Prep Dig Iowa Class 3A Preseason Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those folks following along with these preseason rankings hopefully chuckled at me messing up. Indianola has since been moved into Class 5A (from 4A). I was looking at last year's classifications. Oops. Apologies. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mistakes happen. Own it and move on. And we do so with the Preseason Class 3A Rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. Mount Vernon: </strong>These Mustangs are built to take the final step in their quest for another state championship. Prep Dig Iowa's top-ranked senior, [player_tooltip player_id='215385' first='Chloe' last='Meester'], a Louisville commitment, is surrounded by good players, including All-state setter [player_tooltip player_id='215387' first='Sydney' last='Huber'] and [player_tooltip player_id='508657' first='Paige' last='Schurbon'], an all-state hitter. All-state pin [player_tooltip player_id='215389' first='Sydney' last='Maue'] joins the squad after three seasons at Center Point-Urbana. CaliAna Whitaker and [player_tooltip player_id='555712' first='Sophia' last='Meester'] will be part of what should be a relentless attack. Eryn Jackson leads the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 Finish - </strong>State Finalist </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2. Davenport Assumption:</strong> The Knights lost to Mount Vernon in last year's semifinals, their sixth consecutive trip to state. They won it all in '22 and have a team capable reaching the mountain top again this fall.  [player_tooltip player_id='215761' first='Ellie' last='Schubert'] ranks as one of Iowa's top setters. The same can be said about Kansas State commitment [player_tooltip player_id='230661' first='Ellah' last='Derrer'] in the middle. [player_tooltip player_id='215436' first='Dru' last='Dorsey'] helps out through six rotations, and [player_tooltip player_id='215757' first='Alyssa' last='O'Neal'] is primetime pin. [player_tooltip player_id='215756' first='Elizabeth' last='Snyder'] and [player_tooltip player_id='512840' first='Nora' last='Remrey'] are proven back-row performers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 Finish -</strong> State Semifinalist</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. Western Christian:</strong> With a schedule that includes schools from three states, Western Christian can be a tough program to evaluate for ranking purposes. You can count on it being a state title contender most seasons, though. That should be the case again in 2024 despite major graduations losses from last year's state championship team. Back are powerful hitters [player_tooltip player_id='489999' first='Bentley' last='Bliek'] and [player_tooltip player_id='753877' first='Scarlett' last='Winterfeld'] along with fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='455736' first='Maggie' last='Van Schepen'], who handed out 560 assists last year. Autumn Wolfswinkel stands out in the back row, and Shae Reitsma returns after posting 60.0 blocks in '23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 Finish - </strong>State Champion </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. Solon:</strong> It's been 10 years since the Spartans competed at the state tournament. They ended a four-year run to state back in '14. This Solon team is capable of reaching Xtream Arena. A lot of '23 production comes back, including all-state middle [player_tooltip player_id='215435' first='Grace' last='Erwin']. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='215430' first='Yasmine' last='Sell'] is one of the better all-around players in the class, and [player_tooltip player_id='448350' first='Jozie' last='Lahr'] is a two-way presence at the net. [player_tooltip player_id='373682' first='Kennedey' last='Whitford'] looks to build on a 435-dig season. Regina transfer [player_tooltip player_id='455710' first='Kiley' last='Devery'] was all-district in 2A last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 Finish:</strong> Regional Finalist</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5. Des Moines Christian:</strong> Gone are two all-state players from last year's state tournament run but back is the dynamic [player_tooltip player_id='203590' first='Hadley' last='Hardersen'], a first-team all-stater. [player_tooltip player_id='215732' first='Sydney' last='Brandmeyer'] returns after being named all-district in '23, and middle Gabby Bartek comes back after leading the squad with 67.0 blocks a season ago. Sophomore middle Skyler VanDerPol looks like a breakout player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 Finish - </strong>State Quarterfinalist</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6. Dubuque Wahlert: </strong>The Golden Eagles bring back key players from last year's state tournament team. All-district standout [player_tooltip player_id='215405' first='Audrey' last='Tschiggfrie'] returns as does setter [player_tooltip player_id='437486' first='Olivia' last='Donovan'], one of the more underrated players at the position. [player_tooltip player_id='538938' first='Anna' last='Roling'], Brielle Berning and Claire Lueken all exceeded 100 kills in '23. Kaylee Walter and Maddie Mohr hold it down in the back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 Finish -</strong> State Quarterfinalist</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7. Mid-Prairie</strong>: The 20-year, state-tournament drought could very well end this season in Wellman. The Golden Hawks return their top two leaders in assists, top three players in kills, their top four in digs and the top two in blocks from a regional final team in '23. North Texas commitment [player_tooltip player_id='215395' first='Dakota' last='Mitchell'] is one of the top liberos in Iowa. [player_tooltip player_id='215390' first='Jovi' last='Evans'] is back after earning all-state recognition as a sophomore in '23. [player_tooltip player_id='389071' first='Harper' last='Pacha'] joined Mitchell and Evans on the all-state squad. Lanee Duwa (313 digs) and [player_tooltip player_id='730801' first='Callie' last='Huber'] (252 kills, 74.0 blocks) also are back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 Finish -</strong> Regional Finalist </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8. West Delaware:</strong> The Hawks are itching for a return to state having missed the last two seasons following a four-year run. They look formidable. All-stater [player_tooltip player_id='508649' first='Brooke' last='Krogmann'] is a two-way force in middle of the net. She's supported up front by [player_tooltip player_id='730780' first='Hannah' last='Cantwell']. Setter Kirstyn Kolbet (837 assists, 196 digs) along with back-row standouts Olivia Halverson (345 digs) and Maleigha Hildebrand (243 digs) are proven producers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 Finish - </strong>Regional Finalist </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9. Unity Christian:</strong> The Knights experienced a rebuild, of sorts, last season. That should pay off this year with a bulk of the roster back. All-district team member [player_tooltip player_id='215457' first='Jadyn' last='Hofmeyer'] impacts the match through six rotations. Setter Sammie Holz (680 assists) is back as is libero [player_tooltip player_id='730838' first='Callie' last='Karhoff'] (354 digs). Kortney Hofmeyer, [player_tooltip player_id='552896' first='Jaida' last='Barrow'] and Jaelye Woudstra could be ready for a bigger roles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 Finish -</strong> Regional Semifinalist </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Anamosa:</strong> Mighty Mount Vernon ended the Raiders' season a year ago. They'll be challenged with putting together a strong enough regular season to avoid the Mustangs until Coralville in '24. Anamosa can do it. All-staters [player_tooltip player_id='447583' first='Reise' last='Neuhaus'] and [player_tooltip player_id='389069' first='Sophie' last='Sander'] headline an experienced group. Lola Holub quietly piled up 289 kills and 303 digs last season, and Ava Gibbs collected 336 digs. Regan Nebergall is a proven veteran ready for more reps. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 Finish -</strong> Regional Finalist </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->