Previewing, Predicting 5A State Tournament 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We made it. And, boy, was it a wild ride in Class 5A again this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The competitiveness among the state's largest schools stems from the talent level rising and spanning from border to border. Good players are everywhere, making next week's state tournament appear up for grabs among the eight teams facing off in Coralville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at the field: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 1 Seed - Pleasant Valley</strong> <strong>(32-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'] (296 kills, .418, 132 digs); [player_tooltip player_id='215760' first='Gabriella' last='Ragins'] (167 kills, .439, 65.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='508627' first='Stella' last='Smith'] (135 kills, .284, 61.0 blocks), [player_tooltip player_id='490015' first='Mazie' last='Sweers'] (133 kills, 145 digs); Abbie Staats (223 digs, 74 assists); Lauren Brohm (382 assists, 119 digs); [player_tooltip player_id='389006' first='Carsyn' last='Kelley'] (405 assists, 42.0 blocks). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Season Recap: </strong>The Spartans rush into the state tournament riding a 25-match winning streak, capturing 59 of 63 sets played during the run. Their last loss was a 3-2 setback against North Scott on Sept. 10. Ankeny Christian handed them the other defeat, 2-0, on Aug. 31 at the Centennial tournament. PV is 1-0 against 5A teams at state, defeating Centennial, 2-1, on Oct. 12 in the Cedar Rapids Jefferson tournament. It also owns wins against Mount Vernon and Ankeny Christian, the No. 1 seeds in Classes 3A and 1A, respectively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 2 Seed - Ankeny Centennial (31-4) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215464' first='Delaney' last='Miller'] (329 kills, .273, 257 digs, 29.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='261088' first='Mya' last='Lei-Butters'] (316 digs, 77 assists); [player_tooltip player_id='215425' first='Jaeden' last='Pratt'] (271 kills, .238, 275 digs, 40.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='389060' first='Tatem' last='Schmidt'] (333 assists, 134 kills, 212 digs, 26.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='758828' first='Sophia' last='Heither'] (121 kills, .333, 56.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='261083' first='Maegan' last='Cheeseman'] (559 assists, 146 digs); Mady Ott (95 kills, .318, 34.0 blocks). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Season Recap: </strong>Centennial has won 18 of its last 19 matches, the lone setback being a 2-1 decision to Pleasant Valley on Oct. 12 at the Cedar Rapids Jefferson tournament. The Jaguars' four losses this season have come against fellow 5A state tournament teams PV, Dowling, Waukee and Waukee Northwest. They've also defeated those four teams along with Indianola and Ankeny, who are also in the 5A field. They did not face Cedar Falls, the other 5A team at state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 3 Seed - Ankeny (36-4) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215465' first='Reagan' last='Hanfelt'] (296 kills, .393, 108.0 blocks, 99 digs); [player_tooltip player_id='207016' first='Baileigh' last='Carlsen'] (499 digs, 115 assists); [player_tooltip player_id='204525' first='Kamryn' last='Scheib'] (307 kills, .216, 297 digs, 38.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='215752' first='Olivia' last='Eike'] (246 kills, .255, 42.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='443093' first='Maya' last='Ridgeway'] (217 kills, .262, 52.0 blocks); Miya Steinkamp (530 assists, 159 digs); [player_tooltip player_id='555795' first='Gracyn' last='Adams'] (463 assists, 164 digs). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Season Recap: </strong>Like its crosstown rival, Centennial, Ankeny has won 18 of its last 19 matches. It's only loss during that stretch was to Centennial. The Hawks other three defeats were against Waukee, Dowling and Top 1A seed, Ankeny Christian. They've stacked plenty of impressive wins together as well, including triumphs versus 5A state qualifiers Cedar Falls, Waukee, Waukee Northwest, Dowling and Indianola. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 4 Seed - Dowling Catholic (25-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215412' first='Ella' last='Rogers'] (853 assists, 46 kills, 189 digs, 28.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='189864' first='Annalise' last='Grant'] (396 digs); [player_tooltip player_id='500340' first='Kaylie' last='Klein'] (301 kills, .235, 178 digs, 42.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='215728' first='Kate' last='Nelson'] (145 kills, .393, 77.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='389933' first='Ellie' last='Muller'] (181 kills, .320, 79.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='215427' first='Ava' last='Groeteke'] (148 kills, .207, 57.0). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Season Recap: </strong>The Maroons lost a key player in senior [player_tooltip player_id='215724' first='Siri' last='Beecher'] to injury, but they still boast plenty of firepower. They swept Waukee Northeast on senior night. They've won and lost against the Wolves and fellow 5A state tournament programs in Ankeny, Centennial and Waukee. They topped Cedar Falls in their only meeting and haven't faced Indianola, who they meet in Monday's first round. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 5 Seed - Indianola (38-6)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215469' first='Maci' last='Lerseth'] (373 digs, 119 assists); [player_tooltip player_id='389018' first='Lauren' last='Olson'] (200 digs, 91 kills); [player_tooltip player_id='215470' first='Camryn' last='Overton'] (356 kills, .276, 247 digs, 39.0 blocks); Dana Blake (144 kills, .252, 42.0 blocks); Josie McGraw (405 assists, 82 digs); &nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='261096' first='Sully' last='Downey'] (187 digs); [player_tooltip player_id='215466' first='Aspen' last='Nelsen'] (567 assists, 309 kills, .301, 275 digs, 16.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='493609' first='Madison' last='Grover'] (159 kills, .247, 55.