What Iowa Teams Are Set To Be Bracket Busters?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Iowa, regions are made over halfway through the season.&nbsp; The top teams are fairly balanced out, but there are also teams who are looking to provide an upset along the way, busting the brackets, and finding a way to Coralville.&nbsp; Here are some teams who will be looking to make an upset in their region and they very well could have a great case for knocking off some higher seeded teams.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":145006,"width":183,"height":226,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/06/DSC07732-e1623164679114-826x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-145006" width="183" height="226"/><figcaption>Fluent</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 5A - Cedar Rapids Kennedy 21-11</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennedy hit a hot streak during the MVC Tournament where they defeated Western Dubuque and Xavier, top Class 4A teams.  [player_tooltip player_id='79679' first='Mara' last='Fluent'] has been a name for the Cougars who has quarterbacked their offense her whole career.  She has over 500 assists and is nearly 100 kills.  Her top targets are <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215388' first='Adalyn' last='Hermanson'], Emma Koeppen, and Jacey Powell</strong>.  They will face Bettendorf in a regional semifinal Thursday night and a potential with top seed in the region, Waukee Northwest.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 5A - West Des Moines Valley 19-20 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers have one of the top freshmen in the state in <strong>Kaelyn Wieland </strong>who has nearly 200 kills and 500 assists.  They have a well balanced attack with six attackers with over 100 kills.  Junior <strong>Else Jaeger </strong>leads the team with over 200 kills.  Valley could have a potential meeting with Johnston in a regional final.  They were beaten by Johnston 3-1 in conference play and 2-0 just over a week ago.  Will the third time be the charm for Valley? </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4A - Waverly-Shell Rock 30-18</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":168389,"width":192,"height":291,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/12/103-Averi-Weichers-676x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-168389" width="192" height="291"/><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='108440' first='Averi' last='Weichers']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's really hard not to count out the Go-Hawks.  They are perennial state tournament contenders and have 30 wins on the year.  They have played the top teams in the state with a rigorous schedule.  They have seniors who have the state tournament experience with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='108440' first='Averi' last='Weichers'], Elizabeth Frerichs, and [player_tooltip player_id='79712' first='Ellie' last='Thompson'].</strong>  They will have a tough task with the top ranked team in the state in Cedar Rapids Xavier, but thats a really tough draw to see a team like WSR in a regional final. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4A - Clear Creek-Amana 30-10 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CCA has won 30 matches and some have been against some tough opponents with wins against West Liberty, CR Kennedy, and Union.  They have not faced West Delaware, but that would be the regional final matchup.  WD has plenty of state tournament experience and are the defending Class 3A state champions, but they had a lot of pieces to replace from that team.  CCA will look to Drake commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='168155' first='Bliss' last='Beck'] </strong>who leads the team in kills and can score a lot of points.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='168156' first='Meg' last='Berkland']</strong> provides the consistent first contact to put the Clippers in system.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4A - Sioux City Bishop Heelan </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heelan and Lewis Central are going to have quite a battle in a regional semifinal and if the seedings play out, the winner will face Norwalk on the road in a regional final.  Heelan is returning from the state tournament in 2021 and has some key pieces back from that team.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='217136' first='Maliyah' last='Hacker'] </strong>will be the go to point scorer for Crusaders as well as one of the top defenders with over 200 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 3A - Mid Prairie 26-11</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":168356,"width":164,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/12/68-Dakota-Mitchell-657x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-168356" width="164" height="256"/><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='215395' first='Dakota' last='Mitchell']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mid-Prairie is a program on the rise with plenty of youth.  They have beaten the likes of West Burlington, Waverly-Shell Rock, and Union.<strong>  Landry Pacha</strong> does a little bit of everything for the Golden Hawks where she has nearly 250 kills and nearly 400 assists.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215395' first='Dakota' last='Mitchell']</strong> is the libero for the MP and she is one of the top sophomores in Iowa.  The youth movement is real for this group where freshmen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215390' first='Jovi' last='Evans'] and Harper Pacha</strong> have made significant impacts for this team.  They will have a tough match up with Davis County and a potential regional final with perennial state contender Davenport Assumption.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 2A - West Burlington 34-6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont is higher ranked and the top seed in this region, but on the other side of the bracket is West Burlington.   West Burlington has won 10 of their past 11 and have a high powered line up.  The senior duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='135807' first='Sophia' last='Armstrong'] and Kenna Marlow</strong> will be the clear go to point scorers for the Falcons.  Armstrong has nearly 400 kills and is hitting over .400 on the season.  This is a senior dominated team who will be looking to breakthrough to Xtream.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 2A - South Central Calhoun 33-8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Central Calhoun has picked up a lot of wins this season, but hasn't beaten that big ranked team.  They will have a tough road ahead of them with West Monona, potentially Ridge View, and then a potential regional final against Hinton.  All of these teams have over 20 wins.  The three big attackers for this squad will be <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='79673' first='Riley' last='Batta'], Keira Hammen, and Brenna McAlister.</strong>  Sophomore<strong> Jayci Graeve </strong>has paced this offense with over 700 assists on the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 1A - AGWSR 15-23</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yes, AGWSR with a record of 15-23.  This record could be a bit misleading on paper as AGWSR plays a brutal schedule and is in the toughest small school conference in the state.  They've played the best teams in the state regardless of class and know how to compete against tough competition.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='79710' first='Brynn' last='Smith']</strong> will be the key for the Cougars as she is one of the top all around players in the state.  She has nearly 400 kills and over 250 digs. She's involved in every play.  Smith is also one of the top beach players in the state and will be heading to Tusculum University in Tennessee.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->