Introducing the Des Moines Register's 2022 All-Iowa high school volleyball teams
It isn't often that a high school girls volleyball season exceeds the preseason hype and expectations, but this season was an exception to that rule.
From start to finish, the stars shined brightly. In a season with numerous upsets, plenty of turnover in the rankings and intense matchups, the first state tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville was one that will be hard to top.
By the time the last kill hit the floor, Iowa City Liberty, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Davenport Assumption, Western Christian and Ankeny Christian Academy walked away with state championships. For Liberty, Assumption and Ankeny Christian, they were the first state volleyball championships in program history.
And the Class 2A and 1A matches, each going five sets, were two for the ages.
That balance and talent are reflected in the 2022 Des Moines Register's All-Iowa volleyball teams.
ELITE TEAM
Lily Dykstra, sr., Urbandale
Dykstra, a six-foot outside hitter, has been one of the state's best players the last three seasons. She helped her team reach the state tournament this season, averaging 5.4 kills and 2.3 digs per set and serving 87.4 percent. Dykstra will play for the University of Northern Iowa next season.
Libby Fandel, so. Cedar Rapids Xavier
Fandel, a six-foot outside hitter, led the Saints to the Class 4A state championship, earning all-tournament team captain honors. She averaged 4.1 kills and 2.4 digs and served 90.5 percent with 47 aces for the season.
Cassidy Hartman, sr., Iowa City Liberty
Hartman, a 6-foot-1 outside/middle hitter, led the Lightning to the Class 5A state championship this season, their first ever. Hartman, a UNI commit, averaged 5.0 kills and 4.0 digs and served 94.4 percent for the season.
Payton Petersen, jr., Dike-New Hartford
Petersen, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter, led the Wolverines to the Class 2A state championship match where they lost a five-set thriller to Western Christian. Petersen, a University of Louisville commit, averaged 4.6 kills and 2.4 digs per set while serving 88.3 percent with 64 aces.
Katie Quick, so., Ankeny Christian Academy
Quick, a 5-foot-7 setter, was the spark plug for the Eagles' run to the Class 1A state championship. Quick averaged 8.3 assists, 1.9 kills and 1.9 digs, served 89.8 percent and led the state in aces with 112.
Ava Schubert, sr., Davenport Assumption
Schubert, a six-foot outside hitter and Tennessee Tech commit, led the Knights to their first-ever state volleyball championship, winning Class 3A. She averaged 3.5 kills, 2.0 digs and 0.6 blocks and served 85.2 percent with 65 aces.
CLASS 5A
Chloe Cline, sr., Pleasant Valley
Lily Dykstra, sr., Urbandale
Brooklyn Halbur, sr., Waukee Northwest
Cassidy Hartman, sr., Iowa City Liberty
Katie Remmert, sr., Cedar Falls
Jesa Wallace, sr., Ankeny
CLASS 4A
Bliss Beck, jr., Clear Creek-Amana
Libby Fandel, so., Cedar Rapids Xavier
Avery Van Hook, sr., Marion
Abby Hayes, so., North Scott
Ella Meyer, sr., Western Dubuque
Anna Strohmeier, jr., Lewis Central
CLASS 3A
Willow Bleeker, sr., Sioux Center
Aubrey Gates, sr., Union
Gabby Lombardi, jr., Des Moines Christian
Chloe Meester, so., Mount Vernon
Madeleine Miller, sr., Mount Vernon
Ava Schubert, sr., Davenport Assumption
CLASS 2A
Sophia Armstrong, sr., West Burlington
Channing Johnson, fr., Denver
Payton Petersen, jr., Dike-New Hartford
Molly Shafer, so., Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont
Abby VerBurg, sr., Western Christian
Stella Winterfeld, sr., Western Christian
CLASS 1A
Kennedy Breitfelder, sr., Springville
Gabby Deery, sr., Burlington Notre Dame
Emma McClintock, sr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Katie Quick, so., Ankeny Christian Academy
Brynn Smith, sr., AGWSR
Ava Wyatt, sr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Matt Levins is a sports reporter for the USA Today Network in Burlington, Iowa, who has covered local sports for 32 years at The Hawk Eye. Reach him at mlevins@thehawkeye.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Introducing the Des Moines Register's 2022 All-Iowa volleyball teams
