What Iowa Classification Changes Could Impact The Postseason?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the Iowa high school volleyball season approaching, it's always fun to see what the postseason could look like. There are some changes with some schools and what class they are competing with that could have a big impact in the changing landscape of post season volleyball.&nbsp; Here are some changes that popped out to me for this upcoming fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1011256,"width":"510px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.5014953078271631","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/07/RG1A7270.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1011256" style="aspect-ratio:1.5014953078271631;width:510px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='729146' first='Anna' last='Jackson'] of Dallas Center-Grimes</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>From 4A to 5A </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some new teams that I noticed that will be going from Class 4A to 5A would be Dallas Center-Grimes and North Scott.&nbsp; The last big headlining team to move up a class I recall is Indianola.&nbsp; They were a Class 4A runner up in 2023, bumped up a class in 2024 to return to the state tournament as a Class 5A team where they were among the final eight.&nbsp; They even made a return in 2025 with an upset over Waukee to keep their streak going.&nbsp; For Dallas Center-Grimes and North Scott, these are two powerful 4A teams that will be going against some large school powers.&nbsp; This has been on the forecast for DCG as their school voted to move into the CIML, they've already seen success at the 5A level where they were in the final four for softball.&nbsp; As for volleyball, they return a star studded lineup that is led by Valparaiso commit [player_tooltip player_id='493973' first='Gwen' last='Farley'] who will be looking to dish to the likes of Minnesota State commit [player_tooltip player_id='394331' first='Maggie' last='Leifker'], senior [player_tooltip player_id='443085' first='Avery' last='Edgington'], and [player_tooltip player_id='991341' first='Madison' last='Messerly'].&nbsp; Who took them down in the state tournament in 2025?&nbsp; North Scott.&nbsp; The [program_tooltip program_id='431978' first='Lancers' last=''] were the Class 4A state champions who upset top ranked Clear Creek-Amana, following it up with a win over Sioux Center in the finals.&nbsp; They do graduate a talented senior class led by McKenzie Moeller who will begin her career at Southern Illinois, but this program has been among the top 4A teams year in and year out.&nbsp; This could set up potential post season matchups with 5A power Pleasant Valley which they already see each other in MAC play.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1011257,"width":"434px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.3491475166790214","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/07/RG1A7505-e1785439263180.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1011257" style="aspect-ratio:1.3491475166790214;width:434px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Davenport Assumption at the 2025 State Tournament</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>From Class 3A to 4A </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three schools who have made noise in the postseason that will be bumping up from Class 3A to 4A are Davenport Assumption,&nbsp; Dubuque Wahlert and Des Moines Christian.&nbsp; I almost missed Assumption because they went from Class 3A to being number 32 out of 48 teams in Class 4A.&nbsp; That's a huge jump.&nbsp; They are the defending Class 3A state champions and will return outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='694203' first='Belle' last='Cotton'] and libero [player_tooltip player_id='742600' first='Piper' last='Hodge'] who are among some of the best in their class. Wahlert advanced to the state tournament in 2023 and 2024.&nbsp; In 2024, they were in the final four before dropping their semifinal match to Mount Vernon.&nbsp; They will be led by two senior attackers in Lucy Lueken and [player_tooltip player_id='823131' first='Caroline' last='Freed'].&nbsp; Another athlete to keep tabs on would be defensive specialist Claire Brosius. This step up in competition for Wahlert will not be a large adjustment after competing in the MVC with some of the top Class 5A teams in the state. Des Moines Christian will be heading into Class 4A after three straight state tournaments going from 2021-2023.&nbsp; They will also be heading to the Little Hawkeye Conference with some top Central Iowa powers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One team to note who goes down from Class 4A to 3A will be Solon.&nbsp; They lost in the Class 4A regional final last year to Marion, but will now be the largest school in Class 3A for 2026.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 2A to 3A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For years it was Western Christian verse Dike-New Hartford to battle for the Class 2A state title, but now they will be going head to head in Class 3A.&nbsp; Western Christian bumped up last season to Class 3A where Dike-New Hartford will make the move up this eason.&nbsp; For Dike-New Hartford this isn't a bad matchup when it comes to their road to state, and the same can be said for other Class 2A Cedar Valley opponents.&nbsp; The road to the state tournament runs through the gauntlet of teams where traditionally four teams from the NICL advance to the state tournament, including back to back state champion Denver.&nbsp; Another team making the move up to Class 3A will be Treynor who is always a Western Iowa program to know and who Dike-New Hartford beat in the regional final in 2025.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 2A to 1A </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another NICL school that advanced to the Class 2A state tournament last season was Wapsie Valley.&nbsp; However, for 2025 they will be a Class 1A school.&nbsp; They defeated Union to get to the state tournament avenging an early season conference loss. Dropping down a class when you live in the Cedar Valley doesn't make the route to the state tournament easier - it just looks different. Other Class 1A state tournament teams from 2025 in this area include BCLUW, Dunkerton, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, and Janesville (St. Ansgar isn't too far either).&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->