Prep Volleyball- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) released the regional pairings for the upcoming postseason for volleyball and here’s a look at our local matchups.
In Class 1A Region 7, WACO will be at home for their first-round matchup against Iowa Valley at 7 pm. The Warriors will be led by seniors Meredith Roth and Emma Wagler. Roth has dished out 319 assists, while Wagler leads the team in kills (118) and ranks second in blocks (26) and aces (30). The winner of this game will travel to take on either Central City or Springville.
The top team in this region is #6 North Tama, who touts an 18-13 record. #12 Don Bosco is the top team on the bottom half of the bracket.
It will be a battle for Southeast Iowa in Class 1A Region 8. #3 Holy Trinity Catholic will attempt to return to the State Tournament as the top team in the region. The Crusaders are led by the front line of Mary Kate Bendlage and Presley Myers who have each notched 171 kills on the year. Natalie Randolph has had quite a comeback year, leading the team in assists and ranking second in kills. The Crusaders will face off against Moulton-Udell.
Winfield-Mt. Union and Danville will meet in Winfield for the first round. The Wolves won the matchup from earlier this season 2-0. Kellee Milks and Audrie Gipple led the pack with a total of 13 kills. The Bears were led by Jaeda Molle’s 16 assists and Kenna Furnald’s 7 kills. The winner of this game will take on the winner between Holy Trinity Catholic and Moulton-Udell.
Burlington Notre Dame will host New London as they look to improve their win streak to eight games over the Tigers. Lauren Krieger (488 assists) has set up Aviana West (152 kills) up nicely this season for the Nikes. Tysann Gipple (180 kills) and Sophie Malott (161 kills) have supplied the senior leadership needed for this young squad.
On the bottom half of the bracket #14 Edgewood-Colesburg is the team to look out for.
All of these games listed above will be played on October 16th at 7 pm.
In Class 2A Region 8, #14 West Burlington will face off against the winner between Cardinal and Central Decatur. The Falcons will be anchored by a strong front row in Taryn Havener and Mady Hamelton, who each have 250-plus kills on the season.
Van Buren County will travel to take on Wilton. Ivy Davison leads the Warriors with 204 kills this season.
Both of these games will be played on October 18th at 7 pm.
#3 Grundy Center is the top team in the region.
Class 3A Region 8 will see Washington travel to take on #4 Assumption and Fairfield will host Davis County for the upper half of the bracket.
#11 Solon will host Central Lee and Mediapolis will hit the road to face off against Tipton for the lower half of the bracket. Taylor Jones has put together a nice season for the Hawks with 286 kills and 58 blocks to anchor the front line. Jaydon Wirt’s 429 assists and 31 aces leads the Bulldogs.
The Southeast Conference will have a showdown in Class 4A Region 8. Mt. Pleasant will be on the road to take on Keokuk for the opening round. Makenna Altgilbers’ 220 kills for the Chiefs will be pitted against the Panthers’ leading scorer in Emma Starr as she has totaled 103 kills for the season.
The winner will have the tough task of taking on #1 Clear Creek-Amana, who touts an undefeated record at 35-0 at the time of writing.
On the bottom half of the bracket, Fort Madison will host Burlington. The Bloodhounds won their first matchup of the season 3-2. Taylor Johnson, Dayonna Davis, and Sydney McEntee each finished with double-digit kills for Fort Madison. Annalise Buxton led the Grayhounds with 21 kills.
The winner will travel to face off against Oskaloosa.
First round games for Class 3A and Class 4A will take place on October 17th at 7 pm.
Stay tuned to KILJ to see which games we will be broadcasting and on what station!