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<p>The past two Class 4A champions are among the Top 3 seeds for next week's state tournament in Coralville. Cedar Rapids Xavier enters the event at No. 1, and last year's winner, North Scott, is two spots behind the Saints. Bishop Heelan sits between them.</p>
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<p>It's an interesting collection teams capable of making it a competitive race to the title. Let's take a look at the field: </p>
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<p><strong>No. 1 Seed - Cedar Rapids Xavier</strong> <strong>(28-4)</strong> </p>
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<p><strong>Key Players:</strong> Josie Smith (844 assists, 112 digs, 24.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='215392' first='Libby' last='Fandel'] (375 kills, .305, 208 digs, 31.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='329851' first='Macie' last='Lupkes'] (194 kills, .353, 74.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='215391' first='Taylor' last='Rexroth'] (157 kills, .370, 43.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='215386' first='Carley' last='Jonker'] (158 kills, .189, 231 digs, 22.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='215394' first='Carissa' last='Timmerman'] (234 digs); Kaitlin Rollinger (142 digs); Ava VanBerkum (87 kills, 38.0 blocks). </p>
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<p><strong>Season Recap:</strong> Xavier won two of three weekend tournament matches with North Scott. The loss was the Saints' lone setback against in-state competition this season. The other three setbacks happened at the ASICS Challenge in Chicago. Xavier hasn't faced anybody in this field other than North Scott. It won the MVC Championship by beating 5A state qualifier, Cedar Falls, and Wahlert Catholic, which is still alive in 3A. The Saints also beat 5A regional finalist Iowa City Liberty twice.</p>
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<p><strong>No. 2 Seed - Bishop Heelan</strong> <strong>(41-3)</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Key Players:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='389838' first='Mia' last='White'] (189 digs); [player_tooltip player_id='389834' first='Ava' last='Lloyd'] (234 kills, .237, 209 digs, 24.0 blocks); Addison Kleis (206 kills, .224, 30.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='389836' first='Ireland' last='Jackson'] (394 digs, 100 assists); Maddie LaFleur (930 assists, 61 kills, 346 digs, 52.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='217136' first='Maliyah' last='Hacker'] (280 kills, .291, 253 digs, 40.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='493980' first='Melina' last='Snoozy'] (180 kills, .254, 65.0 blocks); Abby Lee (69.0 blocks, 63 kills). </p>
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<p><strong>Season Recap:</strong> Heelan's two losses to in-state competition were against 5A state qualifier Indianola and Pella, who is in this field. The Crusaders rebounded to beat Pella and also owns a victory against 5A qualifer, Waukee. Against the 4A state tournament field, they're 4-1, also taking down Sergeant-Bluff Luton twice and Glenwood. Heelan enters the tournament on a 30-match winning streak against in-state foes.</p>
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<p><strong>No. 3 Seed - North Scott</strong> <strong>(29-4)</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Key Players:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='215406' first='Abbey' last='Hayes'] (380 kills, .339, 157 digs, 27.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='261052' first='Ainsley' last='Haedt'] (265 digs); McKenzie Moeller (269 kills, .276, 132 digs, 21.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='389008' first='Addison' last='Allen'] (889 assists, 43 kills, 135 digs, 26.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='538930' first='Lainey' last='Wall'] (50 kills, .283, 54.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='785828' first='Paige' last='Coon'] (59 kills, 49. blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='215767' first='Emee' last='Allard'] (196 kills, .321, 156 digs, 34.0 blocks). </p>
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<p><strong>Season Recap:</strong> Two of [program_tooltip program_id='431978' first='Lancers' last='']' losses were to Xavier, one of which they were without Moeller. They also beat Xavier along with Pleasant Valley, the top seed in the 5A state tournament. Clear Creek Amana is the only other team besides Xavier that they've faced in this field. They beat CCA, 2-0. North Scott also lost to Mount Vernon and Marion (without Moeller). It defeated state tournament teams in other classes, including Dike-New Hartford, Assumption, Wahlert and Mid-Prairie.</p>
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<p><strong>No. 4 Seed - Clear Creek Amana</strong> <strong>(37-7)</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Key Players:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='523168' first='Kylie' last=''] Koehn (314 digs, 82 assists); Elizabeth Timmerman (158 kills, .231, 116 digs, 30.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson'] (211 kills, .247, 74.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='243457' first='Emily' last='Henderson'] (887 assists, 93 kills, 292 digs, 46.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='517585' first='Sariah' last='Sherman'] (164 kills, .238, 76.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='361168' first='Averie' last='Lower'] (390 kills, .253, 310 digs, 29.0 blocks). </p>
