Previewing 5A Regional Finals

It was a wild ride through the regular season for Class 5A. We witnessed our fair share of surprises.   The situation has settled down in the postseason. We saw a couple of five-setters in the semifinal round, but only one of the 16 teams remaining won on the road during Thursday's regional finals. Credit the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union for killing it in setting up the brackets based on its rankings.   We've arrived at one of the most stressful stages during the high school volleyball season. Winners of Tuesday's regional finals advance to the state tournament, an accomplishment remembered for a lifetime. No players or coaches want to consider the alternative right now.   Eight spots in Coraville's Xtream will be claimed. Let's take a closer look at the matchups:   REGION 1   Linn-Mar (19-13) at No. 1 West Des Moines Dowling Catholic (29-7)   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='168151' first='Kenzie' last='Dean'], '24, OH, Dowling; [player_tooltip player_id='215412' first='Ella' last='Rogers'], '25, S, Dowling; [player_tooltip player_id='189864' first='Annalise' last='Grant'], '25, L, Dowling; [player_tooltip player_id='215728' first='Kate' last='Nelson'], '25, MH, Dowling; [player_tooltip player_id='389933' first='Ellie' last='Muller'], '26, MH, Dowling; [player_tooltip player_id='215410' first='Kate' last='Passmore'], '25, OH, Linn-Mar; [player_tooltip player_id='552873' first='Karsyn' last='Michael'], '26, S, Linn-Marr; Tessa Casebolt, '24, MH, Linn-Mar; [player_tooltip player_id='730856' first='Kira' last='Klesner'], '25, OH/S, Linn-Mar.   Breakdown: Dean, a University of Kansas commitment, has pounded out 418 kills, hitting at a .294 clip. She's shown herself to be a more complete player this season with 138 digs to go with 56.0 blocks. Dean is surrounded by high-end talent such as Grant, an Iowa State commitment, Rogers (922 assists) and Nelson (107.0 blocks). The Maroons recorded a 13-3 record against teams in the current 5A Top 10. Their seven losses came against 2A No. 1 Dike-New Hartford (twice), 4A No. 1 Clear Creek Amana, 5A No. 3 Waukee Northwest, 5A No. 6 Cedar Falls, 5A No. 8 West Des Moines Valley and Kansas's St. James Academy, the nation's 14th-ranked team, <a href="https://usatodayhss.com/2023/usa-today-hss-avca-super-25-national-girls-volleyball-rankings-week-8">according to USA Today</a>.   Linn-Mar spent parts of the season in the state's Top 15. The Lions captured victories against 5A No. 11 Iowa City High, 3A No. 10 West Delaware and 3A No. 13 Solon. Passmore has proven she's one of the state's top hitters with 316 kills (.293) this season. She also ranks third on the team with 51.0 blocks. She has plenty of help, including Tessa Casebolt (72.0 blocks) and Klesner (263 assists, 103 kills, 117 digs, 31.0 blocks).   These teams met up during the Oct. 7 Cedar Rapids Jefferson tournament. Dowling won, 25-18, 25-18.   REGION 2   No. 15 Council Bluffs Lincoln (22-19) at No. 2 Ankeny Centennial (29-6)   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='215749' first='Delaney' last='Miller'], '25, OH, Centennial; [player_tooltip player_id='215425' first='Jaeden' last='Pratt'], '25, OH, Centennial; Kambria Leazer, '24, S, Centennial; [player_tooltip player_id='261088' first='Mya' last='Lei-Butters'], '26, L/DS, Centennial; Anna Sash, '24, MH, Centennial; Hutson Rau, '25, OH, Lincoln; Aubrey Sandbothe, '25, OH, Lincoln; Lydia Dix, '25, MH, Lincoln; [player_tooltip player_id='168154' first='Molly' last='Romano'], '24, S, Lincoln.   Breakdown: Centennial stacked up well against the state's top teams. The Jaguars posted a 9-3 mark against squads currently ranked in the 5A Top 10. Miller (390 kills-212 digs-28.0 blocks) and Pratt (293-220-34.0) shined as sophomores at last year's state tournament. They're building on that success and make Centennial a serious threat to win it all, especially with solid players at setter (Leazer), libero (Lei-Butters) and at middle blocker (Sash).   