Iowa Regional Semifinals That Are Too Close To Call

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're in the final four of regionals with Class 3A through Class 5A teams looking to punch their ticket to the regional finals. Some of these regional semi's are intriguing. Some matchups featuring conference teams, some with similar records, but different schedules based on rigor. Here is a look at eight regional semifinal matchups that could be a toss up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 5A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Linn Mar (17-15) vs. Dubuque Hempstead (16-16)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linn-Mar's last regular season game was a 2-0 win over Dubuque Hempstead, they have the confidence going into this matchup.&nbsp; That was the only time they have met so far this season.&nbsp; The Lions will be heading into the match with three key attackers in [player_tooltip player_id='447579' first='Kelsey' last='Klesner'], [player_tooltip player_id='730856' first='Kira' last='Klesner'], and [player_tooltip player_id='552860' first='Peyton' last='Busch'].&nbsp; Hempstead has the senior duo of [player_tooltip player_id='508685' first='Addi' last='Wright'] and Lexi Kuhlewho have combined for over 300 kills with plenty of their connections coming from senior setter Luci Weber.&nbsp; The winner of this match most likely gets the top seed in the state in Pleasant Valley.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa City Liberty (14-20) vs. Dubuque Senior (16-21)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dubuque Senior advanced to the regional final in 2023 and are looking to get back there in 2024 behind Creighton commit [player_tooltip player_id='389066' first='Cambel' last='Drapeau'] who has over 300 kills and his hitting nearly .350.&nbsp; If Senior can get her the ball, she can cause a lot of problems for the Lightning. Liberty is 14-20, but they have played a rugged schedule against top talent from all classes.&nbsp; They have a previous win over Senior back in September, 3-0.&nbsp; No secret that Liberty will be relying upon their first two contacts in libero [player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller'] and setters [player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='215429' first='Asta' last='Hildebrand'].&nbsp; Hildebrand has been one of the most dynamic players in the state once again with nearly 300 assists and 300 kills.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ballard (20-16) vs. Dallas Center-Grimes (21-18)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DCG has two wins over Ballard so far this year in tournament play, is the third time the charm for Ballard with a best of five match? Both of these teams have been battle tested as of late where DCG has a win over a ranked Pella Christian team and a close five set loss to Norwalk.&nbsp; Ballard has picked up wins over Knoxville and Albia.&nbsp; Ballard will look to score points with junior [player_tooltip player_id='389077' first='Brenna' last='Baumgardner'] who has over 350 kills on the season.&nbsp; They will also have [player_tooltip player_id='474081' first='Payton' last='Askelsen'] at libero who is committed to Northern Iowa and averaging nearly five digs per set.&nbsp; DCG has three attackers with over 200 kills in Maliya Carlson, [player_tooltip player_id='394331' first='Maggie' last='Leifker'], and [player_tooltip player_id='508928' first='Landry' last='Glasgow'].&nbsp; Setter [player_tooltip player_id='493973' first='Gwen' last='Farley'] will look to make this balanced offensive machine work tonight.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grinnell (16-14) vs. North Polk (16-17)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grinnell has put together a great season, making huge gains in their program and will look to punch their ticket to regional final.&nbsp; The Tigers have three key attackers in Mackenzie McClelland, [player_tooltip player_id='555788' first='Kendra' last='Nolton'], and Regan Stensrud.&nbsp; Senior Isabel Hart will be running the show as a setter.&nbsp; They have yet to play North Polk this season where the Comets will come into the match with Neah Bunkers, Jenna Krantz, and Becca Asgard.&nbsp; The winner of this match, if seeding plays out would face Clear Creek-Amana which has defeated Grinnell twice this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Charles City (21-9) vs. Decorah (18-11)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A classic Northeast Iowa match with these two conference rivals looking to extend their season into next week.&nbsp; Charles City defeated Decorah in their regular season match 3-1, but Decorah clipped the Comets most recently at their conference tournament this past weekend.&nbsp; Decorah has McKinley Massman who has 250 kills on the season while also racking up over 200 digs.&nbsp; Charles City has senior Mya Rimrod leading the way with over 225 kills and will have upstart freshman in Addison Ellis who will look to contribute offensively as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 3A&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Forest City (20-9) vs. Humboldt (22-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Champions of the Top of Iowa West will take on the champions of the North Central Conference.&nbsp; Forest City will play host to Humboldt in a Class 3A Regional Semifinal where they winner will most likely head to perennial power Western Christian for the regional final.&nbsp; The Indians are sparked by libero Rina Maiava who was voted Player of the Year in the conference averaging four digs per set while the offense has over four attackers with over 100 kills on the season.&nbsp; Humboldt has [player_tooltip player_id='261087' first='Mia' last='Schluter'] who is averaging over 3.3 kills perset and has three other attackers with over 100 kills.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Monticello (25-8) vs. Solon (28-13)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Solon took their lumps early in the season and are 10-4 in the month of October.&nbsp; They have plenty of balance where they are led by [player_tooltip player_id='215435' first='Grace' last='Erwin'], [player_tooltip player_id='215430' first='Yasmine' last='Sell'], and [player_tooltip player_id='455710' first='Kiley' last='Devery'] who are all over 180 kills on the season.&nbsp; Their first contact is high level where South Dakota State commit [player_tooltip player_id='373682' first='Kennedey' last='Whitford'] who averages nearly four digs per set.&nbsp; Monticello will rely on the big swing of [player_tooltip player_id='447580' first='Jayden' last='Kuper'] who has nearly 500 kills on the season, averaging nearly six kills per set.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wilton (31-7) vs. West Liberty (26-15)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class match right here with two River Valley South Conference opponents.  Wilton has previously been in Class 2A and made the bump up to Class 3A.  They swept West Liberty at home on October 3 in a conference match.  The Beavers are led by [player_tooltip player_id='730830' first='Kinsey' last='Drake'] with over 300 kills and have a sophomore setter in [player_tooltip player_id='490009' first='Leah' last='Caffery'] who has over 800 assists and almost 100 kills.  West Liberty is led by a dynamic attacker and defender in [player_tooltip player_id='215433' first='Sophie' last='Buysee'] who has played in two state tournaments for the Comets her freshman and sophomore season, she will head to Northern Iowa and has over 1000 kills and 1000 digs in her career. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->