5A Recap, Reaction: Northwest Completes the Quest

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   <a href="https://ighsau.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/25statevolleyball/5afinal.pdf">BOX SCORE</a>   CORALVILLE - When you have a collection of very talented student-athletes that gel during a season, you get Waukee Northwest 2025. The Wolves successfully completed a journey that began with a loss in last season's state championship match here at Xtream Arena. It ended Thursday with a Class 5A title, their second in three years.   Northwest systematically swept Central Iowa Metro League rival Ankeny Centennial in the final. The Wolves also completed a 5-0 campaign against the second-best team in the state. As was the case throughout 2025, they made the opponent uncomfortable from the opening serve and kept the pressure on.   A 25-10, first-set victory showed Northwest was ultra focused on the task at hand, which hadn't changed since it returned its entire rotation from a squad that fell to Pleasant Valley in the '24 championship. A 2-0 loss to rival Waukee in the final of the Southeast Polk tournament on Sept. 13 was the only blemish on a record that featured 38 victories. The Wolves won their last 21 matches all via by sweep.   Losing to their crosstown rival turned out to be all the motivation they needed.   "We didn't really have a talk right after that game," senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='389019' first='Avery' last='Vogt'] said. "We kind of went on the bus, and we were all upset. That was motivation. It was a walk-up call."   The rest of the winning formula is pretty simple but not easily attained. The girls like each other, creating chemistry and a strong support system.   "We're all really close," junior hitter [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'] said. "We hang out outside of volleyball a lot. We're just really good friends. I think that shows in the court with how we play together."   It also helps that the Wolves rotation is loaded with accomplished performers.   [player_tooltip player_id='389019' first='Avery' last='Vogt'] is committed to Drake, while her younger sister, [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'], and [player_tooltip player_id='493601' first='Piper' last='Ladwig'] are pledged to Iowa State. They're both juniors as is [player_tooltip player_id='490011' first='Leah' last='Janulewicz'], another Drake commit. Sophomore hitter [player_tooltip player_id='545971' first='Avery' last='Cordes'] will have Power 4 schools calling when recruiting rules allow her class to be contacted next summer. Junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='555820' first='London' last='Taylor'] should be receiving a lot more attention from colleges, and her classmate, middle [player_tooltip player_id='812248' first='Cassidy' last='Danburg'], probably would be getting more looks if she wasn't also a legit basketball prospect. Senior defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='389065' first='Anna' last='Pelds'] rounds out the rotation as a veteran that's had a part two championships and a whole lot of wins.   A group of eight relentless ballers that suffocates its opponents. Even when they squirm free for a bit of air, like Centennial did at times on Thursday, eventually, their fate is inevitable.   [player_tooltip player_id='389019' first='Avery' last='Vogt'] was named the outstanding performer at the 5A state tournament, registering 36 assists, nine digs and a pair of kills in the championship match. She was joined on the all-tournament team by [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='490011' first='Leah' last='Janulewicz']. Centennial's [player_tooltip player_id='389060' first='Tatem' last='Schmidt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='261088' first='Mya' last='Lei-Butters'] also made it as did Pleasant Valley's [player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'] and Valley's [player_tooltip player_id='261075' first='Kaelyn' last='Wieland'].   The Jaguars had no reason to hang their heads. They finished the season at 34-6, again, with five of those defeats against the Northwest machine.   "I don't think we played terrible," Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart said. "I think we could have played a little bit better and maybe opened things up more for us, but I think they're a great volleyball team. They showed up today and had it all going."    Said senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='389060' first='Tatem' last='Schmidt']: "I think they came out ready to play. They were on fire right away. Their serve-receive was spot on, and we just didn't adjust to it as well as we wanted to."   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/apYZQwpw7P0 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/AisdMHBZ8rM </div></figure>

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