Lincoln has prepared itself for the moment by challenging itself with a tough schedule. The Lynx picked up victories against 5A No. 9 Waukee and 4A No. 12 Sioux City Heelan (twice), and hung with other top competition throughout the season. Romano is one of the state's best-kept secrets when talking about top players. Rau has a team-high 330 kills, and Sandbothe and Dix each has more than 200.   These teams have split their last two meetings. Centennial won, 2-1, in '21, and Lincoln took a 2-0 decision two years before that.   REGION 3   No. 12 Sioux City East (23-12) at No. 3 Waukee Northwest (23-9)   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='432373' first='Katrina' last='Pelds'], '24, OH, Northwest; [player_tooltip player_id='251675' first='Kamryn' last='Vogt'], '24, MH, Northwest; [player_tooltip player_id='251674' first='Chloe' last='Jones'], '24, OH, Northwest; [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'], '27, MH, Northwest; [player_tooltip player_id='432374' first='Chloee' last='Hayes'], '24, MH, Northwest; [player_tooltip player_id='215439' first='Hollie' last='Peterson'], '25, S, East; Mackenzie Crawford, '24, MH, East; Olivia Mentzer, '24, OH, East; Ashlyn Draube, '24, MH, East.   Breakdown: The moment won't be too big for Northwest, which features a roster filled with veteran players who reached the state tournament a year ago. The Wolves own a win against No. 1 Dowling and are 11-7 this season against teams still alive in 5A. Pelds' 215 kills pace the team, and the senior is among the leaders in digs and blocks. Vogt (82.0 blocks) and Hayes (69.0) are two-way presences in the middle, and Jones is a talented six-rotation player.   After an early-season tournament at Centennial when it picked up a win against 5A No. 14 Iowa City Liberty, East has played most of its matches close to the Missouri. That included a pair of wins against 5A No. 15 Council Bluffs Lincoln. The Raiders offer plenty of height in their lineup. Peterson is a 6-foot setter with 328 assists, 144 kills, 189 digs and 22.0 blocks. The 6-3 Crawford has 83.0 blocks to go with 148 kills.   This is the first-ever meeting between these two schools.   REGION 4   Waterloo West (17-16) at No. 6 Cedar Falls (33-6)   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='261058' first='Brynn' last='Bakula'], '26, S, Cedar Falls; Paige Paup, '24, OH, Cedar Falls; [player_tooltip player_id='215408' first='Grace' last='Hannam'], '25, MH, Cedar Falls; [player_tooltip player_id='200917' first='Natalie' last='Schmadeke'], '25, OH, Cedar Falls; Kya Bradfield, '25, MH, Cedar Falls; Jada Smith, '25, OH, West; Danica Wrage, '24, MH, West; Allyson Landers, '26, S, West; Bailey Schoepske, '24, L, West.   Breakdown: This should be a fun atmosphere created by the neighbors in the North. Cedar Falls owns a 3-1 victory against Waterloo East during an August quad at Marion. Bakula is one of the better all-around setters you'll find in the state with 720 assists, 51 kills, 171 digs and 40.0 blocks. Hannam is a factor in the middle of the net as evidenced by her 123.0 blocks. Paup is enjoying a great senior season with 363 kills. The Tigers know they can play with anyone in the state after topping Dowling at their tournament in late September.   West is the only 5A team remaining in the playoffs that won on the road Thursday. The Wahawks advanced with a 3-1 triumph at Dubuque Hempstead. Smith is the team leader in kills with 339 this season. She's a six-rotation player with 227 digs and 48.0 blocks as well. Middle hitter Danica Wrage has a team-best 100.0 blocks and ranks second in kills (293). Sophomore Allyson Landers (771 assists) runs the show.   Cedar Falls is 32-0 against Waterloo West since 2008, according to Bound.   REGION 5   No. 10 Dubuque Senior (25-11) at No. 4 Pleasant Valley (26-5)   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'], '26, RS/OH, Pleasant Valley; Lauren Brohm, '25, S, Pleasant Valley; [player_tooltip player_id='490015' first='Mazie' last='Sweers'], '27, OH, Pleasant Valley; [player_tooltip player_id='508627' first='Stella' last='Smith'], '25, MH, Pleasant Valley; [player_tooltip player_id='215760' first='Gabriella' last='Ragins'], '25, MH, Pleasant Valley; Brooke Sullivan, '24, MH, Senior; [player_tooltip player_id='389066' first='Cambel' last='Drapeau'], '26, MH, Senior; Sophie Link, L, '24, Senior; Jenna Lewis, '24, S, Senior.   