Top teams and players at the 2022 Iowa state high school volleyball tournament
A new season, a new state tournament venue and a lot of familiar names and faces.
That is what is in store for high school volleyball fans when the 2022 Iowa Girls High School State Volleyball Championships tip off at noon Monday at the state-of-the-art Xtream Arena in Coralville.
The state tournament will continue Tuesday with more quarterfinals, while semifinals for all five classes are set for Wednesday.
Five state championship matches are on the docket for Thursday.
One thing is certain: at least two new state champions will be crowned. Two-time defending Class 1A state champion Burlington Notre Dame was bounced in a regional final Wednesday by Holy Trinity, while West Delaware, the 3A state champion last year, lost to Clear Creek-Amana in a 4A regional final on Tuesday.
Many of the traditional powers are in the field, including Dike-New Hartford, two-time defending Class 2A state champion; Western Christian, which has both the most (40) and most consecutive (22) state tournament appearances; as well as Unity Christian, Ankeny and Holy Trinity.
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Class 1A
The Favorite: Springville Orioles
With two-time defending champion Burlington Notre Dame sidelined, that opens the door for the Orioles, who are making their seventh appearance in the last nine seasons.
Last year's state runner-up returns four starters. The Orioles have five players in the starting lineup with at least 100 kills and one of the state's top setters in senior Nia Howard.
The Orioles rallied to oust 12th-ranked New London after dropping the first two sets in their regional final. They open against a Riverside team making its first state tournament appearance.
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Top contenders: North Tama Redhawks and Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebels
These two teams have been knocking at the door of a state championship in recent years.
The Redhawks are making their fourth trip to state in the last six years. The Redhawks were knocked out in the semifinals last year and were ranked No. 1 early this season.
Jadyn Rousch, an all-tournament team pick last year, has more than 2,000 career assists.
The Redhawks are 8-3 against teams in the state tournament, including 4-0 against Gladbrook-Reinbeck, a possible semifinal opponent.
The Rebels are making their fourth appearance in the last five years. The Rebels were the 1A runner-up to Burlington Notre Dame in 2020.
The Rebels return five starters from last year's team, which lost to Springville in the state quarterfinals. Emma McClintock has more than 3,000 career assists, a school record.
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Dark Horse Contenders: Holy Trinity Catholic and AGWSR Cougars
Holy Trinity head coach Melissa Freesmeier is one of just five coaches in Iowa high school volleyball history to eclipse 1,000 career wins. Three of them will be coaching in the state tournament this week. Freesmeier always has her teams playing their best when it matters most.
The Crusaders returned five starters from last year's team, but lost all-tournament team selection Natalie Randolph to a torn ACL a week before the season started.
Don't be deceived by AGSWR's 18-23 record. Of the Cougars' 23 losses, 14 have come against teams playing in the state tournament. The Cougars won their last five matches and swept their way through regionals. The Cougars' schedule was deemed the toughest in 1A by the Bound website.
Brynn Smith, who has committed to play beach volleyball for Tusculum University, is averaging 4.3 kills per set, best in the 1A field. Tessa Sperfslage has 500 career digs and Trevyn Smith has more than 1,000 career assists.
Class 2A
The Favorite: Dike-New Hartford Wolverines
The Wolverines are seeking their third straight state championship and are the overwhelming favorites to do just that.
The Wolverines, regarded by many to be the top team in the state regardless of class, have just two losses − vs. Dowling Catholic and Mount Vernon.
The Wolverines are riding a 20-match winning streak and are led by twins Payton and Jadyn Petersen. Payton was the all-tournament team captain the last two years and has committed to play for Louisville, while Jadyn has committed to play for her mother at Northern Iowa.
Top Contenders: Western Christian Wolfpack and Wapsie Valley Warriors
These two teams are no strangers to the state tournament nor championship matches.
Western Christian lost to Dike-New Hartford in the championship match last season and has made it to at least the state semifinals a record 22 straight years.
The Wolfpack have not lost to an Iowa team this season.
