Author: Nathan Bloechl

Prep Volleyball: Southeast Conference Announces All-Conference Teams:

Three Mount Pleasant Panther volleyball players were named First Team All-Conference yesterday, the league announced.

Kenna Lamm and Regan and Ralyn Seberg were all First Team selections, joined by Makalya Altgilbers and Abby Wolter of Keokuk and Fairfield’s Kiya Robertson.

Lamm was named the Conference Player of the Year.

An outside hitter, Lamm averaged 3.6 kills per set — tops on the team — as well as adding 10 blocks and 25 aces.

The conference champions, Mount Pleasant also had two Honorable Mention choices in Lydia Ebeling and Tristian Shull.

The Panthers were ousted in the first round of the Class 4A postseason, losing in five sets to upstart Fairfield.

Mount Pleasant closed their year 20-15 under head coach Dave Streeter.

Prep Volleyball: West Liberty Rides Daufeldt to Sweep Win:

Drake recruit Macy Daufeldt poured in a match high 23 kills as No. 4 West Liberty swept No. 10 West Burlington yesterday in a Class 3A region championship.

The Comets advance to the state tournament, while West Burlington bows out at 30-4.

Sophia Armstrong paced the Lady Falcons front row with nine kills, equaling her squad mate McKenna Marlow.

Abbey Bence had 24 assists.

The win propelled West Liberty to 37-4, as they await the pairings in the Class 3A volleyball tournament.

Prep Volleyball: Holy Trinity, Notre Dame, Mediapolis All Vie for State Berths:

Three area teams will be looking to punch their tickets to the Alliant Energy PowerHouse and the State Volleyball tournament tonight.

Holy Trinity, Notre Dame and Mediapolis will all take part in Regional Finals tonight.

In our featured matchup, No. 5 Holy Trinity will scrap with Lamoni at Ottumwa Middle School — you can listen on FM 105.5.

The Crusaders, who saw their 10-year streak to state snapped last year are back within one game again under head coach Melissa Freesmeier.

Notre Dame, the top-ranked team in 1A and defending state champions, are 34-8 and will look to get back to Cedar Rapids when they hook up with unranked Easton Valley.

The River Hawks are 21-8 on the season.

Those two teams will be playing the first of two games tonight at the Muskie Dome in Muscatine.

The back half of that twin-bill features No. 2 Wilton taking on Mediapolis.

The upset-minded Bullettes took down Danville earlier this week to punch their ticket to the region finals.

They’ll play at approximately 7:15 p.m. tonight.

Prep Football: Final Radio Football Poll Announced:

The final Radio Iowa football poll has been announced in Classes 3, 4 and 5A.

Final Class 3A

1. Harlan (9-0), LW #1 vs Ballard
2. West Delaware (8-1), LW #2 vs Grinnell
3. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (9-0) vs Sioux Center
4. Solon (9-0), LW #4 vs Davenport Assumption
5. Humboldt (9-0), LW #5 vs Hampton-Dumont/Cal
6. Nevada (8-1), LW #6 vs #10 ADM (Adel)
7. Benton (8-1), LW #7 vs #9 Independence
8. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (7-2), LW #8 vs Algona
9. Independence (8-1), LW #9 @ #7 Benton
10.ADM (Adel) (7-2), LW #10 @ #6 Nevada

Final Class 4A

1. North Scott (9-0), LW #1 vs Decorah
2. Cedar Rapids Xavier (8-1), LW #2 vs Burlington
3. Waverly-Shell Rock (8-1), LW #3 vs Cedar Rapids Washington
4. Lewis Central (7-2), LW #4 vs #9 Spencer
5. Indianola (8-1), LW #5 vs Carlisle
6. Bondurant-Farrar (8-1), LW #6 vs Fort Dodge
7. Winterset (7-2), LW #7 vs Clear Creek-Amana
8. Webster City (7-2), LW #8 vs #10 Norwalk
9. Spencer (7-2), LW #10 @ #4 Lewis Central
10.Norwalk (6-3), LW (X) @ #8 Webster City

Final Class 5A

1. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (9-0), LW #1 vs Dubuque Senior
2. Southeast Polk (8-1), LW #2 vs Johnston
3. Ankeny (7-2), LW #3 vs Waukee Northwest
4. Dowling Catholic (6-3), LW #5 vs #10 Linn-Mar
5. WDM Valley (7-2), LW #6 vs Ankeny Centennial
6. Cedar Rapids Prairie (7-2), LW #7 vs Bettendorf
7. Iowa City High (8-1), LW #8 vs #8 Urbandale
8. Urbandale (7-2), LW #4 @ #7 Iowa City High
9. Pleasant Valley (7-2), LW #10 vs Cedar Falls
10.Linn-Mar (7-2), LW #9 @ #4 Dowling Catholic

Prep Volleyball: Holy Trinity, Notre Dame, Mediapolis All Within One of State: 

No. 5 Holy Trinity 3, No. 13 New London 0 

Holy Trinity received 12 kills from Kassie Randolph and 10 from Mary Kate Bendlage as the fifth-ranked Crusaders rode their two stars to a three-set sweep victory over No. 13 New London last night.