Breakdown: Pleasant Valley has reloaded after graduating a lot of talent from a program that won it all two years ago and finished second last season. The Spartans' losses this season have come against 2A No. 1 Dike-New Hartford (twice), 4A No. 4 North Scott, 3A No. 1 Mount Vernon and 5A No. 7 Ankeny. [player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'] is breaking out as a sophomore with a team-high 204 kills and 21.0 blocks. Lauren Brohm has dished out 612 assists, while freshman [player_tooltip player_id='490015' first='Mazie' last='Sweers'] ranks second among Spartans in kills (170) and digs (155).   Senior has victories against currently ranked 5A teams in Iowa City Liberty and Iowa City High. The Rams are strong in the middle with Brooke Sullivan (241 kills-75.0 blocks) and [player_tooltip player_id='389066' first='Cambel' last='Drapeau'] (208-72.0). They also have standout players at libero Sophie Link,and setter in Jenna Lewis. Senior is playing for its first trip to state since 1983, when it won it all.   Pleasant Valley is 15-0 against Dubuque Senior since the start of the '10 season.     REGION 6   No. 11 Iowa City High (23-9) at No. 8 West Des Moines Valley (18-15)   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='261075' first='Kaelyn' last='Wieland'], '26, S/OH, Valley; Finley McAndrew, '24, S/RS, Valley; Elise Jaeger, '24, MH/RS, Valley; [player_tooltip player_id='261062' first='Dani' last='Schnicker'], '24, L/DS, Valley; Thia Raridon, '26, OH, Valley; Claire Earnst, '24, OH, City; [player_tooltip player_id='215434' first='Emmy' last='McComas'], '25, OH, City; Sidney Slay, '24, S, City; [player_tooltip player_id='493626' first='Hattie' last='Galloway'], '27, MH, City.   Breakdown: Valley cruises into a regional final with around a .500 record, as it did last season when knocking off favored Johnston in this spot for a state tournament berth. The Tigers are home and the hunted in this one, though, with a well-rounded group of players that work well together. The program has uploaded statistics from 23 of its 33 matches into the Bound data base so far. Wieland is a strong six-rotation performer. She along with McAndrew, Jaeger and [player_tooltip player_id='261062' first='Dani' last='Schnicker'] lead a veteran team that's been in this position before, at home and shouldn't be wowed by the moment. They own wins against Dowling, Waukee, Waukee Northwest and Ankeny, all teams currently in the Top 10.   A proud City High program is one of the better big-school stories this season under first-year coach Carolyn Giese. The Little Hawks are a step away from their first state tournament appearance since '14, which ended a run of making it there in three of four seasons. Ernst, an Oakland commitment, and McComas, a top junior in the state, lead the way for City as excellent six-rotation players. Slay is a productive setter with a broad skill set. Freshman middle [player_tooltip player_id='493626' first='Hattie' last='Galloway'] is a star in the making. By the rankings, the Little Hawks' best wins in '23 are against 5A No. 15 Council Bluffs Lincoln, 4A No. 7 Marion (twice) and 3A No. 9 Dubuque Wahlert.   Valley and City are the closest together in the latest rankings of all the regional final pairings. They're meeting for the first time since '17, according to Bound.   REGION 7   No. 9 Waukee (13-19) at No. 5 Johnston (30-6)   Players to Watch: Jadeyn Pundt, '24, S, Johnston; [player_tooltip player_id='168187' first='Ava' last='Helming'], '24, OH, Johnston; [player_tooltip player_id='168188' first='Josie' last='Pundt'], '24, OH, Johnston; [player_tooltip player_id='168184' first='Maeve' last='Rehmann'], '24, MH, Johnston; [player_tooltip player_id='168186' first='Ella' last='Smithson'], '24, L/DS, Johnston; [player_tooltip player_id='389061' first='Maggie' last='Craig'], '26, OH, Waukee; [player_tooltip player_id='389063' first='Alexa' last='Weber'], '26, MH, Waukee; [player_tooltip player_id='455734' first='Stella' last='Braddock'], '26, RS, Waukee; [player_tooltip player_id='443092' first='Malia' last='Rogers'], '27, OH, Waukee.   