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<p><strong>Season Recap:</strong> The Clippers have done well in replacing a lot of talent graduated from state tournament teams the last two seasons. In addition to coming up short against North Scott, they dropped matches against 5A No. 3 seed Ankeny, 5A No. 4 Dowling and 3A No. 3 West Delaware. CCA won its only other match against a team in this field besides the [program_tooltip program_id='431978' first='Lancers' last=''], defeating Carlisle, 2-0, on Aug. 31.</p>
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<p><strong>No. 5 Seed - Pella</strong> <strong>(39-7)</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Key Players:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='753905' first='Brooke' last='Schulte'] (250 kills, .214, 225 digs, 20.0 blocks); Elah Hiemstra (172 digs); [player_tooltip player_id='389942' first='Katie' last='Scheckel'] (400 assists, 319 kills, .233, 351 digs, 20.0 blocks); Kelsey Tauke (98 kills, 70.0 blocks); Emma Eekhoff (433 assists, 188 kills, 221 digs, 41.0 blocks); Claire Smock (334 digs, 117 assists). </p>
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<p><strong>Season Recap:</strong> The Dutch has won its last eight matches following a loss to 5A state qualifier, Indianola, on Oct. 8. It's also dropped matches versus 5A No. 2 seed, Centennial, 5A top seed, Mount Vernon, and 2A No. 1 seed, Denver. Against the teams in this field, Pella split a pair of matches against both Heelan and Glenwood, and came up short against Carlisle.</p>
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<p><strong>No. 6 Seed - Glenwood</strong> <strong>(36-6)</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Key Players:</strong> Rylie Kendall (299 digs); [player_tooltip player_id='730673' first='Allison' last='Koontz'] (786 assists, 227 digs, 22.0 blocks); Olivia Hanover (119 kills, 151 digs, 38.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='754245' first='Kaylee' last='Wray'] (269 kills, .266, 229 digs, 22.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='214507' first='Charley' last='Hernandez'] (401 kills, .321, 320 digs, 27.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='730696' first='Ilsa' last='Kemling'] (252 kills, .353, 68.0 blocks); Adalynn Madison (65 kills, 45.0 blocks). </p>
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<p><strong>Season Recap:</strong> Glenwood has tasted victory in 19 of its last 20 matches, the lone setback to 5A state qualifier, Indianola. The Rams have posted a 3-2 record versus teams in this 4A field, defeating Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Pella and Carlisle, and losing to the Dutch and Heelan. They also own a victory against 3A qualifier, Kuemper Catholic, and took 3A top seeded Mount Vernon to the limit in a three-setter. </p>
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<p><strong>No. 7 Seed - Carlisle</strong> <strong>(25-9)</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Key Players:</strong> Abby Barry (405 assists, 169 digs); Emma Robinson (47 kills, 50.0 blocks); Ava Chanthavong (99 kills, 270 digs, 77.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='215424' first='Sydney' last='Light'] (334 kills, .247, 248 digs, 26.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='196422' first='AK' last='Christensen'] (372 kills, .248, 302 digs, 41.0 blocks). </p>
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<p><strong>Season Recap:</strong> Carlisle punched its ticket for its first-ever state tournament appearance by outlasting Marion, 3-2, in the regional final. The Wildcats have claimed victory against fellow 4A tournament teams, Sergeant Bluff-Luton (2) and Pella. They lost against Glenwood and 5A qualifier, Waukee, but took the Warriors to a maximum three sets. </p>
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<p><strong>No. 8 Seed - Sergeant Bluff-Luton</strong> <strong>(21-13)</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Key Players:</strong> Madison Kvidera (119 kills, 49.0 bocks); Bailey Ball (723 assists, 175 digs, 29.0 blocks); Bre VanDenTop (334 kills, .312, 74.0 blocks); Jayden Kneifl (146 digs); [player_tooltip player_id='493652' first='Kaitlyn' last='Hardie'] (288 digs); Izzy Schaap (147 kills, 31.0 blocks); </p>
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<p><strong>Season Recap:</strong> The Warriors pulled off one of the bigger regional-final surprises, taking a 3-1 decision at Lewis Central on Tuesday to reach state for the first time since '21. They'll be looking to pull off more upsets next week with an 0-5 record against schools in the 4A field. Heelan and Carlisle each beat them twice, and Glenwood got them early in the season. </p>
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<p><strong>Howe I See It: </strong>Xavier appears to be on a mission but there are teams in this field that could keep the Saints from completing it. That starts with Heelan and North Scott, both of whom have enjoyed excellent campaigns. </p>
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<p>I think the four top seeds advance to the semifinals with Clear Creek Amana and Pella being the tightest contest. The Clippers have a good shot against Xavier, but the Saints will reach the championship match. Heelan and North Scott looks like a toss-up match. The Lancers squeak by with a core that helped win a title in 2023.</p>
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<p>I scouted one of the Xavier-North Scott matches at the Benton tournament, but, again, McKenzie Moeller was sidelined with injury. It should be a knock-down, drag-out affair with the Lancers pulling off a repeat.</p>
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The past two Class 4A champions are among the Top 3 seeds for next week's state tournament in Coralville. Cedar Rapids Xavier enters the event at No. 1, and last year's winner, North Scott, is two spots behind the Saints. Bishop Heelan sits between them.
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