Bracket Breakdown: Class 1A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released regional volleyball pairings on Wednesday. There are 15 or 16 teams in a 1A region. With only 15 teams, the top seed enjoys a nice advantage, only needing three wins for a state berth while everyone else in the region must win five matches for a ticket to Coralville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Seed</strong>: Boyden-Hull</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others: </strong>Trinity Christian, South O'Brien, West Bend-Mallard, GTRA, George-Little Rock, Harris-Lake Park, River Valley, Ar-We-Va, Audubon, Coon Rapids-Bayard, Glidden-Ralston, IKM-Manning, Boyer Valley, West Harrison</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='493940' first='Elsie' last='Hoegh'], Boyden-Hull; [player_tooltip player_id='117628' first='Clara' last='Hoegh'], Boyden-Hull; Dennie Boogerd, Boyden-Hull; Addie Law, River Valley; Myah Dausel, River Valley; Jacy Jacobson, River Valley; Kerstin Brummel, Trinity Christian; Madelyn Vis, Trinity Christian; Kierstin Montag, West Bend-Mallard; Allie Fehr,&nbsp;West Bend-Mallard; [player_tooltip player_id='389939' first='Lindsey' last='Haken'],&nbsp;George-Little Rock; Kami Gerken, George-Little Rock; Malia Clayburg, Coon Rapids-Bayard; Addie Hocker, Audubon; Mattie Nielsen,&nbsp;Audubon; [player_tooltip player_id='400728' first='Harlow' last='Miller'], Audubon; Addy Boell,&nbsp;Glidden-Ralston; Ashlynn Tigges, Glidden-Ralston; Gwen Neilsen, Boyer Valley; Lauren Malone, Boyer Valley; Maclayn Houston,&nbsp;West Harrison. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> Second-ranked Boyden-Hull scheduled a strong group of teams, many of them larger schools. The Comets own two victories over MOC-Floyd Valley (3A No. 15). They're looking to get back to the state tournament after making it in '20 and '21. No. 15 River Valley holds down the bottom part of the regional bracket. The Wolverines can claim victory against Remsen St. Mary's (1A No. 10). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region</strong> <strong>2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Seed</strong>: AGWSR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others: </strong>Remsen St. Mary's, West Hancock, Rockford, Northwood-Kensett, North Iowa, Bishop Garrigan, Fort Dodge St. Edmond, Newman Catholic, [program_tooltip program_id='428931' first='Storm' last=''] Lake St. Mary's, Gehlen Catholic, Woodbury Central, Newell-Fonda, Kingsley-Pierson, Siouxland Christian, Whiting</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='508672' first='Trevyn' last='Smith'], AGWSR; Elise Olson, AGWSR; [player_tooltip player_id='215384' first='Tori' last='Metzgar'], AGWSR; Mya Bunkers, RSM; Claire Schroeder, RSM; Danika deBuhr, Rockford; Sacha Alesch, Bishop Garrigan; [player_tooltip player_id='483992' first='Ashlyn' last='Bechler'], North Iowa; Lily Beckman, North Iowa; Sami Kruckenberg, Newman Catholic; Claire O'Connor, St. Edmond; Lexi Gilbert, Woodbury Central; Aurora Goebel, Gehlen Catholic; Rysaiah Sitzmann, Gehlen Catholic; Jorja Howe, Kingsley-Pierson; [player_tooltip player_id='502166' first='Kinzee' last='Hinders'], Newell-Fonda; Alex Heilbuth, Siouxland Christian. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> AGWSR was ranked No. 8 in 1A when the pairings were announced and Remsen St. Mary's checked in 10th. AGWSR has defeated 1A No. 13 Gladbrook-Reinbeck three times this season and played a difficult scheduled filled with larger schools. Remsen St. Mary's knocked off 1A No. 15 River Valley and enjoyed success against other squads in this region. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Seed</strong>: Stanton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others: </strong>Lamoni, East Union, Sidney, Essex, East Mills, Hamburg, Council Bluffs St. Albert, Heartland Christian, Bedford, Diagonal, Griswold, Fremont-Mills, Lenox, Mount Ayr</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> Lauren Johnson, Stanton; Leah Sandin, Stanton; Kyla Hart, Stanton; Georgie Bohnet, St. Albert; [player_tooltip player_id='508666' first='Ellie' last='Monahan'], St. Albert; Sidney Staver, East Union; Avery Staver, East Union; Emaleigh Pierschbacher, Lamoni; Addyson Foster, Sidney; Gabi Jacobs, Sydney; Loycee Palmer,&nbsp;East Mills; Mia Goodman, East Mills; Evelyn Stoakes, East Mills; Cadence Perkins, Bedford; Carlie Chambers, Fremont-Mills; Bella Gute, Fremont-Mills; Gabbie Greiman, Griswold; Carolina Arcia, Griswold; Hayden Ruggles, Mount Ayr; Gabby Robles, Lenox. