PD Iowa Team Rankings: Class 5A Preseason Super 16

<!-- 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/2026/07/prep-preview-26-ciml-players-to-watch-part-iii/">Prep Preview '26: CIML Players to Watch</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/prep-preview-26-mac-players-to-watch-part-iii/">Prep Preview '26: MAC Players to Watch</a>&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/prep-preview-26-mvc-players-to-watch-part-iv/">Prep Preview '26: MVC Players to Watch</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/08/prep-preview-26-missouri-river-players-to-watch-part-iii/">Prep Preview '26: Missouri River Players to Watch</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's go time. We'll get volleyball that counts this week. The journey to crowing state champions during early November in Coralville begins in earnest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While teams will decide it on the court, predicting who they will be is a fun exercise, for me, and, hopefully, you. We love rankings! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll be ranking teams in the state's largest class, 5A, each Monday throughout the season. Here's how I see it heading into the new campaign: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1.</strong> <strong>Waukee Northwest</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending champions return five of their six starters from a year ago, including Iowa State commitments [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493601' first='Piper' last='Ladwig'] along with Drake pledge [player_tooltip player_id='490011' first='Leah' last='Janulewicz'], all three of them among the Top 7 in the Prep Dig in-state 2027 Class rankings. [player_tooltip player_id='545971' first='Avery' last='Cordes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='555820' first='London' last='Taylor'] also are back. Replacing elite all-state setter Avery Vogt will be challenging but her successor inherits a great situation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2. Ankeny</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A state semifinalist in 2025, Ankeny returns its top six kill leaders. [player_tooltip player_id='730419' first='Hailey' last='Wiederin'] (319), [player_tooltip player_id='555797' first='Marlee' last='Ellison'] (249) and [player_tooltip player_id='732859' first='Elle' last='Isaacson'] (203) lead that group. [player_tooltip player_id='490016' first='Raquel' last='Risk'], [player_tooltip player_id='992194' first='Quinn' last='Roush'] and [player_tooltip player_id='555800' first='Teagan' last='Moyer'] provide more playmakering in the front row. The Hawks will be replacing their starting setter and libero, but it's a program that's as good as any in the state at player development. Expect the replacements to be topnotch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. Dowling Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dowling Catholic lost a 3-2 heartbreaker against rival Ankeny in the state tournament quarterfinals last season. The Maroons bring back plenty of production from a squad that's a year better and more experienced. All-stater [player_tooltip player_id='500340' first='Kaylie' last='Klein'] joins [player_tooltip player_id='845755' first='Kennedy' last='Klein'], [player_tooltip player_id='763850' first='Gianna' last='Stanfel'] and [player_tooltip player_id='730098' first='Caroline' last='Crane'] in owning big-time swings. [player_tooltip player_id='758163' first='Jaya' last='Morrow'] is steady at setter, and the same can be said about [player_tooltip player_id='880642' first='Sidney' last='Bryan'] in the back row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. Iowa City West</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa City West returned to the state tournament last season for the first time since 2016. The Trojans welcome back all of their starters and the vast majority of their production from that team. All-state seniors [player_tooltip player_id='360642' first='Sophia' last='Austen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='555736' first='Lila' last='Eastvold'] will be looking to lead a group that includes younger talent in [player_tooltip player_id='754657' first='Cyan' last='Blommer'], Izzy McDonald, [player_tooltip player_id='533845' first='Taylor' last='Otte'] and [player_tooltip player_id='610472' first='Josie' last='Austen']. Veteran middle [player_tooltip player_id='697463' first='Audrey' last='Small'] is working her way back from an injury. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5. Dallas Center-Grimes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dallas Center-Grimes is moving up a class to 5A this season after advancing to the state tournament last year. The Mustangs will do so with the luxury of a lot of experience and production returning. [player_tooltip player_id='493973' first='Gwen' last='Farley'], [player_tooltip player_id='394331' first='Maggie' last='Leifker'], [player_tooltip player_id='729146' first='Anna' last='Jackson'], [player_tooltip player_id='443085' first='Avery' last='Edgington'], [player_tooltip player_id='991341' first='Madison' last='Messerly'] and [player_tooltip player_id='730390' first='Ava' last='Smid'] will give them a chance to make the transition seamless. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6. Indianola </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7. Iowa City Liberty </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8. Waukee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9. Pleasant Valley </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10. Ankeny Centennial</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>11. Cedar Falls</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>12. WDM Valley </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>13. Johnston </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>14. Cedar Rapids Kennedy </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15. Bettendorf </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16. Prairie </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->