The Wolfpack return seven seniors. Hannah Broek averages 10 assists per set, while Abby VerBurg averages 4.4 kills. Freshman Scarlett Winterfield averages 5.5 digs per set, best in 2A.
The Warriors, who won Class 1A state championships in 2006 and 2007, set a school record with 40 wins this season, losing only to Waverly-Shell Rock, along with state tournament qualifiers Pleasant Valley, Denver and Dike-New Hartford.
Kalvyn Rosengarter set a school record for career solo blocks, while three other Warriors reached career milestones this season.
Dark Horse Contenders: Denver Cyclones and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Rockets
Don't sleep on the Cyclones, who have built a solid resume. The Cyclones were the state runner-up in 2020 and played in the 2A semifinals a year ago.
The Cyclones were 8-7 against teams in the state tournament this year, including a pair of losses to Dike-New Hartford and losses to Cedar Rapids Xavier, Mount Vernon and Western Christian.
Houston recruit Kayla Knowles leads the Cyclones in hitting, averaging 5.3 kills per set and is the school's career leader with over 1,500 kills.
The Rockets are making their first state tournament appearance since 2015 and drew a tough quarterfinal assignment in Wapsie Valley.
Twin sophomores Molly and Kate Shafer lead the way for the Rockets. Molly is second in 2A in kills, averaging 5.7 per set, while Kate averages 9.2 assists per set. Senior Whitney Klyn averages an ace per set.
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Class 3A
The Favorite: Des Moines Christian Lions
The Lions are making just their second trip to state after nearly upsetting Davenport Assumption in a five-set thriller in the state quarterfinals a year ago.
The Lions have plenty of height with three starters standing six-foot or taller and another at 5-11.
Olivia Lombardi, a University of Iowa recruit, is averaging 4.4 digs per set and Gabby Lombardi averages a team-high 3.1 kills per set.
The Lions open with 42-9 Union in the quarterfinals on Tuesday morning.
Top contenders: Davenport Assumption Knights and Mount Vernon Mustangs
The Knights were knocked out in the semifinals by West Liberty last year in a five-set thriller.
The Knights return four starters from last year's team, including Ava Schubert, a Tennessee Tech commit who is averaging 3.3 kills per set. Ellie Schubert is averaging 9.5 assists per set, tied for fourth-best in the 3A field.
The Knights, who play in the predominantly 5A Mississippi Athletic Conference, have not lost to a 3A team this season.
The Mustangs won the 3A state championship in 2019 and were the 3A runner-up in 2020.
Sophomore Chloe Meester, one of the top players in the state, leads the 3A field in kills, averaging 5.2 per set. Madeleline Miller leads 3A in assists, averaging 10.3 per set.
The Mustangs have wins against eight teams in the state tournament, including Dike-New Hartford.
Five members of the Mustangs played on the school's state championship softball team over the summer.
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Dark Horse Contenders: West Liberty Comets and Sioux Center Warriors
One of these teams will be eliminated in the quarterfinals as they square of against each other at noon Tuesday.
The Comets were the Cinderella story of the state tournament last season, advancing to the 3A state title match before falling to West Delaware.
Despite the graduation of Class 3A Player or the Year Macy Daufeldt, who is playing volleyball at Drake University this fall, the Comets didn't skip a beat,
Leading the way for the Comets are sophomore Sophie Buysse, who is averaging 3.1 kills per set, and senior libero Monica Morales, who is averaging 6.6 digs per set, tops in the 3A field.
Six of the Comets' seven losses came against teams playing in the state tournament. They have not lost to a 3A school this season.
The Warriors have quietly put together a solid season, culminating in their first trip to state in five years.
The Warriors' losses have come against Western Christian, Unity Christian and Sioux Falls Christian, the top-ranked team in Class A in South Dakota.
The Warriors have three players over six-foot and two more at 5-11.
Reagan Jansen became the first player in school history to reach 1,000 career kills and is averaging 3.9 per set. Willow Bleeker averaged 9.1 assists per set. Jansen has signed to play volleyball for Augustana University, while Bleeker will sign with Dordt College for basketball.
