What “New” Iowa Teams Could Be State Bound in 2024?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's August, practice starts in just over a week, scrimmages will ramp up, school will be in session and the 2024 high school volleyball season is officially in session.&nbsp; There are some “new” teams who will be looking to get to Coralville for the state tournament.&nbsp; Some of these squads made an impact in Cedar Rapids when the tournament was there until 2021, but they are looking to be among the top in a new era of state tournaments.&nbsp; Who are the teams who could be looking to get to state this year after having fallen just short in 2023?&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Unity Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unity Christian out of Orange City is always in the conversation to get to the state tournament.&nbsp; They lost a tough five set match to MOC Floyd Valley in the regional semifinal.&nbsp; They will return one of the top attackers in Northwest Iowa in [player_tooltip player_id='215457' first='Jadyn' last='Hofmeyer'] who had nearly 350 kills in 2023 as a junior.&nbsp; This incoming senior class for the Knights have experience and depth.&nbsp; Jaelye Woudstra and Kortney Hofmeyer also had over 100 kills last season.&nbsp; They also return setter Sammie Holz who had nearly 700 assists.&nbsp; They have a challenging schedule with top teams in Northwest Iowa, including a loaded Siouxland Conference slate that will prepare them come tournament time.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1815173720765255984","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1815173720765255984 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Red Oak</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers of Red Oak are another storied program who are looking to compete for the first time in Coralville after having quite a run of state tournaments in Cedar Rapids.&nbsp; They return a strong core of their squad who advanced to the regional semifinal, before getting swept by Des Moines Christian.&nbsp; Alexis Joint returns from their 6-2 system in 2023 where she will have plenty of attackers to distribute to.&nbsp; Marley Gray and Jocelyn O'Neal had over 200 kills in 2023 while Keely Jones had a jump start season as a freshman with 125 kills.&nbsp; They will start their season at the Bondurant-Farrar Tournament that will feature plenty of state tournament caliber teams.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":547848,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/43-Gwen-Farley.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-547848"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='493973' first='Gwen' last='Farley']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dallas Center-Grimes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DCG has made their mark on the softball diamond with plenty of trophies from the summer and now they will be looking to add from volleyball.&nbsp; I always feel like the most growth happens for athletes going from their freshman to sophomore season and DCG has a couple sophomores who will be ready to have a big season.&nbsp; Setter, [player_tooltip player_id='493973' first='Gwen' last='Farley'] had 700 assists in her freshman campaign and had a big season for Six Pack 15s along with teammate [player_tooltip player_id='394331' first='Maggie' last='Leifker'] who is a highly efficient middle blocker with nearly 200 kills in 2023.&nbsp; Addie Abens is another rising sophomore who saw significant time as a freshman.&nbsp; Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='508928' first='Landry' last='Glasgow'] will be another one to watch as she knows how to score points in the front line.&nbsp; The Mustangs lost in the regional final to ADM and will be looking to advance at least one more and then some.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":582297,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/DSC08821.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-582297"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='389066' first='Cambel' last='Drapeau']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dubuque Senior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior gave Pleasant Valley everything they could handle in the regional final last season with a tough 3-2 loss.  [player_tooltip player_id='389066' first='Cambel' last='Drapeau'] had a monstrous sophomore year in the high school and club ranks which landed her with a verbal commit to Creighton this summer.  Her ability to score points is just different where she can sky to the ball from anywhere in the front line.  She has a skillset that will allow her to do a lot of special things this fall.  They will also return setter Nora Nagelmaker along with attackers Lexie LeConte, Bailey Davis, and Ella Foley. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1810401192889188767","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1810401192889188767 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waukee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waukee was always a name to know in Cedar Rapids, but since the tournament moved to Coralville, it has been all Waukee NW.&nbsp; However, this season they could get back to the final eight in Class 5A.&nbsp; The depth of Class 5A in Central Iowa is ridiculous, it will be interesting to see where teams get sent in their regionals.&nbsp; The Warriors return a young team from 2023 where their top contributors were all freshmen and sophomores.&nbsp; With a strong club season for these athletes, they will be looking for more.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='455721' first='Stella' last='Braddock'] and [player_tooltip player_id='500115' first='Maggie' last='Craig'] had over 150 kills in 2023 and will be key juniors in 2024.&nbsp; One of the top freshmen in the state is [player_tooltip player_id='443092' first='Malia' last='Rogers'] who can score points from the front and backcourt.&nbsp; This team will be very explosive and will have plenty of depth.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":533154,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/DSC07519.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-533154"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='490009' first='Leah' last='Caffery']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wilton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilton had a successful stretch to close out Cedar Rapids with state tournament appearances and they will look to get their first time on the courts in Coralville.&nbsp; This team returns a strong core of talent from 2023 where they were 22-15.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='730830' first='Kinsey' last='Drake'] is the top attacker for the Beavers where she had 375 kills in 2023, while another rising senior in Kaydence Boorn had 231.&nbsp; Next up are the rising sophomores who saw significant time as freshmen.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='490009' first='Leah' last='Caffery'] is one of the top setters in the Class of 2027 where she had over 700 assists as a freshman.&nbsp; Annie Holladay held down the libero spot where she had nearly 500 digs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mid-Prairie</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mid-Prairie has advanced to the regional final the past two seasons and will look to break through in 2024.&nbsp; They have plenty of balance along with the experience now to be a state competitor. They return attackers [player_tooltip player_id='389071' first='Harper' last='Pacha'], [player_tooltip player_id='215390' first='Jovi' last='Evans'], and [player_tooltip player_id='730801' first='Callie' last='Huber'].&nbsp; Evans can also set for the Hawks.&nbsp; North Texas commit, [player_tooltip player_id='215395' first='Dakota' last='Mitchell'] is one of the top liberos in the Class of 2025 and has been a huge spark in multiple sports for Mid-Prairie.&nbsp; They are part of the River Valley Conference that is loaded with state tournament type teams.&nbsp; Over seven teams from this conference notched over 20 wins in 2023.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->