Prep Volleyball- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) released their preseason rankings for the upcoming volleyball season and there’s a couple local teams to look out for.
Class 5A
Last year’s champion, Waukee Northwest, starts off the year all the way in 9th with the runner-up Dowling Catholic staying put in their #2 slot behind #1 Pleasant Valley. Iowa City Liberty enters the rankings at #7 despite a losing record last season. #12 Waukee also joins the distinction of being ranked in the top 15 despite a losing record last year at 13-20.
Class 4A
North Scott shocked the crowd in Coralville after sweeping the undefeated #1 team last season in Clear Creek-Amana and eventually blanking Indianola to win the championship. The Lady Lancers were awarded the #3 slot in the preseason rankings. #1 belongs to Cedar Rapids Xavier followed by #2 Bishop Heelan. The Clippers are back at #6 despite a 46-1 record last year. #14 Waverly-Shell Rock and #15 Sergeant Bluff-Luton round out the list as they both suffered losing record last year.
Class 3A
Mt. Vernon looks to avenge their loss in the championship game as they enter the season as the #1 team in Class 3A followed by #2 Assumption and last year’s champion #3 Western Christian. Mid-Prairie looks to follow up another successful season as they enter the year at #6.
Class 2A
Denver enters the season as the favorite after falling in the semifinals to the eventual undefeated champion, #6 Dike-New Hartford. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont is ranked #2 and Beckman Catholic grabbed #3.
West Burlington is ranked #11 to start off the year after falling to #14 Grundy Center in last year’s Regional Championship contest. Last year’s SEISC champion, West Burlington could very well control the SEISC this year after graduating just two players from last season’s squad. However, one of those names is Taryn Havener as she led the team in kills with 335 and blocks with 68.
A good candidate to fill that slot will be junior Brenna Beggs, who posted 241 kills and 34 blocks in her sophomore campaign. Taryn Snodgrass returns after nabbing 900 assists last season, which led the conference.
Their top servers in Madelyn Hamelton and Carli Cline return and following behind are their 107 combined aces. The Falcons could soar to a spot in the Class 2A state tournament.
Class 1A
Ankeny Christian is the only champion from last year to enter the new season as the #1 team in their class as the Eagles look for a three-peat in November. Ankeny Christian retained the strength of their lineup from last season’s championship team sans defensive specialist Riese Gjerde.
Expectedly, last year’s runner-up starts off the season at the #2-slot, Holy Trinity Catholic. The Crusaders are hoping to keep the tradition rolling after making it to state for the 13th time in the past 14 years. The squad was led by five All-Southeast players and, of course, District Coach of the Year, Melissa Freesmeier.
However, two of those All-Southeast members were seniors: Mary Kate Bendlage, who tabbed over 1,000 career kills, and Natalie Randolph, an all-around talent. Taegan Denning, Reagen Holvoet, and Jenna Hellman also graduated from the squad.
Nevertheless, the Crusaders will be returning towering junior Presley Myers and an experienced sophomore in Adalyn Kruse as the two combined for 479 kills and 206 blocks.
Additionally, Anna Bendlage has had two successful seasons of being the team’s main setter under her belt and Teagan Snaadt is a defensive specialist that keeps plays alive as she led the team with 482 digs.
North Tama is ranked 3rd with Janesville being ranked #4. Edgewood-Colesburg rounds out the list as they ended last year with a 29-13 record, falling to Holy Trinity Catholic in the regional championship.