Week One Highlights

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">What an amazing opening week for Iowa High School Volleyball. We had upsets, teams showing up and showing out under stadium lights, and so much more. </h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As someone who has been around volleyball my whole life, there is something so special about seeing the sport you love grow in ways you couldn't even imagine. If you had told high school me about all of the milestones volleyball has reached, I wouldn't have believed you. But now not only do I get to witness it, I get to be a part of it and cover some amazing events and athletes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Enough of me rambling about how cool this sport is, especially since we all already know that. Here are some of my takeaways from week one. What were your favorite parts of opening week that I missed? Let me know on my Instagram @Prepdigmarissa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Valley Takes Down Waukee Northwest</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers were the team to finally take down the big dogs... or should I say, Wolves. 13th-ranked Valley defeated the #1 school in 5A and previous state champs Waukee Northwest in a 3- set thriller on Thursday night under the stadium lights. Even though the Tigers had their backs against the wall, dropping the first set 16-25, they persevered and made the comeback no one expected. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["763526"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a971fe5c4bf7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='763526' first='Myla' last='Rude'] played a big part in the Tigers' success on Thursday by keeping the defense on lockdown. Rude got it done in the back row, behind the service line. The junior led her team in aces and digs, ending the night with two aces and eleven digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["783768"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a971fe5c4c37"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='783768' first='Ayanna' last='Bell'] was able to contribute to the team's win in more ways than one. Bell took big rips, threw up big blocks, and did a great job of running her offense. The senior ended the night with ten assists and four kills. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Solon Takes Down CCA</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spartans (ranked 14th in 3A) found a way to take down the Clippers (ranked 5th in 4A) at the Grinnell Invitational on Saturday. Solon came out hot and took the first set 21-12; however, CCA wasn't going down without a fight and answered right back with a 21-14 win in the second set, leaving the 3rd set completely up in the air. After a tough battle, the Spartans pulled through with a 15-12 win in the 3rd. Some of Solon's top performers were [player_tooltip player_id='754537' first='Amelia' last='Guinn'] and CJ Whitford, both leading with 7 kills as well as [player_tooltip player_id='893053' first='Makinley' last='Galvan'], adding 6 kills and 3 blocks of her own.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Assumption Defeats Ankeny Centennial</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption (ranked 12th in 4A) managed to take down Ankeny Centennial (ranked 10th in 5A) on their home turf this past Saturday. The Knights were about to scrape by and take the first set 25-23, but the Jaguars turned that around really quickly and took the second set 25-15. Although some might've thought Assumption would've crumbled, they just fought that much harder, showing just how much resilience they really have, and took the third set 15-13. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":1037650,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a971fe5c4c5d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We need to start talking about this kid because the performances she's been putting on are crazy. Camarena had some big shoes to fill, with the Knights graduating two outstanding middles. However, the sophomore has gone above and beyond in proving herself. Camarena was shutting down hitters left and right with her strong and disciplined block. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["946877"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a971fe5c4c7d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">DePoorter is another underclassman who is working to fill the shoes of Carsyn Kelley and has been on an upward trend. We got to see a little bit of the sophomore last year, but now she's stepping up and running the Knights' offense all on her own. You can tell she's starting to play with more confidence, getting more comfortable in a leadership role and helping lead her team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">North Tama Beats Wapsie Valley</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 10th-ranked North Tama managed to take down the 2nd-ranked Wapsie Valley in a Tuesday night showdown. The Redhawks came in ready to battle and had a focus on consistency and efficiency. North Tama came out aggressive and managed to take the first set 25-21. Then, after falling short in the second 17-25, they managed to pull through in the third with a close 15-10 upset. The Redhawks are already on a hot start, and they're still heating up. Top performers: Lily Sell, leading her team in kills and blocks, along with Grace Dvorak who led the team in digs and aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Waukee Northwest Wins Ankeny Centennial Invite</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although the Wolves ended their 22-game winning streak after falling just short to Valley, they showed up last weekend making it known that it wasn't going to be a common occurrence for them to lose this season. Waukee flew through their competition, only dropping two sets all day (one to IC Liberty and one to Western Christian). The Wolves even took down #3-ranked Ankeny in two sets for the championship (25-22 &amp; 25-18). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->