The win propelled Holy Trinity to the Class 1A, Region 8 finals where they will meet up with Lamoni, Wednesday night at Ottumwa.

Lamoni took down Southeast Warren 3-2 last night.

Starting wasn’t the problem for New London yesterday as the Tigers held leads in the early portions of all three sets.

Holy Trinity just had answers.

Anna Sobczak and Teagan Snaadt played big roles in the back row — Sobczak had 23 digs while Snaadt finished with 17.

New London’s Natalie Burden led all attackers with 15 kills while Emma Nye dug up a match-high 40 balls for the Tigers.

New London closes their terrific season under first year head coach Lindsey Johnson 26-14, they will graduate four seniors.

Holy Trinity improved to 31-10.

You can listen to Wednesday’s match here on FM 105.5, with first serve slated for 7:00 p.m.

No. 1 Notre Dame 3, Winfield-Mount Union 0

Melina Oepping had six kills while Bradie Buffington chipped in with five but it was No. 1 Notre Dame, Class 1A’s defending champions, pulling themselves within one match of the state tournament as they earned a sweep over the Lady Wolves last night.

Notre Dame will square off with Easton Valley (21-8) Wednesday night at Muskie Fieldhouse in Muscatine at 6:00 p.m.

Josie Bentz and Gabby Deery led the Nike front row with 14 kills apiece, while Megan Harrell added eight.

Jenna Bentz provided 41 assists.

The win improved the Nikes to 34-8.

Winfield-Mount Union closes their season 22-11.

Mediapolis 3, Danville 1 

Danville took set one, but Mediapolis rebounded and won three straight, earning a four set win to advance to Wednesday night’s Class 2A, Region 8 championship.

The Bullettes will scrap with 2A’s second-ranked Wilton, who is 35-2.

Hannah Wagenbach led the Bullettes with nine kills, she also chipped in with five blocks.

Haley Steffener added eight kills.

Danville ends their season 9-17.

Mediapolis improved to 14-23.

Their match with Wilton will also be played at Muskie Fieldhouse — first serve is anticipated for shortly after 7:00 p.m. at the conclusion of Notre Dame-Easton Valley.

College Football: Hankins, Moss Named Thorpe Award Semifinalists:

University of Iowa senior defensive backs Matt Hankins and Riley Moss have been named semifinalists for the 2021 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, awarded to the best defensive back in college football.

The announcement was made Monday.

Hankins has started 34 straight games in the Iowa secondary and has recorded three interceptions and 25 tackles as a senior in 2021.

Moss is tied for second in the country and leads the Big Ten with four interceptions, despite missing Iowa’s most recent game due to injury.

Moss had two interceptions returns for touchdowns in Iowa’s opening win over Indiana.

Iowa returns to the gridiron this weekend at Wisconsin.

Kick is set for 11:00 a.m.

Women’s College Basketball: Clark Named to Nancy Lieberman Watch List:

University of Iowa sophomore All-American Caitlin Clark has been named to the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Preseason Watch List, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday.

The award is presented annually to the nation’s top point guard.

Clark averaged 26.6 points, 7.1 assists and nearly six boards per game in her record-setting freshman season.

The Hawkeye women will open their season with an exhibition bout against Truman State on November 4th.

Tip is set for 6:30 p.m.

Prep Football: WACO Storms Back, New London Claws, Mount Pleasant Beaten:

No. 5 (8P) WACO 39, Edgewood-Colesburg 36

Eighth-ranked WACO used a strong second half to mount a furious rally, taking down Edgewood-Colesburg 39-36 Friday night in Wayland.

WACO trailed 20-10 at halftime and took a 23-20 lead midway thru the third quarter.

Quarterback Isaac Oswald hooked up with Drew Diers for two scoring passes, while Jon Rice plunged in from one yard in the second half.