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> Seventh-ranked Stanton has taken down 4A No. 14 Glenwood this season and is 13-1 against other teams in this region. The Viqueens last reached the state tournament in '13, which ended a four-year run of making it to state. No. 11 St. Albert has made it to state eight times since '11, the last time being in '20. The Saintes have faced a tough schedule this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region 4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Seed</strong>: Ankeny Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others: </strong>Twin Cedars, Melcher-Dallas, Mormon Trail, Southeast Warren, Seymour, Wayne, CAM, Martensdale St. Mary's, Exira-EHK, Orient-Macksburg, Earlham, Murray, Riverside, Woodbine</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215462' first='Katie' last='Quick'], Ankeny Christian; [player_tooltip player_id='215463' first='Carley' last='Craighead'], Ankeny Christian; [player_tooltip player_id='217124' first='Anna' last='Weathers'],&nbsp;Ankeny Christian; Riese Gjerde, Ankeny Christian; Jillian French, Twin Cedars; [player_tooltip player_id='389940' first='Lexi' last='Clendenen'], Southeast Warren; Lola Shriver,&nbsp; Southeast Warren; Sydney Forkner, Mormon Trail; Allie Jo Fortune, Wayne; Kaitlyn Keller,&nbsp;Seymour; Ava Oberender, Martensdale St. Mary's; Eva Steffensen, CAM; Courtney Follmann,&nbsp;CAM; Jaelynn Petersen, Exira-EHK; Emma Boswell,&nbsp;Orient-Macksburg; Lily Conry, Earlham; Kenna Harskamp, Earlham; Addison Murdock, Woodbine; Danyelle Steinkuehler, Woodbine; Ayla Richardson, Riverside; Bentley Rone, Riverside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> Defending state champion and top-ranked Ankeny Christian has lost twice to 2A No. 3 Grundy Center and split a pair of matches with 2A No. 4 Denver. The Eagles have defeated 2A No. 8 Aplington-Parkersburg three times. They've challenged themselves with this schedule and look poised for a trip back to Coralville. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region 5</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Seed</strong>: BCLUW </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others: </strong>Colo-Nesco, Paton-Churden, Sigourney, Montezuma, Belle Plaine, Baxter, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Meskwaki Settlement, HLV, BGM, Collins-Maxwell, Lynnville-Sully, Tri-County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> Sydney Anderson, BCLUW; Callie Swanson, BCLUW; Kailan McEwen,&nbsp;BCLUW; [player_tooltip player_id='753899' first='Kennedy' last='Brant'], Gladbrook-Reinbeck; Kailey Larsen, Gladbrook-Reinbeck; Josephine Moore, Sigourney; Amiya Smallwood, Sigourney; Izzy Roorda, Montezuma; Jacey Reineke, Belle Plaine; Layne McLeod, Belle Plaine; Karagyn Minnaert, BGM; Ema Roberts,&nbsp;HLV; Hailey Jack, HLV; Olivia Maddux,, GMG; Lily Randall, Tri-County; Elise Alberts, Lynnville-Sully. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> No. 4 BCLUW is chasing its first-ever state tournament berth. It could come down to a matchup with 13th-ranked Gladbrook-Reinbeck for the Region 5 title. BCLUW owns a victory from earlier this season against Gladbrook-Reinbeck, which is seeking it fourth consecutive trip to state and its fifth bid in the last six years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region 6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Seed</strong>: Janesville </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others: </strong>Saint Ansgar, Central Elkader, Valley Lutheran, Starmont, Kee, Dunkerton, Nashua-Plainfield, Clarksville, Turkey Valley; Riceville, Waterloo Christian, West Central, North Butler, Tripoli</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='493920' first='Tayah' last='Pollock'], Janesville; [player_tooltip player_id='508680' first='Zoey' last='Barnes'],&nbsp;Janesville; &nbsp;Liz Hovenga, Janesville; Aspen Falk,&nbsp;Saint Ansgar; Kinsey Anderson, Saint Ansgar; Lizzie Royer, Central Elkader; [player_tooltip player_id='493946' first='Josi' last='Munger'], Starmont; Keelie Curtis, Starmont; Kami Hannemann, Nashua-Plainfield; [player_tooltip player_id='555778' first='Daisy' last='Fettkether'], Dunkerton; Reese Tisue, Dunkerton; Tillotti Fair, Riceville; [player_tooltip player_id='552890' first='Maici' last='Weber'], Turkey Valley; Adriana Tiedt, Turkey Valley; Kassidy Bantz, West Central; [player_tooltip player_id='251670' first='Reagan' last='Wheeler'], Waterloo Christian; Kaylin Jones, Waterloo Christian; Isabel Bernard, Tripoli; Reagan Mulder,&nbsp;North Butler. