | OH Indianola | 2025 State IA , Indianola; Tori Runyan Tori Runyan 5'9" | S Indianola | 2024 State IA , Indianola; Charley Hernandez Charley Hernandez 5'7" | DS/L Glenwood | 2025 State IA , Glenwood; Allison Koontz, Glenwood; Ilsa Kemling, Glenwood; Molly Breeding, Winterset; Addison Inman, Denison-Schleswig; Olivia Rowedder, Carroll; Hollynn Rieck, Creston.
Outlook: Indianola is chasing its second consecutive trip to Coralville after ending a seven-year state tournament drought a year ago. It can claim wins against Centennial (5A No. 2), Waukee Northwest (5A No. 3), Waukee (5A No. 11) and Western Christian (3A No. 1) in ’23 but has not faced any of the teams in this bracket. Glenwood is ranked 14th in 4A and has competed against a collection of teams from Nebraska.
Region 3
Top Seed: ADM
Others: Dallas Center-Grimes; Fort Dodge, Perry, Humboldt, Storm Lake
Players to Watch: Madison Siefken, ADM; Marissa Gerleman Marissa Gerleman 5'10" | MB ADM | 2024 State IA , ADM; Madi James Madi James 5'6" | DS/L Adel-Desoto-Minburn | 2025 State IA , ADM; Gwen Farley, Dallas Center-Grimes; Maggie Leifker Maggie Leifker 5'10" | MB Dallas Center Grimes | 2027 IA , Dallas Center-Grimes; Landry Glasgow, Dallas Center-Grimes; Olivia Totten, Fort Dodge; Tayla Wempen, Humboldt; Maddy Raveling, Storm Lake; Madison Stika, Perry.
Outlook: ADM is the favorite here to reach the state tournament for the first since the Tigers’ lone trip in ’05. They have victories against Waukee, Council Bluffs Lincoln, North Polk (4A No. 8), Norwalk (4A No. 9), Ballard (4A No. 11) and Nevada (4A No. 12). No. 13 Dallas-Center Grimes has wins versus Council Bluffs Lincoln, North Polk and Ballard. ADM swept the Mustangs Thursday night.
Region 4
Top Seed: North Polk
Others: Norwalk, Gilbert, Boone, Carlisle, Des Moines Hoover
Players to Watch: Kaylee Koudelka Kaylee Koudelka 5'9" | OH North Polk | 2024 State IA , North Polk; Becca Aagard, North Polk; Madi Nemmers Madi Nemmers 5'6" | DS/L North Polk | 2024 State IA , North Polk; Noelle Sutcliffe Noelle Sutcliffe 5'11" | OH Norwalk | 2024 State IA , Norwalk; Grace Dehmer Grace Dehmer 5'6" | DS/L Norwalk | 2024 State IA , Norwalk; Elizabeth Iverson Elizabeth Iverson 5'8" | S Norwalk | 2025 State IA , Norwalk; AshleeKay Christensen, Carlisle; Abby Barry, Carlisle; Haley Loonan, Gilbert; Erin Ades, Boone; Jenna Johnson, Boone.
Outlook: Eighth-ranked North Polk and No. 9 Norwalk occupy the same region, which should make for an interesting match if they meet up in the final. It would be their first meeting this season. North Polk can claim wins against Johnston (5A No. 7) and Council Bluffs Lincoln. Norwalk has victories versus Valley (5A No. 6), Council Bluffs Lincoln and Dallas Center-Grimes.
Region 5
Top Seed: Cedar Rapids Xavier
Others: Charles City, Decorah, Mason City, Webster City, Waverly-Shell Rock
Players to Watch: Libby Fandel Libby Fandel OH Xavier | 2025 State IA , Xavier; Molly Garrison, Xavier; Carley Jonker Carley Jonker DS/L Xavier | 2025 State IA , Xavier; Sofia Parrott, Charles City; Keely Collins Keely Collins 5'10" | MB Charles City | 2024 State IA , Charles City; Mya Rimrod, Charles City; Adeline Tesdahl, Webster City; Sydney Bienemann, Waverly-Shell Rock; Ellie Rolfs, Decorah; Megan Tobin, Mason City.
