Marissa's 5A Rankings

<p>Now that we're over halfway done with the regular season, I thought it would be fun to throw out my rankings of the top 8 teams in each class. It has been so fun watching some teams work their way up in the rankings, and others trying to keep their top spots. My favorite part about this season has been the fact that so many of these classes are evenly matched. There have been so many matchups where I truly didn't know who was going to take the W. I'm eager to see how much my rankings change between now and the regional tournaments. </p>   <p>If you want to stay up to date with all of my media, make sure to follow my Instagram @Prepdigmarissa</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5A Rankings</h3>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">#1- Waukee Northwest</h4>   <p>There is no question as to why this team is at the top of everyone's rankings. Waukee Northwest has been a dominating force all season long, and I don't foresee them slowing down any time soon. The Wolves are currently 7-0 in conference and have an impressive 21-2 overall record. Their only losses have come from Valley at the beginning of the season and, more recently from Blue Valley West (which is a team from Kansas that is also ranked at the top of their state). The Wolves have truly shown what it takes to be a championship team. Most will claim that it's solely because of the talented athletes who are a part of the program, and although it does help to have talented players (obviously), there are plenty of teams throughout Iowa, and yet the Wolves still manage to plow through all of them. I think that's because this team is constantly working for each other and working towards the same goals. They're learning together, growing together, and leaning on each other when need be. Huge props to Head Coach Jodi Vogt for creating a culture where teamwork and hard work always prosper. </p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">#2- Dallas Center- Grimes</h4>   <p>DCG has been another unstoppable group of girls who came into this season looking for redemption. Last year, they had a decent regular-season finish but were one-and-done at the state tournament. However, the Mustangs were quick to bounce back and have a whole new spark lit within this team. It's clear this team has been grinding and putting in the work over the past couple of months, and now it's showing. I've been extremely impressed with their out of system game play and the way they always stay aggressive. You have to give a shoutout to Coach Meg Jackson and the Mustangs on their incredible season so far. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700">There is no question as to why Farley is ranked as the best setter in her class. Gwen has all of the top qualities you need in a setter. The draw she brings to her gameplay goes far beyond just her skill set. She moves the ball around extraordinarily well, making her opponents unaware of her next move. Her leadership, drive, and dedication have not only taken her to the next level, but also bettered all of her teammates along the way.</p>    <h4 class="wp-block-heading">#3- Ankeny</h4>   <p>Ankeny is another team right up there with Dallas Center-Grimes. The Hawks quickly reloaded after their successful run in last year's state tournament. They have shown a strong sense of comfort and confidence in their gameplay and are in an amazing position as they finish off their season. With the way things are going for Ankeny, I think we could very well expect to see them in the championship of the state tournament. Props to Elizabeth Baethke and the Hawks for a fantastic season so far and I am excited to see where they end up in the post season.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">#4- Dowling Catholic</h4>   <p>Dowling is another team that I could definitely see in the final four and maybe even in the final matchup for the state tournament. The Maroons have gone through this season with quite a bit of ease and are currently sitting at a 20-5 record, only really losing to the top teams in 5A and even taking Waukee Northwest to 5 and barely losing in the 5th set. Dowling has done an amazing job of meshing and growing together as a team throughout the season, and their work is paying off. With their remaining schedule, I believe the Maroons will be heading into the postseason with a strong record, tight-knit group, and high morale. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='758163' first='Jaya' last='Morrow'] is another setter with pinpoint accuracy who always tries to set her hitters up for success. Morrow is one of those setters who refuses to give up on a ball. It's very apparent that she plays with a team-first mentality and will give the team her all until the very end. Jaya's skills go far beyond her setting; she is incredibly scrappy on defense and still manages to set her team up even when out of system. </p>    <h4 class="wp-block-heading">#5- Ankeny Centennial</h4>   <p>Although Ankeny Centennial hasn't pulled off any major upsets, they've been taking care of business and even going toe-to-toe with some of the top teams in the state. They've definitely shown the potential to make a decent run in the postseason. As long as they figure out how to finish when they're in big matches, they are definitely a top competitor. I don't know if I would rank them any higher than the fifth spot, but I have high hopes for their postseason. </p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">#6- Iowa City West</h4>   <p>Iowa City West has made quite the comeback this year after a short run at the state tournament last season. The Trojans have been pretty impressive this season and are currently sitting at the top of their conference. They are currently 5-0 in conference and 18-5 overall and are still going. Although this entire group deserves props for the comeback they've made, you have to shout out <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/cyan-blommer/" data-type="players" data-id="754657">[player_tooltip player_id='754657' first='Cyan' last='Blommer']</a> and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/sophia-austen/" data-type="players" data-id="360642">[player_tooltip player_id='360642' first='Sophia' last='Austen']</a> for getting this team to the next level. Both of these six-rotation pins have fought relentlessly day in and day out, working to get their team back on the big stage. I think the Trojans could be above Ankeny Centennial if they had middle [player_tooltip player_id='697463' first='Audrey' last='Small'] on the court, but their middles have still managed to hold it down. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700">This sophomore has been an outstanding player to watch so far this season. Blommer has been turning heads with her insane vertical and whip-like swing that helps her bury the ball. She also manages to contribute in more ways than one, putting up big blocks and working hard in the back row. It can be stressful at times to play such a big role only as a sophomore, by Blommer has stepped into that role and flourished. </p>    <h4 class="wp-block-heading">#7- Cedar Falls</h4>   <p>Cedar Falls is another team who also hasn't pulled off any crazy wins, but has still done their part and gotten the job done. The Tigers also have the talent to be a dominating force in the postseason. Similar to a lot of the other teams in the 5th-10th spots in the rankings, Cedar Falls needs to find a way to finish out those tight sets, especially in the postseason. The Tigers looked especially strong this past weekend at the East vs. West showdown. Their defense looked precise, and their offense looked powerful. If they can keep that up through the next month, I see a great run for Cedar Falls.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">#8- Iowa City Liberty</h4>   <p>Although the Bolts have shown some inconsistencies in their gameplay, they've also shown a lot of potential in what they could do in the postseason. IC Liberty has loaded their schedule with some extremely tough competition, making them well-prepared for what's to come in the postseason. The Bolts have proven that when they show up, they can be indestructible and a tough team to beat. Even with a fairly tough schedule, they've managed to stay at the top of their conference with a 7-0 record and a 19-9 overall record. You can tell the Bolts are looking to make it to the big stage this season after falling just short of State last season. </p>

Now that we're over halfway done with the regular season, I thought it would be fun to throw out my rankings of the top 8 teams in each class. It has been so fun watching some teams work their way up in the rankings, and others trying to keep their top spots. My favorite part about this season has been the fact that so many of these classes are evenly matched. There have been so many matchups where I truly didn't know who was going to take the W. I'm eager to see how much my rankings change between now and the regional tournaments.