4A State Bracket Breakdown, Interesting Storylines

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/10/5a-state-bracket-breakdown-main-storylines/">5A State Bracket Breakdown, Interesting Storylines</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We made it. The state tournament tips off Monday. Action in the two largest classifications get us started on Day 1 inside Xtream Arena in Coralville. You can see the schedule for the whole event <a href="https://ighsau.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/25statevolleyball/webpairingsallvb25.pdf">here</a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You'll find the preview for 5A linked above. Next up, we look at 4A's interesting storylines before breaking down the bracket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STORYLINES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Can the Clipper ship dock with a state championship onboard? </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clear Creek Amana has been one of the top teams in 4A this decade. It posted a 169-38 record coming into this campaign, during which it's 41-3. The deepest postseason run concluded with a 3-1 loss to Xavier in the 2022 state championship match. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While it's been an impressive run with a lot of memorable moments, the one memory missing is crystal clear for the folks in Tiffin. The Clippers enter Monday's state tournament quarterfinals as the favorite, their eyes on the school's first-ever volleyball championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While not as highly favored as Waukee Northwest in 5A, CCA has been the best team in its classification this fall. It captured the title at the Live Like Line Tournament with wins against Ankeny and Iowa City West. It later claimed the WaMaC championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='361168' first='Averie' last='Lower'] and [player_tooltip player_id='516002' first='Julia' last='Schlarbaum'] have teamed up for 566 kills, 539 digs and 70.0 blocks as impactful, six-rotation performers. Four-year starter [player_tooltip player_id='243457' first='Emily' last='Henderson'] has 938 assists, 81 kills (.439), 225 digs and 24.0 blocks, and [player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson'] pounded out 275 kills (.401) and posted 93.0 blocks. [player_tooltip player_id='517585' first='Sariah' last='Sherman'] solidified the opposite pin, contributing 136 kills (.250), 80 digs and 45.0 blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Can the best from the West reign supreme again? </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sioux Center was faced with defeating defending champion Bishop Heelan in the regional finals. It did so with a convincing, 3-1 (25-10, 25-18, 22-25, 25-16) victory on Tuesday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors enter this tournament as the No. 2 seed, meaning it wouldn't meet favored Clear Creek Amana until the championship match. It also means they're paired with third-seeded Pella, which returns most of its firepower from a squad that lost to Heelan in last year's title match. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sioux Center will be trying to keep the 4A trophy in the 712 in back to back seasons for the first time since Harlan repeated in 2013-14. Heelan and Sergeant Bluff-Luton ('19) are the only other champs from that area code since that run by the Cyclones more than a decade ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='575152' first='Courteney' last='Schmidt'] (226 kills) leads a balanced Warrior attack, which also saw [player_tooltip player_id='816843' first='Maryn' last='Franken'], [player_tooltip player_id='841522' first='Adison' last='Brantsen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='811476' first='Avery' last='Bitker'] top 100 this season. Taylor Holverson has 460 assists and 94 digs, and [player_tooltip player_id='795469' first='Kaylee' last='Traver'] and Kate VandeHoef have combined for 297 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DO NOT discount the Dutch. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As mentioned while discussing the previous storyline, Pella winning this thing should not be surprising. The Dutch are tested against a tough schedule after shining under the pressure of the state tournament a year ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='389942' first='Katie' last='Scheckel'] can do everything there is to be done on the volleyball court. The senior enters this event with 377 kills (.279), 290 assists, 306 digs and 30.0 blocks. The multi-sport standout competes relentlessly. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scheckel is supported by a pair of talented classmates, [player_tooltip player_id='810068' first='Abbie' last='Brand'] [player_tooltip player_id='753905' first='Brooke' last='Schulte']. Brand rolls into the state tournament with 243 kills (.379) and 82.0 blocks, while Schulte is responsible for 199 kills (.274), 183 digs and 20.0 blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Get your popcorn ready for the No. 4 v No. 5 match. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These matches, theoretically, should pit the most evenly-matched teams in the bracket. Nuance of a season can sometimes produce a clear favorite in the competition between the four and five seeds, but that's not the case here. Dallas Center-Grimes versus North Scott should be a dandy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs won the two regular-season matchups during the Benton tournament back on Sept. 20. One of them ended with a 15-10 triumph in the third set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='394331' first='Maggie' last='Leifker'], [player_tooltip player_id='443085' first='Avery' last='Edgington'] and [player_tooltip player_id='730390' first='Ava' last='Smid'] all are over 200 kills for the campaign, and [player_tooltip player_id='753982' first='Jacey' last='McFarland'] is above 150 for DCG. [player_tooltip player_id='493973' first='Gwen' last='Farley'] sits with 975 assists with 213 digs, and [player_tooltip player_id='729146' first='Anna' last='Jackson'] has 384 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Scott rides a 13-match winning streak into Monday's meeting, its last loss being against the Mustangs at Benton. The run includes a win against Clear Creek Amana. [player_tooltip player_id='800048' first='Kenzie' last='Moeller'] leads the way as a six-rotation dynamo. [player_tooltip player_id='808221' first='Adalynn' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='827589' first='Paige' last='Coon'] also shine on the attack, [player_tooltip player_id='389008' first='Addison' last='Allen'] stands out at setter, and [player_tooltip player_id='261052' first='Ainsley' last='Haedt'] holds down the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BRACKET BREAKDOWN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This bracket appears more open than 5A, at least on paper. Clear Creek Amana has earned the top seed, but its first-round match is no picnic against a Sergeant Bluff-Luton outfit that knocked off No. 1 Xavier last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sioux Center and Pella, who also capable of winning this bracket, face tricky opening-round matches, too. The Warriors draw an-always-sound Marion bunch, and up-and-coming Norwalk is a dangerous opponent for the Dutch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This class provided us with a wild ride in 2024, and the potential is there for another week of eye-brow-raising results. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's how I see it shaking out while being very prepared to be wrong.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":899854,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Class-4A-State-Tournament.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-899854" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->