Still, however, the game came down to the final moments after Edgewood-Colesburg’s Cael Funk tied the game up at 36 with just over 1:30 to play in the game.

WACO would drive the length of the field to eventually set up a field goal opportunity.

Simeon Reichenbach would be the one to boot the game game-winning 28-yard field goal with :14 seconds left to advance WACO.

The Warriors, now 9-0, will play in Friday’s Round of 16 at Martensdale-St. Mary’s, who is 7-2 on the season.

You can listen to that game on KILJ.

Edgewood-Colesburg ends their season 5-4.

No. 1 Montezuma 36, New London 34

Eddie Burgess and the high-flying Montezuma Braves stayed unbeaten with a narrow 36-34 win over New London.

Montezuma advances to the Round of 16, while New London bows out 4-4.

Dominic Lopez was electric at quarterback for the Tigers, completing 11-of-12 passes for 131 yards and four touchdowns.

Bowen Glaha was the recipient of three of those scores, hauling in five catches for 101 yards.

Burgess finished with four touchdowns for Montezuma racking up 376 total yards of offense.

Montezuma, 9-0, will host Audubon this Friday night.

No. 1 North Scott 55, Mount Pleasant 0 

Mount Pleasant trailed 35-0 at the end of the first quarter as No. 1 North Scott rolled to a 55-0 win over the Panthers last Friday at Senior Night at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex.

The Lancers end their regular season as undefeated district champions as they now embark on the quest of defending their state championship from a year ago.

Mount Pleasant ends their year 1-8.

Other finals from the area:

• North Tama 23, Wapello 22 (PLAYOFFS)
• Lynnville-Sully 40, Highland 15 (PLAYOFFS)
• West Branch 35, Cardinal 6 (PLAYOFFS)
• Pella Christian 42, Mediapolis 21 (PLAYOFFS)
• Solon 63, Keokuk 6
• Grinnell 42, Fairfield 14
• Washington 34, West Burlington Notre Dame 20

Prep Volleyball: Showdowns Tonight Between Conference Rivals:

It is crunch time in terms of prep volleyball in the area, with several big matches to be played tonight.

In our featured matchup of the night, No. 12 New London will be at No. 5 Holy Trinity in a battle of Super Conference powers.

Holy Trinity enters play tonight 30-10 while New London is 26-13.

The Tigers have swept both of their first two opponents, while Holy Trinity — who received a bye — easily got by Seymour last week.

Holy Trinity has won five straight matchups between the two schools, with New London’s last win coming on September 12th, 2019.

The winner will move into Wednesday’s Regional Championship and play either Lamoni or Southeast Warren.

Tonight’s game will start at 7:00 p.m. and can be heard on KILJ-FM.

In 1A, Region 7, top-ranked Notre Dame will try to protect their home floor when they welcome in the balanced Lady Wolves of Winfield-Mount Union.

The Nikes have been on a mission this year, racking up a 33-8 record. Winfield has been running hot of late, they’re up to 22-10.

Notre Dame took down the Lady Wolves earlier this year by sweep, 2-0.

The Nikes have won six of the last eight against Winfield.

The winner will play either Easton Valley or Central City in Wednesday night’s region championship.

Match time tonight is 7:00 p.m.

In Class 2A, Mediapolis and Danville will meet up in a regional semifinal.

The Bullettes are 13-23, while Danville is 9-16.

Danville defeated Pekin 3-1 to get tot the semis, while Mediapolis swept Van Buren County.

Top-ranked Wilton awaits on the top of the bracket, provided they get by Iowa City Regina.

Tonight’s game will be played at Mediapolis and first serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

College Football: Ferentz Named to Dodd Trophy Midseason List:

University of Iowa Moon Family head football coach Kirk Ferentz is one 16 head coaches named to the Dodd Trophy Midseason Watch List.

The award is given annually to the head coach whos team excels on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

Ferentz is in his 23rd season as Iowa’s head coach, the longest tenured head coach in college football.

Iowa will return to the field this weekend when they travel to Madison to battle with Wisconsin.

Kick is set for 11:00 a.m.

College Football: Iowa State Moves Back In:

Following their 24-21 home upset over No. 8 Oklahoma State, the Iowa State Cyclones are back inside the AP Top-25.

Iowa State checks in this week at No. 22, while the Cowboys moved to No. 15.

Ohio State and Michigan remained at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, while Iowa — while idle — moved up two spots to No. 9.

Penn State, who was beaten by Illinois in nine overtimes, dropped down 13 spots to No. 20.

Georgia, Cincinnati and Alabama comprise the top-three.