5A 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>Class 5A will get the 2025 State Tournament started on Monday at noon inside Xtream Arena in Coralville. You can find the schedule for all classifications <strong><a href="https://ighsau.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/25statevolleyball/webpairingsallvb25.pdf">here</a></strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're starting our class-by-class tournament previews with 5A, the largest class of schools in Iowa. First, there's our Top 5 Storylines followed by a bracket breakdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STORYLINES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Can the heavy favorite finish the deal? </strong><br><br>Waukee Northwest has been the favorite in this class since last year's state tournament ended. The Wolves returned their entire rotation from a team that fell to Pleasant Valley in the 2024 championship match. Outside of a loss to rival Waukee this season, they've won the other 35 matches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='490011' first='Leah' last='Janulewicz'],&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='555820' first='London' last='Taylor'],&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='545971' first='Avery' last='Cordes'], [player_tooltip player_id='389019' first='Avery' last='Vogt'], [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'], [player_tooltip player_id='812248' first='Cassidy' last='Danburg'],&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='493601' first='Piper' last='Ladwig']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/piper-ladwig/"></a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='389065' first='Anna' last='Pelds']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/anna-pelds/"></a>&nbsp;won't be satisfied with anything less than a title. While that's a harsh reality, it's a reality none the less. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's pressure that comes with being the top seed and heavy favorite. The great teams welcome it. We're about the find out how it's processed by Northwest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Centennial's season overshadowed by Northwest's dominance. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jaguars have been great this season, piling up a 32-5 record. Four of the five setbacks came at the hands of Waukee Northwest. They also dropped a CIML match at Ankeny.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Centennial pushed the Wolves hard during the regular-season CIML meeting before falling in a five-setter. Northwest took the final frame, 16-14.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That match was more like the state tournament environment as opposed to the other meetings, which went down in tournaments. That said, they'd meet again in next week's championship, which as a whole other vibe. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior setters [player_tooltip player_id='389060' first='Tatem' last='Schmidt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='261083' first='Maegan' last='Cheeseman'] are a dynamite duo, while middle hitters, [player_tooltip player_id='816525' first='Mady' last='Ott'] and [player_tooltip player_id='827838' first='Sophia' last='Heither'], impact matches offensively and defensively. Senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='261088' first='Mya' last='Lei-Butters'] has seen it all and proven to be one of the best players at her position in Iowa. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defending champs not facing a lot of pressure to repeat. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps Pleasant Valley is feeling pressure to repeat as the champ inside its locker room. Out here, it sure doesn't feel like the Spartans are being given enough of a chance to be the last ones standing once again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They're certainly not the favorites like a year ago. But I think they're being slept on a bit. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched PV at the Prep Dig Sizzle in August. It looked like a team in transition after losing key players off of the 2024 squad. Fast forward to a several weeks ago at the Westside Invite, the Spartans had gelled and appeared to be ascending. They lost to Centennial in the championship but grew more that competition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'] is as good as any outside in the state, but [player_tooltip player_id='490015' first='Mazie' last='Sweers'] switching to setter after standing out through six rotations a year ago gave this team a chance. A close second to that development has been breakout seasons by [player_tooltip player_id='555746' first='Clare' last='Yeggy'] and Hanley Schmidt at the net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Which team seeded 6-8 has the best chance to advance? </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The teams would be West Des Moines Valley, Iowa City West and Indianola. The latter's upset of Waukee in the regional final is impressive but beating Northwest Monday would be beyond monumental.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That leaves Valley and West. The Trojans draw Centennial on Monday. They have the firepower to hang, but the Jaguars' experience and weapons make for a tough matchup. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sixth-seeded Valley draws Pleasant Valley. The Tigers already own a win against PV this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Way back in Sept. 13, they topped the Spartans, 2-0, in the championship of the Linn-Mar tournament. As mentioned earlier, Pleasant Valley has improved a great deal since then but will need to better in order to avoid a first-round exit against a hard-nosed Valley outfit led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='261075' first='Kaelyn' last='Wieland'], [player_tooltip player_id='839207' first='Thia' last='Raridon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='517919' first='Brooklyn' last='Brown'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BRACKET BREAKDOWN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've already covered a lot of territory regarding this bracket working above. Waukee Northwest is a heavy favorite with Centennial the top contender based on what's occurred to date.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weird outcomes can go down with the pressure of this tournament, however. Perhaps the bias from what we've already witnessed make it hard to find upsets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I do think Valley can push PV. West boasts high-end talent, particularly on the outside with [player_tooltip player_id='360642' first='Sophia' last='Austen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='754657' first='Cyan' last='Blommer'], but the inexperience against veteran Centennial creates a very large hurdle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dowling and Ankeny have a lot of new faces in important roles this season. They're dangerous but probably not enough for the winner of their first-round match to tame the Wolves. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are my predictions, which are beyond chalky: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":899010,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Class-5A-State-Tournament-1.jpg?w=987" alt="" class="wp-image-899010" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->