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='215468' first='Makenzie' last='Sloan'] (143 kills, .198, 22.0 blocks). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Season Recap: </strong>Indianola moved up from 4A, where it played in last year's state title match. It faces mostly 4A teams in its conference, but did challenge itself beyond that competition. It owns a 2-0 win against Cedar Falls on Oct. 19 at the Johnston tournament. Against the rest of the 5A state field, Indianola is 1-5 with a win against Waukee and losses to the Warriors, Centennial (2), Waukee Northwest and Ankeny. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 6 Seed - Waukee Northwest (26-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490011' first='Leah' last='Janulewicz'] (280 digs, 123 kills); [player_tooltip player_id='555820' first='London' last='Taylor']<strong> </strong>(300 digs); [player_tooltip player_id='389019' first='Avery' last='Vogt'] (794 assists, 90 kills, .269, 142 digs, 33.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='389065' first='Anna' last='Pelds'] (195 digs); [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'] (333 kills, .204, 186 digs, 47.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='545971' first='Avery' last='Cordes'] (166 kills, .248, 87.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='493601' first='Piper' last='Ladwig'] (213 kills, .302, 54.0 blocks); Cassidy Danburg (115 kills, 54.0 blocks). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Season Recap: </strong>The defending state champion Wolves reloaded after significant graduation losses to reach its fourth state appearance in a row. They've claimed victory against fellow 5A state qualifiers Waukee, Dowling, Indianola and Centennial. They've also dropped matches to all of those teams besides Indianola. Northwest dropped its only meeting with Cedar Falls and has not faced Pleasant Valley. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 7 Seed - Cedar Falls (33-6)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='389010' first='Annistyn' last='Wedgbury'] (439 assists, 85 assists); [player_tooltip player_id='523167' first='Natalie' last=''] Schmadeke (183 kills, .227, 158 assists, 72 digs, 59.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='261058' first='Brynn' last='Bakula'] (658 assists, 184 digs, 24.0 blocks) [player_tooltip player_id='504019' first='Jada' last='Strohman'] (212 digs); [player_tooltip player_id='389853' first='Kennedy' last='Krecklow'] (283 kills, .213, 290 digs, 29.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='215408' first='Grace' last='Hannam'] (266 kills, .326, 106.0 blocks); Kya Bradfield (151 kills, 60 digs, 37.0 blocks). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Season Recap: </strong>Wins against Waukee and Waukee Northwest show what Cedar Falls is capable of accomplishing. It also owns victories against state qualifiers in other classes, including Dike-New Hartford, Wahlert, Grundy Center and West Delaware. Cedar Falls is 2-3 in matches against fellow 5A state tournament squads with setbacks against Dowling, Ankeny and Indianola. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 8 Seed - Waukee (18-14) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='500115' first='Maggie' last='Craig'] (173 kills, 79 digs, 20.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='500116' first='Alexa' last='Weber'] (121 kills, .281, 35.0 blocks); Mia Heinrich (82 kills, 37.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='443092' first='Malia' last='Rogers'] (215 kills, 118 digs, 30.0 blocks); [player_tooltip player_id='443125' first='Liv' last='Davis'] 622 assists, 51 kills, 166 digs); [player_tooltip player_id='455721' first='Stella' last='Braddock'] (177 kills, 18.0 blocks). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Season Recap: </strong>The Warriors took on the third hardest schedule in the state this season, according to Bound. They have wins against 5A state qualifiers in Ankeny, Ankeny Centennial and Indianola. Most of Waukee's setbacks this season have come at the hands of 5A teams in Coralville next week. It's 3-9 in matches against those schools, having faced everyone except Pleasant Valley. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Howe I See It: </strong>I've scouted five of the eight 5A qualifiers in person, missing the two Waukee schools and Indianola. I've seen a lot of the players on the teams I couldn't get out to watch and viewed video of them from this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's difficult predicting a champion with the parity in the class. Few folks would have tabbed Waukee Northwest to be the last one standing at this time a year ago. And in taking the title, the Wolves needed five sets against Centennial and Dowling for their last two wins. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think there are three teams in the top tier this year - Pleasant Valley, Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny. Dowling and Indianola are in the next tier, and Waukee Northwest, Cedar Falls and Waukee make up the third tier. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expect PV, Centennial and Ankeny to reach the semifinals along with Dowling, who beats Indianola in a close match. The Maroons will give Pleasant Valley all it wants before the Spartans advance to the title match. Picking a winner between the Ankeny schools is a dart throw with a slight edge to Centennial. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Centennial and Pleasant Valley throw down for the title Thursday morning with the Jaguars having picked up a 2-0 win in their first meeting on Aug. 31 at their tournament, and the Spartans taking a 2-1 decision Oct. 12 at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. Who wins the championship will just be a matter of who's better that day. It could be a different outcome 24 hours later. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two of the best players in the 5A during this decade, [player_tooltip player_id='215464' first='Delaney' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='215425' first='Jaeden' last='Pratt'], lead Centennial to the crown in their final go-around. Standout libero Mia Lei-Butters helps by limiting PV's potent attack led by [player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'] and company. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->