Deep Dive Into Ankeny Centennial Invite – Pools and Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Why not start out the season will a huge batch of ranked teams to see where everyone statcks up. That is what is going on at Ankeny Centennial which will host teams from across the state looking to make waves weekend one of the season. Take a look at the pool previews and some predictions heading into the weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":612349,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/DSC03909-crop-4800x3152-1724951380.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-612349"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='389010' first='Annistyn' last='Wedgbury'] of Cedar Falls</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Pool A </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedar Falls</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ankeny</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dike-New Hartford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sioux City East</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three state tournament teams highlight this pool.&nbsp; Dike-New Hartford graduated a strong core of their team who was the past three of four state titles in Class 2A, but a tradition like theirs always finds a way to reload.&nbsp; Izzy Norton and [player_tooltip player_id='215413' first='Shannon' last='Moorman'] will be two key attackers that will be sure to put up points while Norton is also one of their top defenders.&nbsp; Ankeny started the season strong with big wins over Dike-New Hartford and top ranked in Class 1A, Ankeny Christian.&nbsp; One athlete who I think it bound for a big season is Olivia Eike. She is long, athletic, and can really cause problems with her swing and puts up a big block.&nbsp; Cedar Falls has one of the top middle blockers in the Class of 2025 in Northern Iowa commit [player_tooltip player_id='215408' first='Grace' last='Hannam'] along with experience in libero [player_tooltip player_id='389010' first='Annistyn' last='Wedgbury'] and setter [player_tooltip player_id='261058' first='Brynn' last='Bakula'].&nbsp; One athlete to keep tabs on is sophomore outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='389853' first='Kennedy' last='Krecklow'] who has a very active arm. [player_tooltip player_id='215439' first='Hollie' last='Peterson'] will be leading Sioux City East. She does a little bit of everything as one of the more dynamic setter/hitter combo players in the state.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":612350,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/DSC03811.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-612350"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='189864' first='Annalise' last='Grant'] and [player_tooltip player_id='215412' first='Ella' last='Rogers'] of Dowling</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Pool B </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dowling</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waukee NW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Linn-Mar</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Council Bluffs AL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waukee NW got bounced in the quarterfinals of this tournament last year and would eventually go on to win the Class 5A state title.  They did graduate plenty of senior talent and leadership, but there are so many athletes waiting for their chance to take the court for the NW varsity squad.  This team will be lead by the Vogt sisters.  [player_tooltip player_id='389019' first='Avery' last='Vogt'] is an athletic, physical setter who can also attack. Incoming sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'] is going to have a breakout season where she is a lethal pin attacker who can do it from the right side and outside. Dowling will be among the top 5A teams once again.  They started their season with a win over Class 4A #10 Norwalk.  South Dakota commit [player_tooltip player_id='215412' first='Ella' last='Rogers'] will run the show as a setter where the first contact will come from Iowa State commit [player_tooltip player_id='189864' first='Annalise' last='Grant'].  A sophomore to watch is [player_tooltip player_id='500340' first='Kaylie' last='Klein'] who can pack a punch with her swing.  Linn-Mar is led by the Klesner Twins in [player_tooltip player_id='447579' first='Kelsey' last='Klesner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='730856' first='Kira' last='Klesner'] who can score points with their swing.  They also have a savvy junior setter in [player_tooltip player_id='552873' first='Karsyn' last='Michael']. Abe Lincoln comes Hutson Rau and Lydia Dix who combined for nearly 600 kills in 2023. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":612351,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/DSC03797.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-612351"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ankeny Centennial at state. </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Pool C</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ankeny Centennial</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liberty </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waukee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bettendorf</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ankeny Centennial heads into their home tournament as the favorite in Pool C.&nbsp; They started their season off with a big reverse sweep of a highly talented Indianola team on the road.&nbsp; They will have [player_tooltip player_id='215464' first='Delaney' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='215425' first='Jaeden' last='Pratt'] on the outside where the senior duo have combined for plenty of kills over their career.