2A 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><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/10/4a-state-bracket-breakdown-interesting-storylines/">4A State Bracket Breakdown, Interesting Storylines</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/11/3a-state-bracket-breakdown-interesting-storylines/">3A State Bracket Breakdown, Interesting Storylines</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pleasant Valley (Class 5A) and Mount Vernon (3A) have opportunities to repeat as champions at this week's state volleyball tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Bishop Heelan (4A) and Ankeny Christian (1A) do not after bowing out in the regional finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unlike PV and Mount Vernon, however, Denver (2A) is the only returning champ favored to win this week. The Cyclones enter the competition as the top-seed with a 47-1 record. The lone setback was a <a class="" href="https://www.gobound.com/ia/ighsau/vb/2025-26/comps/h20250924043412112e8156ee7787b49?idSchool=67B25358-8B70-42EC-80B4-D0FE310098AA">2-0 loss (26-28, 19-21)</a> to Sumner-Fredericksburg at their tournament on Sept. 27.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Denver has only lost eight of 110 sets contested this season. It's 3-0 against the No. 2 seed in the state tournament bracket, Dike-New Hartford. The Cyclones are 2-0 against their first-round opponent, Wapsie Valley, and a combined 3-0 versus the two teams - Grundy Center and Beckman Catholic - competing to face them or Wapsie in the semifinals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All that is to say, the field is up against it trying to take down Denver. Dike-New Hartford is a sound squad that has pushed the Cyclones as much as they've been pushed, and Hinton is a wildcard having stayed out west this season and not faced any other teams in this bracket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='389012' first='Channing' last='Johnson'] runs the show for the champs. The Wayne State commitment has 1,086 assists, 142 kills (.325), 256 digs and 64.0 blocks in 110 sets. St. Cloud State pledge [player_tooltip player_id='389017' first='Bailey' last='Mullihan'] has enjoyed a fabulous senior season with 382 kills (.352), 157 digs and 37.0 blocks, and classmate [player_tooltip player_id='827473' first='Mylee' last='Thurm'] (280 kills, .441, 97.0) has been outstanding, too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='389009' first='Grace' last='Mullihan'], a St. Cloud commitment, has been building herself back up after missing the season's start with injury. She and [player_tooltip player_id='835359' first='Madeline' last='Hildebrandt'] add firepower to the attack, and  [player_tooltip player_id='739138' first='Mackenzie' last='McEwan'] enters state play with 386 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Denver chasing a repeat is the top storyline in 2A, but there are more...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wolverines have what it takes. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dike-New Hartford, for the most part, dominated 2A this decade before Denver broke through last season and kept the momentum rolling so far in 2025. Payton Petersen and company won state titles in'20, '21 and '23, and finished second in '22. Last year, they rebuilt, and this season they're healthy and much improved.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While DNH hasn't found a way to top the Cyclones in three meetings this fall, they've become more competitive with time. The challengers also gathered valuable intel on what it will take to break through. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The biggest boost they received this season was the return from injury of senior six-rotation standout [player_tooltip player_id='389014' first='Abby' last='Jensen'], who enters the tournament with 367 kills, 389 digs and 21.0 blocks in 107 sets. Her senior teammate, [player_tooltip player_id='761890' first='Keely' last='Kauten'], has 240 kills and 51.0 blocks, and joins with junior [player_tooltip player_id='818264' first='Rylee' last='Reicks'] (232 kills, 44.0 blocks) to make the Wolverines very strong in the middle of the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='893719' first='Aubrey' last='Asche'] has enjoyed a breakout season on the attack. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='893076' first='Kailyn' last='Meester'] and [player_tooltip player_id='894796' first='Ruby' last='Varney'], the libero, have been consistent at their positions, and [player_tooltip player_id='751358' first='Emmie' last='Sager'] has performed well at the opposite pin. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>A challenge from the West? </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hinton didn't venture too far into Iowa from its home just northeast of Sioux City. Not facing any other teams in this state tournament bracket created some mystery around the Blackhawks. Several of their wins added to the intrigue. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Hinton missed the schools in this eastern-heavy field, it met programs playing at state in other classes. The Blackhawks swept the second seed (Sioux Center), fourth seed (Dallas Center-Grimes) and eighth seed (Sergeant Bluff-Luton, twice) in 4A, along with 3A qualifier Cherokee Washington. They also swept defending 4A champion Heelan. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hinton is led by one of the state's best players in [player_tooltip player_id='389079' first='Bailey' last='Boeve'], a Creghton commit. The senior has 323 kills (.461), 171 digs and 36.0 blocks in 77 sets. Her classmate, [player_tooltip player_id='833710' first='Karlyn' last='Kovarna'], as well as freshmen [player_tooltip player_id='769009' first='Ellie' last='Friessen'] and Adalyn Ortegren, help her on the attack. [player_tooltip player_id='552901' first='Katelyn' last='Hoefling'] and Addison Dunkel are successfully running the 6-2. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Can the stars shine? </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sometimes in the smaller classifications, teams can make a run with a star or two taking over matches. The squads already mentioned in this piece have that and more, but others will rely more on few headliners.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That group includes fourth-seeded Grundy Center with 6-foot-8 middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='818213' first='Ryanne' last='Brubaker']. The junior had 425 Kills (.482) and 137.0 blocks in 107 sets, progressively becoming more dominant with each passing match. She has help in [player_tooltip player_id='891599' first='Charlee' last='Kirkpatrick'], [player_tooltip player_id='839302' first='Trinity' last='Jirovsky'] and others, but Brubaker will need to carry a lot of the load. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regina brings with it a pair or Division I recruits. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='261094' first='Reese' last='Naeve'] (701 kills, .339, 491 digs, 39.0 blocks in 112 sets) is headed to Iowa State, and [player_tooltip player_id='403543' first='Addie' last='Bollier'] (770 digs in 112 sets) is a Samford pledge. The Regals are tested against a strong schedule and returning to state for a second year in a row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BRACKET BREAKDOWN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Few sporting occurrences shock me these days. And a team knocking off Denver would not rise to that level. There are some good ones in this bracket, and this stage can produce unexpected results.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That said, I'd be surprised if the Cyclones come up short in their repeat attempt. They have the talent and experience. It's a connected group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DNH has a chance with a clean effort, perhaps, getting Denver off its game. Folks should recognize Hinton's resume. I'm interested in seeing the Blackhawks in action. As discussed already, other squads in the bracket could get on a run with star power or via strong chemistry built throughout the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll fully admit being less comfortable breaking down brackets in the small classifications, but here goes...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":900424,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/Class-2A-State-Tournament.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-900424" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->