5A Recap, Reaction: Northwest Completes the Quest

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://ighsau.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/25statevolleyball/5afinal.pdf">BOX SCORE</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CORALVILLE - </strong>When you have a collection of very talented student-athletes that gel during a season, you get Waukee Northwest 2025. The Wolves successfully completed a journey that began with a loss in last season's state championship match here at Xtream Arena. It ended Thursday with a Class 5A title, their second in three years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwest systematically swept Central Iowa Metro League rival Ankeny Centennial in the final. The Wolves also completed a 5-0 campaign against the second-best team in the state. As was the case throughout 2025, they made the opponent uncomfortable from the opening serve and kept the pressure on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 25-10, first-set victory showed Northwest was ultra focused on the task at hand, which hadn't changed since it returned its entire rotation from a squad that fell to Pleasant Valley in the '24 championship. A 2-0 loss to rival Waukee in the final of the Southeast Polk tournament on Sept. 13 was the only blemish on a record that featured 38 victories. The Wolves won their last 21 matches all via by sweep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Losing to their crosstown rival turned out to be all the motivation they needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We didn't really have a talk right after that game," senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='389019' first='Avery' last='Vogt'] said. "We kind of went on the bus, and we were all upset.&nbsp;That was motivation.&nbsp;It was a walk-up call."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rest of the winning formula is pretty simple but not easily attained. The girls like each other, creating chemistry and a strong support system.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We're all really close," junior hitter [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'] said.&nbsp;"We hang out outside of volleyball a lot.&nbsp;We're just really good friends. I think that shows in the court with how we play together." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It also helps that the Wolves rotation is loaded with accomplished performers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='389019' first='Avery' last='Vogt'] is committed to Drake, while her younger sister, [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'], and [player_tooltip player_id='493601' first='Piper' last='Ladwig'] are pledged to Iowa State. They're both juniors as is [player_tooltip player_id='490011' first='Leah' last='Janulewicz'], another Drake commit. Sophomore hitter [player_tooltip player_id='545971' first='Avery' last='Cordes'] will have Power 4 schools calling when recruiting rules allow her class to be contacted next summer. Junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='555820' first='London' last='Taylor'] should be receiving a lot more attention from colleges, and her classmate, middle [player_tooltip player_id='812248' first='Cassidy' last='Danburg'], probably would be getting more looks if she wasn't also a legit basketball prospect. Senior defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='389065' first='Anna' last='Pelds'] rounds out the rotation as a veteran that's had a part two championships and a whole lot of wins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A group of eight relentless ballers that suffocates its opponents. Even when they squirm free for a bit of air, like Centennial did at times on Thursday, eventually, their fate is inevitable. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='389019' first='Avery' last='Vogt'] was named the outstanding performer at the 5A state tournament, registering 36 assists, nine digs and a pair of kills in the championship match. She was joined on the all-tournament team by [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='490011' first='Leah' last='Janulewicz']. Centennial's [player_tooltip player_id='389060' first='Tatem' last='Schmidt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='261088' first='Mya' last='Lei-Butters'] also made it as did Pleasant Valley's [player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'] and Valley's [player_tooltip player_id='261075' first='Kaelyn' last='Wieland'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jaguars had no reason to hang their heads. They finished the season at 34-6, again, with five of those defeats against the Northwest machine. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I don't think we played terrible," Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart said.&nbsp;"I think we could have played a little bit better and maybe opened things up more for us, but I think they're a great volleyball team.&nbsp;They showed up today and had it all going."&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Said senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='389060' first='Tatem' last='Schmidt']: "I think they came out ready to play. They were on fire right away.&nbsp;Their serve-receive was spot on, and we just didn't adjust to it as well as we wanted to." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/apYZQwpw7P0","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/apYZQwpw7P0 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/AisdMHBZ8rM","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/AisdMHBZ8rM </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->