&nbsp; Their libero is [player_tooltip player_id='261088' first='Mya' last='Lei-Butters'], so steady and dependable.&nbsp; Iowa City Liberty has a unique lineup with a variety of ways they can beat teams.&nbsp; This all starts with their first contact from sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller'], they have two really solid setters in [player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='215429' first='Asta' last='Hildebrand'], and their pins of [player_tooltip player_id='497594' first='Lucy' last='Maassen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='273001' first='Ellie' last='Wilson'].&nbsp; If they can stay in system, this is a really tough team to stop because their balance is unique.&nbsp; Waukee has one of the top sophomores in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='443092' first='Malia' last='Rogers'] who is a lengthy 6'2 and can serve receive, pass, and score points in a variety of ways.&nbsp; Bettendorf returns attackers Makenna Miller and [player_tooltip player_id='454218' first='Nina' last='Wade'] who put up impressive numbers in 2023.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":478435,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/DSC03750.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-478435"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='261075' first='Kaelyn' last='Wieland']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Pool D</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pleasant Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ankeny Christian </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Des Moines Valley </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Norwalk</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pleasant Valley is coming into the season as the top ranked team in Class 5A.  Not only are they highly talented, but their depth is something different.  Their second string could be a ranked team in Class 5A. [player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'] is the top prospect in the Class of 2026 at 6'3, a high contact point, and the ability to pass and attack from the backrow.  [player_tooltip player_id='490015' first='Mazie' last='Sweers'] was one of the top freshmen in the state in 2023 and will be looking to make another impact as a sophomore.  Their length at the frontline is college level right now.  Ankeny Christian has a beefed up schedule after winning the past two Class 1A state titles.  They have [player_tooltip player_id='215462' first='Katie' last='Quick'] running the show as the setter who will then head to Drake and top attacker [player_tooltip player_id='500115' first='Maggie' last='Craig'] who will play at Cedarville, a D2 school in Ohio.  [player_tooltip player_id='261075' first='Kaelyn' last='Wieland'] is the veteran for WDM Valley.  She can set, swing, defend, there isn't anything she can't do.  She will be key for the Tigers to stay competitive after losing some key pieces to graduation.  Norwalk broke through to the state tournament in Class 4A in 2023.  This is a program on the rise and returns some pieces from their state tournament team in [player_tooltip player_id='443087' first='Dakota' last='Poen'] at libero and also have an exciting freshman outside hitter to keep tabs on in [player_tooltip player_id='560368' first='Elle' last='Hatlevig']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>So Who Advances</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pool A - Cedar Falls and Ankeny&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pool B - Dowling and Linn-Mar (I think Waukee NW needs a little more time to find their stride which will make them so dangerous in October)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pool C - Ankeny Centennial and Liberty&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pool D - Pleasant Valley and Ankeny Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Quarterfinals/Semifinals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cedar Falls defeats Linn-Mar</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ankeny Centennial defeats Ankeny Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ankeny Centennial defeats Cedar Falls</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ankeny defeats Dowling</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pleasant Valley defeats Iowa City Liberty&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pleasant Valley defeats Ankeny (three sets)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Finals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pleasant Valley defeats Ankeny Centennial&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I know this is very close to seeding, but the length and depth of Pleasant Valley is going to be tough to crack.  In order to defeat Pleasant Valley, teams will have to go big with their serve to get the Spartans out of system.  If PV has three options, forget about it - they will be hitting over the block.  Ankeny Centennial has two big time scoring outlets in Miller and Pratt.  At the high school level, especially early in the system having outsides who can score out of system and from the backrow can save plenty of points.  Ankeny and Dowling have the weapons and the length to compete with Pleasant Valley, however they are going to need to serve them off the court.  Ankeny plays with a different level of intensity, especially if [player_tooltip player_id='204525' first='Kamryn' last='Scheib'], [player_tooltip player_id='443093' first='Maya' last='Ridgeway'], and [player_tooltip player_id='555797' first='Marlee' last='Ellison'] can catch fire.  I will be excited to see how Olivia Eike is utilized because her block can match up with anyone.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let the games begin, use this as “Bulletin Board” material.&nbsp; Good luck this weekend!&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->