Outlook: Defending state champion Xavier looks poised for a run to its eighth state appearance in a row. While not as dominant as last season, the Saints still claim triumphs against Iowa City Liberty (5A No. 10), North Scott (4A No. 5) and Marion (4A No. 7). No. 15 Charles City owns victories over Decorah (twice) and Wavery-Shell Rock.
Region 6
Top Seed: North Scott
Others: Nevada, Central DeWitt, Clinton, Knoxville, Newton
Players to Watch: Abbey Hayes Abbey Hayes 6'2" | OH North Scott | 2025 State #82 Nation IA , North Scott; Kaci Johnson Kaci Johnson 5'8" | S North Scott | 2024 State IA , North Scott; Sydney Skarich, North Scott; Mady Gibson, Nevada; Rachel Borwick Rachel Borwick OH Nevada | 2026 State IA , Nevada; Allie Dittmer, Nevada; Brittany Bacorn Brittany Bacorn 5'10" | S Knoxville | 2024 State IA , Knoxville; Abbie Keitges Abbie Keitges DS/L Knoxville | 2027 IA , Knoxville; Kadance Ahn, Newton; Isabelle Pierce, Central DeWitt; Amelia Tubbs, Clinton.
Outlook: Fifth-ranked North Scott is seeking to punch its ticket to state for the fifth season in a row. The Lancers are a proven contender with wins this season against Pleasant Valley (5A No. 5), Iowa City High (5A No. 12) and Marion, and they own 3-0 sweeps against Central DeWitt and Clinton. No. 12 Nevada claims one of the toughest schedules among 4A schools and a victory against Ankeny.
Region 7
Top Seed: Marion
Others: Ballard, Western Dubuque, Maquoketa, Bondurant-Farrar, Pella
Players to Watch: Michaela Goad Michaela Goad 6'1" | MB Marion | 2024 State IA , Marion; Carlee Webber Carlee Webber 6'0" | MB Marion | 2025 State IA , Marion; Natalee Hartman Natalee Hartman 5'7" | DS/L Marion | 2024 State IA , Marion; Ellie Volkmann, Ballard; Brooklyn Baumgardner, Ballard; Brenna Baumgardner Brenna Baumgardner MB Ballard | 2026 State IA , Ballard; Jacki Baas, Bondurant-Farrar; Kai Arens, Bondurant-Farrar; Ally Reuter, Western Dubuque; Ava Ramler, Western Dubuque; Katie Scheckel Katie Scheckel S Pella | 2026 State IA , Pella; Hunter Hughell, Pella.
Outlook: Marion ranks seventh in 4A at the time of publishing and is competing for its third consecutive trip to state. The Wolves have wins against Council Bluffs Lincoln, West Delaware (3A No. 10) and Linn-Mar with a five-set loss to Cedar Falls also on the resume. Eleventh-ranked Ballard claims a victory against Johnston (5A No. 7), a 3-2 triumph against Bondurant-Farrar and a loss against Pella.
Region 8
Top Seed: Clear Creek Amana
Others: Oskaloosa, Keokuk, Mount Pleasant, Fort Madison, Burlington.
Players to Watch: Bliss Beck Bliss Beck 6'2" | MB Clear Creek Amana | 2024 State #141 Nation IA , CCA; Meg Berkland Meg Berkland 5'6" | DS/L Clear Creek Amana | 2024 State IA , CCA; Averie Lower Averie Lower 5'11" | OH Clear Creek Amana | 2026 State IA , CCA; Sam Schrage Sam Schrage OH Clear Creek-Amana | 2024 State IA , CCA; Lily Bonnett, Oskaloosa; Hannah Quang, Oskaloosa; Annalise Buxton, Burlington; Mara Smith, Fort Madison; Alex Scott, Mount Pleasant; Makenna Altgilbers, Keokuk; Kendra Boatman, Keokuk.
Outlook: Clear Creek Amana appears on its way to a fifth-ever state tournament berth and the first back-to-back trips ever. The Clippers remain unbeaten with an impressive collection of victories, including wins against Iowa City Liberty (5A No. 10), Bishop Heelan (4A No. 10), Ankeny (5A No. 8) and Dowling (5A No. 1). They have only three lost sets on their resume this season. Oskaloosa has wins against Linn-Mar and Dallas Center-Grimes (4A No. No. 13).