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> Fifth-ranked Janesville is trying to get back to state after seeing its streak off 12 state trips in a row halted last season. The Wildcats can claim victories against Union Community (3A No. 7) and Don Bosco (1A No. 12) this year. No. 9 Saint Ansgar also occupies this region. The Saints are chasing their first state tournament berth since 1988. They are 4-0 against other teams they've played in this region having knocked off Nashua-Plainfield, Waterloo Christian, North Butler and Tripoli. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region 7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Seed</strong>: North Tama</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others: </strong>Don Bosco, East Buchanan; Keota, Lone Tree, Central City, Springville, WACO, Iowa Valley, English Valleys, Hillcrest Academy, North Linn, Cedar Valley Christian, Wapello, Highland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='389013' first='Kruiz' last='Ewoldt'], North Tama; Zoey Rausch, North Tama; [player_tooltip player_id='389932' first='Addison' last='Hochstetler'], North Tama; Addison Schares, Don Bosco; Kennedi McGarvey,&nbsp;Don Bosco; Alexis Even,&nbsp;Don Bosco; Kate Dolan, East Buchanan; Kimberly Clarahan, Keota; Rowan Jacobi, Springville; Bailee Weber, Central City; Belle Whitson, Central City; Lydia Kriegel, Iowa Valley; Emma Wagler, WACO; Meredith Roth, WACO; Malia Yoder, Hillcrest Academy; &nbsp;Imigyn Stratton, English Valleys; Ava Gehrking, English Valleys; Sadie Lown,&nbsp;CV Christian; Kylie Munson, North Linn; Teagan Liebe, North Linn; Sarah Burton, Highland; Emily Hemphill, Wapello; Annaka Greiner, Wapello. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> North Tama earned the No. 1 seed, ranking sixth in 1A at the time of the regional release. Don Bosco joined them in this region after being ranked 12th. North Tama has reached the last two state tournaments and have been to state in four times since '17. The Redhawks have defeated Holy Trinity (1A No. 3) and Gladbrook-Reinbeck (1A No. 13), and played a tough schedule. Don Bosco reached state last season for the first time since '09. The Dons have defeated North Tama and Sumner-Fredericksburg (2A No. 6). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region 8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Seed</strong>: Holy Trinity Catholic </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others: </strong>Edgewood-Colesburg, Moulton-Udell, Winfield-Mount Union, Danville, Moravia, Pekin, Burlington Notre Dame, New London, Marquette Catholic, Clayton Ridge, Easton Valley, Calamus-Wheatland, Prince of Peace, North Cedar, Midland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='320104' first='Presley' last='Myers'], Holy Trinity; [player_tooltip player_id='251668' first='Mary' last='Kate Bendlage'], Holy Trinity; Natalie Randolph, Holy Trinity; Audrie Helmrichs,&nbsp;Edgewood-Colesburg; [player_tooltip player_id='476860' first='Lilee' last='Boriskey'], Edgewood-Colesburg; Marin Gaul, Edgewood-Colesburg; Jaeda Molle, Danville; Audrie Gipple, Winfield-Mount Union; Aurey Meeker, Winfield-Mount Union; Myah Bainbridge,&nbsp;Pekin; Candace Walton,&nbsp;Moravia; Sophie Malott, New London; Tysann Gipple,&nbsp;New London; Aviana West, Burlington ND; Taryn Stephens, Burlington ND; Lola Reimer, Clayton Ridge; Emily Boeckmann, Calamus-Wheatland; Brooklynn Biddle,&nbsp;Calamus-Wheatland; Addison Miller, Midland; Brooke Stillwagon, North Cedar; Valerie Pruess, North Cedar. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> Third-ranked Holy Trinity reached the state tournament the last two seasons and in 12 of the last 13 campaigns. The Crusaders have posted a 7-0 record against four other teams (Winfield-Mount Union, Danville, Wapello, Burlington Notre Dame) they've played in the region this season. No. 13 Edgewood-Colesburg performed well against a tough schedule. The Vikings are seeking their first trip to state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->