Nine Regional Semifinals To Watch in Class 1A and 2A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're in the final four of regionals with Class 1A and 2A teams looking to punch their ticket to the regional finals. Some of these regional semi's are intriguing. Some matchups featuring conference teams, some with similar records, but different schedules based on rigor. Here is a look at nine regional semifinal matchups that could be a toss up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 2A </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa City Regina (23-14) vs. North Mahaska (21-1) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Regals have one of the top liberos and outsides in all of Class 2A with [player_tooltip player_id='403543' first='Addie' last='Bollier'] who already has over 1,000 digs while only being a sophomore and Iowa State commit [player_tooltip player_id='261094' first='Reese' last='Naeve'] who is one of the top kill leaders in the entire state.&nbsp; They will take on North Mahaska whose only loss comes to Pella Christian who is on the other side of the bracket.&nbsp; The Warhawks are led by [player_tooltip player_id='584675' first='Nataliya' last='Linder'] and Regan Grewe who have combined for over 300 kills on the season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hinton (21-6) vs. West Lyon (19-6) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwest Iowa is always loaded with top talent with their small schools.&nbsp; Hinton has advanced to the state tournament the past two seasons.&nbsp; With Creighton commit [player_tooltip player_id='389079' first='Bailey' last='Boeve'] out with an injury, the Blackhawks are still poised to make a run to Coralville.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='552898' first='Karlyn' last='Kovarna'] has been the go to attacker where she has over 250 kills on the season and nearly 150 digs. The winner of this match will meet the winner of Boyden-Hull and Central Lyon.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grundy Center (24-15) vs. Emmetsburg (25-5) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was going to be a rebuilding year for Grundy Center after graduating a dominant senior class from a final four finish in Class 2A.&nbsp; The Spartans have reloaded to notch 24 wins overall while competing in one of the top small school conferences in the state with the NICL.&nbsp; They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='702527' first='Ryanne' last='Brubaker'] who is only a sophomore notching 300 kills and hitting .405 on the season.&nbsp; She's 6'7 and will be rising among top prospects in the state and could be one to watch nationally as well.&nbsp; Emmetsburg is led by [player_tooltip player_id='753933' first='Calista' last='Joyce'] who has nearly 250 kills on the season for the E-Hawks.&nbsp; The winner will head to the regional final against South Hardin or Ridge View.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wapsie Valley (25-16) vs. Jesup (27-11) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jesup won a five set battle against Wapsie Valley earlier this year and the two will meet again tonight for the right to play in the regional final.&nbsp; Wapsie Valley has five attackers with over 100 kills, with a 1-2 punch of [player_tooltip player_id='522830' first='Kylee' last='Moulds'] and [player_tooltip player_id='389936' first='Taylor' last='Buhr'] who have combined for over 500 kills on the season.&nbsp; Jesup has two big time attackers of their own with [player_tooltip player_id='552889' first='Sara' last='Mead'] and Marlie Schissel.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shenandoah (23-9) vs. Tri-Center (25-11) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be a matchup of two top teams in Southwest Iowa with Shenandoah and Tri-Center.&nbsp; Shenandoah.&nbsp; Shenandoah has a win over Tri-Center from the first week of September.&nbsp; The Mustangs went through the gauntlet of the Hawkeye Ten Conference where there are plenty of teams who are still on their regional route.&nbsp; They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='261056' first='Ashlynn' last='Hodges'] and Lynnae Green who have over 600 kills on the season.&nbsp; Tri-Center has three athletes with over 200 kills each with Harlie Leaders, Tess Casey, and Isah Van Arsdol.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 1A </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Don Bosco (18-15) vs. North Linn (17-18) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This regional is wide open where plenty of these teams are battle tested.&nbsp; Don Bosco is the top seed in this region, led by setter-attacker combo of Addison Schares with nearly 600 assists and attacker Kennedi McGarvey with over 300 kills.&nbsp; North Linn is always a team in the hunt come postseason for multiple sports.&nbsp; They are coming off a 3-2 win over Edgewood-Colesburg where Teagan Liebe had 21 kills and Emilee Beuter had 14 while freshman Delanie Rawson had 30 assists.&nbsp; The winner will face the winner of Sidney and Fremont-Mills.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>River Valley (29-2) vs. Newell-Fonda (24-8) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newell-Fonda was in the state tournament in 2023 where they took a set off state champion Ankeny Christian.&nbsp; They are back in the regional semifinals where they are led by [player_tooltip player_id='502166' first='Kinzee' last='Hinders'] with 350 kills, hitting .327 and 60 total blocks, she is a returning All State player.&nbsp; River Valley's two losses are to Spirit Lake and MVAOCOU.&nbsp; The Addie Law and Alaina Goettsch who have combined for 600 kills.&nbsp; The winner of this match will face the winner of North Tama and Belle Plaine.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Iowa (26-5) vs. West Bend-Mallard (18-9) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Iowa has had a historic season, finishing second in the Top of Iowa West Conference where they are led by senior attacker [player_tooltip player_id='483993' first='Ashlyn' last='Bechler'] who has notched over 250 kills for the Bison.&nbsp; They take on West Bend-Mallard out of the Twin Lakes Conference who has a few teams still in regional play tonight.&nbsp; They have a trio of junior attackers leading them with Allie Fehr, Addie Montag, and Chloe Dickey.&nbsp; The winner will face the winner of St. Ansgar and Turkey Valley.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gladbrook-Reinbeck (22-20) vs. GMG (20-10) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gladbrook-Reinbeck is accustomed to playing late in the postseason and this year is no different.&nbsp; They have five attackers with over 100 kills, led by [player_tooltip player_id='753899' first='Kennedy' last='Brant'] with 385 while sophomore setter Kailey Larsen has over 800 assists on the season.&nbsp; They will meet a very local opponent in GMG who has notched 20 wins on the season.&nbsp; The Wolverines are led by Olivia Maddux who has over 2.5 kills per set on the season.&nbsp; The winner of this match will face the winner of BCLUW and Fort Dodge St. Ed's.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->