Final Thoughts from 2024 State Tournament

Another fun season ended in fine fashion with the crowning of five state champions this week at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The town and Girls High School Athletic Union did well, once again, in hosting the event.   Congratulations to Pleasant Valley, Bishop Heelan, Mount Vernon, Denver and Ankeny Christian for being the last teams standing in their respective classes. If you watched a few minutes of the action this week, you know it's an amazing accomplishment.   Iowa high school volleyball is high-level with amazing athletes competing incredibly hard. In addition, you see teams recover from a crushing end to seasons in which they're so deeply invested. It's because to win in volleyball, you have to be close and trust your teammates.   There's a rhythm to it with chaos mixed in. The best teams stay connected and limit scrambling. It's a joy to watch.   Here are final thoughts from the 2024 state tournament:   FAVORITES FINISH   The five state champions ended up being four top seeds (PV, Mount Vernon, Denver, Ankeny Christian) and a No. 2 seed (Heelan). We witnessed upsets in the earlier rounds, but the favorites hit the finish-line tape first. It was unlike the upsets we witnessed throughout the regular season.   The champs found the sailing to be pretty smooth. Pleasant Valley is the only one to lose a set during the title matches, and defending state champion Waukee Northwest earned it. The Spartans' title run was just as impressive as the others, however, especially <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/11/5a-championship-match-recap-reaction/">considering the absence of a key player</a>.   Heelan <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/11/4a-championship-match-recap-reaction/">set out on a mission to show </a>that good volleyball is being played in Northwest Iowa. The Crusaders thorough dominance of defending 4A champion North Scott in Wednesday's semifinals ranked as one of the more impressive performances of the week.   Mount Vernon <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/11/3a-championship-match-recap-reaction/">carried around more pressure</a> than any team in the state. The loaded Mustangs went wire to wire in a tough 3A Class, which isn't easy to do on this state's competitive landscape. Most squads hit down stretches during the regular season.   Denver joined Mount Vernon in staying on top of the mountain for all of '24. The Cyclones <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/11/2a-championship-match-photos-recap/">played well together</a>, the stars connected to the role players and everyone understood their roles for achieving supremacy in 2A.   Ankeny Christian <a href="https://ighsau.org/news/class-1a-state-championship-recap/">stood out as the only defending champion</a> win again, pulling off a three-peat. The Eagles started in front and soared high above the competition throughout the season.   STARS SHINE   The state tournament always features a large swath of Iowa's best performers. It makes sense that they would lead their teams here.   Prep Dig's top-ranked players in 2025 ([player_tooltip player_id='215385' first='Chloe' last='Meester']) and 2026 ([player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer']) were named captains of the Class 3A and 5A all-tournament teams, respectively. You can tell they are two of the nation's elite pretty quickly when watching them play. Meester enjoyed support from Syndey Maue and [player_tooltip player_id='215387' first='Sydney' last='Huber'], and [player_tooltip player_id='215760' first='Gabriella' last='Ragins'], [player_tooltip player_id='389006' first='Carsyn' last='Kelley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='508627' first='Stella' last='Smith'] complemented Kremer nicely.   Sioux City Bishop Heelan featured three standout all-around players in [player_tooltip player_id='217136' first='Maliyah' last='Hacker'], Maddie LaFleur and Ava Loyd. Denver overwhelmed the competition with its own trio of stars - Bailey and [player_tooltip player_id='389009' first='Grace' last='Mullihan'], and [player_tooltip player_id='389012' first='Channing' last='Johnson'].   For the third year in a row, Ankeny Christian setter [player_tooltip player_id='215462' first='Katie' last='Quick'] was the captain of the 1A all-tournament team. Carly Craighead joined her on the all-tournament squad for a third consecutive season.   STARS EMERGE   Regina's [player_tooltip player_id='261094' first='Reese' last='Naeve'], who is Prep Dig's third-ranked player in '26, made her state tournament debut. Although the Regals fell to eventual finalist Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont in the first round, the junior earned all-tournament honors.   Every year, the volleyball community, as a whole, is exposed to players like Naeve at state that they might not see during the regular season. It's cool to watch them recognized on the big stage.   Pella's [player_tooltip player_id='389942' first='Katie' last='Scheckel'] certainly fell into that category. She loaded up the stat sheet during the Dutch's unexpected run to the title match.   Wahlert setter [player_tooltip player_id='437486' first='Olivia' last='Donovan'] has flown under the radar for far too long. She debuted at state last season, but increased her presence in being named to the 3A all-tournament squad.   FUTURE IS BRIGHT   Getting a look at younger competitors on this stage always is rewarding. Centennial's [player_tooltip player_id='215464' first='Delaney' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='215425' first='Jaeden' last='Pratt'] led the upstart Jaguars to success here two years ago, came back last year and were going at it again this week.   Waukee's [player_tooltip player_id='443092' first='Malia' last='Rogers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='498752' first='Allie' last='Ruddy'], Waukee Northwest's [player_tooltip player_id='493601' first='Piper' last='Ladwig'] and [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'], Indianola's [player_tooltip player_id='493609' first='Madison' last='Grover'], Dowling's [player_tooltip player_id='500340' first='Kaylie' last='Klein'], Cedar Fall's [player_tooltip player_id='389853' first='Kennedy' last='Krecklow'], Heelan's [player_tooltip player_id='493980' first='Melina' last='Snoozy'], Sergeant Bliff-Luton's Bailey Ball and [player_tooltip player_id='493652' first='Kaitlyn' last='Hardie'], Clear Creek Amana's [player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson'], Western Christian's Morgan Kooiman, Sioux Center's Maryn Franken, Mid-Prairie's [player_tooltip player_id='775157' first='Jeorgia' last='Evans'], Kuemper's Mariah Heuton and Kolbi Peter, Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='694203' first='Belle' last='Cotton'], Regina's Addison Bollier, Dike-New Hartford's Ruby Varney, Boyden-Hull's [player_tooltip player_id='493978' first='Elsie' last='Hoegh'], Beckman's Isabel Kluesner, Applington-Parkersburg's Jenzen Klooster, Janesville's [player_tooltip player_id='493972' first='Tayah' last='Pollock'], Holy Trinity's [player_tooltip player_id='493659' first='Adalyn' last='Kruse'], BCLUW's [player_tooltip player_id='493977' first='Olivia' last='Peters'] and Ankeny Christian's Katelyn Weathers all show during the state tournament that the sport is in good hands even with plenty of talent graduating.   Stay Tuned   The content at Prep Dig Iowa will not end with the season. We'll wrap up to 2024 school campaign with all-state teams. There will be more of the "Scouting Reports/Photos" pieces we posted this season highlighting programs seen in person this fall. And then, before you know it, club season will be upon us.

Another fun season ended in fine fashion with the crowning of five state champions this week at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The town and Girls High School Athletic Union did well, once again, in hosting the event.