Breakdown: Johnston appears to be on a mission after falling just short of state a year ago. The Dragons are 2-0 this season against Waukee, winning 3-0 and 2-0. Helming is a hammer and leads them with 438 kills (.328). The Valparaiso commitment also has 190 digs and 24.0 blocks. Jadeyn Pundt has 963 assists, 118 digs and 26.0 blocks, and [player_tooltip player_id='168188' first='Josie' last='Pundt'] has 316 kills (.294), 185 digs and 28.0 blocks. Rehmann (176 kills, 54.0 blocks) and Smithson (343 digs) also are important pieces of the puzzle for a Johnston team that also owns victories against 5A No. 2 Centennial, 5A No. 8 Valley (twice) and 5A No. 6 Cedar Falls.   Waukee is seeking its first state tournament bid since clinching one in '18 and '19. The Warriors are powered by a young group. Sophomores Craig (163 kills, 111 digs, 23.0 blocks), [player_tooltip player_id='389063' first='Alexa' last='Weber'] (116 kills, 34.0 blocks) and [player_tooltip player_id='455734' first='Stella' last='Braddock'] (174 kills) along with freshman [player_tooltip player_id='443092' first='Malia' last='Rogers'] (148 kills, 29.0 blocks) already are shining and point to a bright future for Waukee. Senior setter Hannah Thole (412 assists, 211 digs) holds it all together. The Warriors claim victories against 5A No. 8 Valley (three times) and 5A No. 15 Council Bluffs Lincoln.   The Dragons have defeated Waukee six times in the row, per Bound.   REGION 8   No. 14 Iowa City Liberty (19-21) at No. 7 Ankeny (22-14)   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='204533' first='Kamryn' last='Scheib'], '25, OH, Ankeny; [player_tooltip player_id='215465' first='Reagan' last='Hanfelt'], '25, MH, Ankeny; Ava Wille, '24, MH, Ankeny; [player_tooltip player_id='207016' first='Baileigh' last='Carlsen'], '25, L/DS, Ankeny; [player_tooltip player_id='215752' first='Olivia' last='Eike'], '25, OH, Ankeny; [player_tooltip player_id='215429' first='Asta' last='Hildebrand'], '25, S/OH, Liberty; [player_tooltip player_id='497594' first='Lucy' last='Maassen'], '26, OH, Liberty; [player_tooltip player_id='273001' first='Ellie' last='Wilson'], '27, OH, Liberty; [player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller'], '27, L/DS, Liberty; [player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'], '27, S, Liberty.   Breakdown: Ankeny is chasing its sixth consecutive state tournament berth and seventh championship, the last one happening in '20. Scheib leads the Hawks in kills (276) and ranks second in digs (187). Carlsen (457 digs) is one of the state's better back row players, and Hanfelt (214 kills, 91.0 blocks) and Wille (144-98.0) lock down the middle. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='223308' first='Lauren' last='Dockendorff'] (422 assists) and Cloey Wiederin (406) share setting duties. Ankeny's record includes victories against 5A No. 4 Pleasant Valley, 5A No. 5 Johnston, 5A No. 6 Cedar Falls, 5A No. 3 Waukee Northwest (twice) and 5A No. 9 Waukee (three times).   Defending state champion Liberty <a href="https://yourprepsports.com/2023/10/20/no-14-liberty-high-rallies-past-ottumwa-to-reach-regional-title-game/">needed five sets</a> to top visiting Ottumwa in Thursday's semifinals and keep hope alive for a fifth consecutive trip to state. The Lightning are young and lost one of their best hitters, senior Gracie Hennings, to a season-ending injury at the end of September. [player_tooltip player_id='215429' first='Asta' last='Hildebrand'] is a super all-around volleyball player, illustrated by her 346 kills, 376 assists, 295 digs and 42.0 blocks. Maassen (244 kills, 39.0 blocks) along with newcomers Wilson (171 kills, 268 digs, 21.0 blocks), [player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller'] (584 digs) and [player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'] (499 assists, 257 digs) are inexperienced but talented.   The Lightning topped Ankeny, 2-1, on Sept. 30 at the Waverly-Shell Rock Tournament. The Hawks took down Liberty, 2-1, on Sept. 9 at the Iowa City West tournament after winning the matchup, 2-0, the week before that at the Valley tournament.

It was a wild ride through the regular season for Class 5A. We witnessed our fair share of surprises.