New Teams Moving Into 2A Shake Up Start of Summer Rankings
Class 2A in Iowa might be the biggest wildcard of all with teams that will be dropping down a class who were in the Class 3A field last year, along with the perennial powers that have always been there in Western Christian and Dike-New Hartford. There are a lot of top programs that have taken big hits with graduation. Who will be the next group to step in and lead their team to state. With new players who are on the verge of breakout seasons, it will be quite the journey leading to Cedar Rapids.
Iowa Class 2A Summer Rankings
- Western Christian
- Osage
- Dike-New Hartford
- Hudson
- Clarion-Goldfield Dows
- Sidney
- Grundy Center
- ACGC
- Van Buren
- Underwood
Wildcards
Wilton
Unity Christian
Beckman Catholic
Western Christian - insert next player. The dynasty of Iowa High School volleyball continues to be the favorite, however Dike-New Hartford did have something to say about that for a few years. The Wolfpack will return five athletes who had over 100 kills and two setters who combined for 1,000. Combine that with a power packed schedule and Coach Tammi Veerbeek will have her squad ready come postseason time where they just seem to thrive.
Osage and Clarion-Goldfield Dows will most likely be coming down from 3A. The specific classifications are not out for volleyball yet, but enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year is which by taking a glance (a very close glance) it would put Osage and Clarion-Goldfield Dows in 2A. Osage returns experience, but yet will also have a new coach, will be in need of a new setter and middle with Andie Olson finishing a very decorated career as the head coach of the Green Devils along with her daughter Rylie Olson (Grand View) setting and Sydney Midlang out of the middle. However, Dani Johnson will be back on the outside, one of the top outside hitters and overall athletes in the Class of 2021 as well as Paige Kisley, Kaebre Sullivan, and Meredith Street. These athletes have been competing at a state caliber level in any sport they compete in. CGD will have the return of Morgan Middleton, a powerhouse outside hitter who plays all the way around as well as libero, Jadyn Jondle who is rock solid.
Dike-New Hartford will bring back Wichita State recruit in Morgan Weber, but will have some holes to fill for other attackers after the graduation of Carlee Dove (Upper Iowa) and Amber Rickert (Central), but return some young talent and all of their top athletes in regards to ball control. Top setter will be back in Taylor Hoens as well as Angelina Westberg who are both going to be Sophomores.
Hudson is going to be a team that will be tough to beat if they can pass the ball. They have their top three attackers in Ashlynn Kuhn who has not only caught the attention of the state, but of the region with her performance this past club season at Six Pack. Sara Klunder will be rock solid as a Senior who can block and swing and provides solid consistency and Kylee Sallee is the high flying outside who is coming off a state title in the long jump. If the Pirates can get Kuhn the ball in system they are going to be tough to stop, she has put up some big time performances against some of the top teams in the country in the club circuit.
Southwest Iowa, what a head scratcher. Sidney returns a really strong Senior class that has state tournament experience. Tri-Center Neola just graduated a really strong Senior class with state tournament experience. Underwood has a powerpacked lineup that could really make some noise this season with the return of Macy Vanfossan and Zoe Russ who still only be Juniors. ACGC will return powerful middle blocker and outside hitter Chloe Largent who will only be a Sophomore, but will also have Stowe Audrey setting.
There are still a lot of question marks on Eastern side of the state as well. How will programs like Beckman, Grundy Center, and Wilton bounce back after losing a strong core of their teams to graduation. All of these programs were in the state tournament or had been ranked throughout the year. As the old saying goes, “Tradition doesn’t graduate”. What will be fun to see is when the regional lines are drawn who will be going where. Southwest Iowa could get creative as will the Cedar Valley. The season is only two months away!
