Osage, Linn-Mar Host Gauntlet Of Ranked Teams

This is a big weekend in high school volleyball with plenty of teams with a big goose egg in the loss column. With high powered teams heading to Osage and Linn-Mar this weekend, there are plenty of ranked teams who will be heavily tested. These early season tournaments expose the weakness teams need to improve upon moving on with their season. The wins are important, but the lessons learned through tough competition are much more valuable in early September in hopes of building on their journey to Cedar Rapids come early November. Osage Tournament How many ranked teams can you fit in a gym? Here is the loaded lineup heading to Northeast Iowa to the newly renovated Osage High School gym that will provide plenty of space for these top squads: 2A #2 Dike-New Hartford 3A #2 Osage 3A #3 Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 4A #9 Waverly-Shell Rock 4A #10 Gilbert [caption id="attachment_108403" align="alignright" width="477"]<img class="wp-image-108403" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/DSC03380.jpg" alt="" width="477" height="318" /> [player_tooltip player_id="41239" first="Morgan" last="Middleton"] attacking at the state tournament.[/caption] 5A #1 Cedar Falls The Committed: [player_tooltip player_id="41239" first="Morgan" last="Middleton"] - Clarion-Goldfield Dows - North Dakota State [player_tooltip player_id="17258" first="Jadyn" last="Jondle"] - Clarion-Goldfield Dows - South Dakota [player_tooltip player_id="79237" first="Avery" last="Beckett"] - Waverly-Shell Rock - South Dakota [player_tooltip player_id="41254" first="Taylor" last="Grinley"] - Gilbert - South Alabama Emmy Wedgbury - Cedar Falls - Northwestern [player_tooltip player_id="79256" first="Alivia" last="Bronner"] - Cedar Falls - Northern Iowa Uncommitted Seniors To Watch: Osage is led by two of the top outside hitters in the state in Dani Johnson and [player_tooltip player_id="41248" first="Paige" last="Kisley"]. Johnson just surpassed the 1,000 kill mark in her career and has been a multi-sport standout for the Green Devils. Kisley is a top track athlete in the state and can jump out of the gym. Elle Bobinet has been running the show as one of the top Senior setters in the area. Gilbert has a strong Senior class with [player_tooltip player_id="17250" first="Thea" last="Rotto"], a physical athlete who can really score points on the outside along with [player_tooltip player_id="79015" first="Nessa" last="Johnson"] who can set and hit from the right side with a big left-handed swing. Cedar Falls was predicted for a rebuilding year after graduating three D1 athletes from their state championship lineup, but they have found themselves at the top of Class 5A again. [player_tooltip player_id="41247" first="Halia" last="Mahi"] has been leading the Tigers in assists with an incredibly balanced lineup. Kaylee Miller will be in the lineup for an undefeated Forest City squad, Miller can attack from anywhere in the front row. Seniors Danielle Stock and Sarah Mithcell will be leading Charles City who have won four of their last five. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 🚨Milestone alert 🚨 Dani Johnson surpasses 1,000 kills tonight! Congratulations, Dani! 🔥🏐💚 <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/FuelingTheFire?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FuelingTheFire</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/OsageVB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OsageVB</a> <a href="https://x.com/IGHSAU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IGHSAU</a> <a href="https://x.com/OsageAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OsageAthletics</a> <a href="https://x.com/ejnewspaper?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ejnewspaper</a> <a href="https://t.co/QdQxlERoG6">pic.x.com/QdQxlERoG6</a> — Osage Volleyball (@OsageVolleyball) <a href="https://x.com/OsageVolleyball/status/1304236642623008769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> The Up and Coming Osage is ranked #2 in Class 3A and CGD #3 after both teams were in Class 2A last year. While DNH was in Class 3A and is now in Class 2A. Either way these are some of the top teams in the state no matter what class. Osage has quite the Junior duo in [player_tooltip player_id="42440" first="Kaebre" last="Sullivan"] in the middle and the ultimate utility player in [player_tooltip player_id="79248" first="Meredith" last="Street"]. [player_tooltip player_id="79667" first="Claudia" last="Aschenbrenner"] is one of the top Sophomores in the state and is another weapon out of the middle for Osage. DNH is led by Sophomore setter Madelyn Norton who can do so many things for the Wolverines and has some rock solid ball control and attacking with Jadyn and Payton Petersen of Dike-New Hartford. Cedar Falls has plenty of balance where they have Ellie Gerdes, [player_tooltip player_id="79274" first="Anisia" last="Smith"], and [player_tooltip player_id="79702" first="Katie" last="Remmert"].   Linn-Mar [caption id="attachment_108402" align="alignright" width="443"]<img class=" wp-image-108402" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/DSC02977.jpg" alt="" width="443" height="295" /> Marion at the state tournament[/caption] Ranked Teams Pool A 4A #3 Marion 5A #9 Dubuque Hempstead 3A #6 Davenport Assumption Pool C 2A #9 Sumner-Fred 5A #6 Pleasant Valley Teams will be in three pools in three different gyms playing a round robin between four teams. Pool A features Marion and Assumption who are coming off a state tournament appearance. Marion has athletes everywhere on the court and plenty of experience with two setters who can also score points in Avery Van Hook and [player_tooltip player_id="79251" first="Elise" last="Mehaffy"] and one of the top Senior liberos in the state with [player_tooltip player_id="41281" first="Trinity" last="Zika"] who just surpassed 1,000 digs in her career. Hempstead is off to a hot start and is led by outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="41257" first="Corinne" last="Meier"], one of the top available outside hitters in the Class of 2020. Assumption is led by the Schubert sisters with Senior, [player_tooltip player_id="17244" first="Emma" last="Schubert"] on the outside and [player_tooltip player_id="79708" first="Ava" last="Schubert"] a 6’1 right side hitter with a thunderous left handed swing. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Congratulations to our girl, [player_tooltip player_id="17325" first="Kora" last="Ruff"] on this great accomplishment!! 😍 Can’t wait what to see what her and her teammates will accomplish next!!😁🥰❤️🏐 <a href="https://t.co/ncmMJAYOO5">pic.x.com/ncmMJAYOO5</a> — PV Volleyball (@PVVolleyball) <a href="https://x.com/PVVolleyball/status/1304233550955319296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Pool C will be highlighted by two of the top setters in the state. Sumner-Fred will feature [player_tooltip player_id="79236" first="Morgan" last="Brandt"], a Class of 2022 setter who has committed to Iowa State. Pleasant Valley will have [player_tooltip player_id="17325" first="Kora" last="Ruff"], a Junior setter who most recently set her school’s all-time assist record. The Spartans were in the final four of Class 5A last year and will look to get back to Cedar Rapids. They also have one of the top Sophomores in the state in [player_tooltip player_id="79675" first="Chloe" last="Cline"] who can attack and score points in multiple ways.