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Class 4A
The Favorite: Cedar Rapids Xavier Saints
Reaching the state tournament for an impressive seventh straight season, the No. 1 Cedar Rapids Xavier Saints have a shot to win their second state title since 2020.
Returning from that team are senior starters Anika Ivester and Anna Shoger, who has the seventh-most assists this season among fellow Class 4A competitors.
Their first challenge will come against the No. 8 Bishop Heelan Crusaders in the quarterfinals.
Top Contenders: North Scott Lancers and Marion Wolves
Last season No. 2 North Scott and No. 3 Marion both reached the state semifinals.
From that team, the Lancers bring back two starters, including the team's leader in blocks, Lauren Golinghorst. However, many players have thrived in their increased roles like Abbey Hayes, who leads the team in kills as a sophomore.
They kick off their state tournament run against the No. 7 Bondurant-Farrar Bluejays.
The Wolves boast a bit more experience, as they have brought back five starters from last season. That features Michaela Good and Peyton Johnson.
Dark Horse Contenders: Western Dubuque Bobcats and Clear Creek Amana Clippers
As reigning Class 4A state champion, Western Dubuque is not a team to be ignored despite a decrease in regular-season wins.
They still have their head coach Megan Scherrman leading the way and Libby Lansing, who ranks top-10 among Class 4A competitors in kills and blocks.
Their first step toward repeating as champs will be facing No. 4 Indianola in the quarterfinals.
Having taken down last year's Class 3A state champions West Delaware in the regional finals, the No. 6 Clear Creek Amana Clippers are ready to put the rest of Class 4A on notice in their first state tournament appearance since 2014.
In addition to WaMac-West Player of the Year Bliss Beck, the Clippers have had several players step up, including Averie Lower, who was second on the team in kills as a freshman.
Their quarterfinal matchup against Marion will be a prime opportunity for them to exact some revenge after the Wolves knocked them out of the WaMaC Conference tournament.
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Class 5A
The Favorite: Iowa City Liberty Lightning
Qualifying for the state tournament for the fourth straight year, the Liberty Lightning have a chance to send their talented senior class off with a state championship.
Led by the all-state duo of Cassidy Hartman and Shelby Kimm, the Lightning's veteran-heavy roster won the Mississippi Valley Conference after beating other state qualifiers like Cedar Rapids Xavier and Western Dubuque.
As strong as their reputation has been, it will mean nothing if they cannot get past No. 8 Urbandale J-Hawks in their quarterfinal matchup.
Top Contenders: Ankeny Hawks and Pleasant Valley Spartans
Swapping seeds from last season, both the No. 2 Ankeny Hawks and the No. 3 Pleasant Valley Spartans have a lot of experience playing on the state tournament stage.
Last season, the Hawks were taken down by the Spartans 3-1 en route to the latter's state championship win.
Pleasant Valley benefits from the return of several members of that team, including stars Halle Vice and Chloe Cline.
PV's quest begins when it faces the No. 6 Waukee Northwest Wolves in the quarterfinals.
The Hawks, on the other hand, have lost several starters from 2021, but have still looked like a dominant team. With five players with over 100 kills, the Hawks' offense has looked nearly unstoppable.
The first team tasked with slowing them down will be the No. 7 West Des Moines Valley Tigers.
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Dark Horse Contenders: Dowling Catholic Maroons and the Ankeny Centennial Jaguars
The quarterfinal matchup between the No. 4 Dowling Catholic Maroons and No. 5 Ankeny Centennial Jaguars may be the most intriguing of the day.
Splitting their regular season games this year, whoever wins Monday's grudge match will be a tough team to stop no matter who they face in the semifinals.
The Maroons present a difficult challenge and look much improved from last season's state tournament appearance. That has come in large part because of the continued improvement of junior Mackenize Dean and the emergence of sophomore Ella Rogers.
The Jaguars look as good as ever despite graduating several seniors from last year's team. The sophomore duo of Delaney Miller and Jaeden Pratt have grown into stars.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: 2022 Iowa high school volleyball state tournament's top teams, players
