Where Are Iowa’s Top Teams, Athletes Competing Labor Day Weekend?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's little break for these Iowa squads over Labor Day weekend with top tier tournaments happening across the state.  Where will the top teams and top players be playing? We have you covered. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":366769,"width":536,"height":357,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/DSC08056.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-366769" style="width:536px;height:357px" width="536" height="357"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='168160' first='Gabby' last='Lombardi']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shirley Ryan Invitational - Mount Vernon</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ranked teams scattered across this tournament.  This will be a chance for a big opening statement for the host squad, the Mount Vernon Mustangs.  Other top teams will be Dike-New Hartford, North Scott, and Des Moines Christian (just to name a few).  [player_tooltip player_id='215385' first='Chloe' last='Meester'] of Mount Vernon and [player_tooltip player_id='168149' first='Payton' last='Petersen'] of Dike-New Hartford  are committed to Louisville, [player_tooltip player_id='215406' first='Abbey' last='Hayes'] of North Scott and Meester went head to head in pool play last year where it was power verse power.  Hayes is committed to Creighton.  Des Moines Christian will be an interesting wrinkle to this tournament where they started the year ranked number one in Class 3A before dropping a match to ADM.  The Lions are returning semifinalists from Class 3A and return Fresno State commit [player_tooltip player_id='168160' first='Gabby' last='Lombardi'] who can set and swing.  They also have a really dynamic right side/setter combo player in [player_tooltip player_id='203590' first='Hadley' last='Hardersen'] along with libero [player_tooltip player_id='261068' first='Finley' last='Schelhaas'].  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":452310,"width":557,"height":371,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/08/DSC07847.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-452310" style="width:557px;height:371px" width="557" height="371"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='168151' first='Kenzie' last='Dean']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tiger Invitational - West Des Moines Valley </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Central Iowa powers will be going head to head yet again at West Des Moines Valley this weekend, with the addition of Iowa City Liberty.  Five of the six teams are returning from the state tournament last year with Liberty, Valley, Dowling, Waukee NW, and Ankeny.  Dowling is currently number one in Class 5A with Mc[player_tooltip player_id='168151' first='Kenzie' last='Dean'], the Kansas commit averaging over four kills per set.  Ankeny has a ton of athleticism and have received a huge boost from outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='204533' first='Kamryn' last='Scheib'] who is leading the team with 45 kills.  Waukee NW will look for some revenge to an earlier loss to Ankeny.  They picked up some momentum this past week with a big win over Johnston.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":241843,"width":534,"height":368,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/11/137A6722-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-241843" style="width:534px;height:368px" width="534" height="368"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'25 Ankeny (IA) Centennial MH/RS [player_tooltip player_id='215425' first='Jaeden' last='Pratt']. (Rob Howe/PrepDig.com) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>City High Tournament - Iowa City High </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be an interesting combination of teams with Ankeny Centennial, Council Bluffs Lewis Central, Bettendorf, and the host City High.  Centennial is coming in with a high powered lineup that features [player_tooltip player_id='215749' first='Delaney' last='Miller'] who has been putting up mega numbers on the outside.  Fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='215425' first='Jaeden' last='Pratt'] is a tough matchup in the middle as well for the Jags.  The senior class for Lewis Central has been having a hot start with attackers [player_tooltip player_id='251671' first='Anna' last='Strohmeier'] and [player_tooltip player_id='251676' first='Ashlynne' last='Haverman'] scoring plenty of points with setter Haylee Erickson averaging over 10 assists per match. City High has been off to a strong start with their top two attackers in [player_tooltip player_id='251664' first='Claire' last='Ernst'] and [player_tooltip player_id='215434' first='Emmy' last='McComas'] while Sidney Slay has over 60 assists and 20 kills. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":251864,"width":545,"height":363,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/11/DSC08172.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-251864" style="width:545px;height:363px" width="545" height="363"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Elliott</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Hampton Tournament</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This field is loaded with some small school powerhouses.&nbsp; The host, New Hampton cracked into the top 15 of Class 3A with a 5-1 record. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='168159' first='Marissa' last='Cahoy'] who paces a senior dominated squad.&nbsp; Sumner-Fredericksburg will be in the field with [player_tooltip player_id='168172' first='Isabelle' last='Elliott'] who is a Northern Iowa commit.&nbsp; They are currently ranked 5th in Class 2A.&nbsp; Another 2A team who is going to huge start is Denver.&nbsp; The Cyclones graduated the Houston commit, Kayla Knowles, but they still have the same big goals after three consecutive state tournament appearances.&nbsp; Sophomore setter, [player_tooltip player_id='389012' first='Channing' last='Johnson'] is continuing her momentum from a big freshman season with nearly 140 assists so far this season.&nbsp; She has four attackers to create plenty of balance in Elaina Hildebrandt, [player_tooltip player_id='389017' first='Bailey' last='Mullihan'], [player_tooltip player_id='168174' first='Jessica' last='Gergen'], and [player_tooltip player_id='389009' first='Grace' last='Mullihan'].&nbsp; Don Bosco is a ranked Class 1A squad who is also in the field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->