A Behind The Scenes Look at #1, New #1’s
This won’t be anything like Hard Knocks, where HBO goes incredibly deep into the lives of an NFL team each season, but we’re going to take a little closer look at the number one team in each Class, with some…
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Continue ReadingThis won’t be anything like Hard Knocks, where HBO goes incredibly deep into the lives of an NFL team each season, but we’re going to take a little closer look at the number one team in each Class, with some new additions this week. Who is number one? Who are the top players behind this team? How did they get there?
Class 1A:
Sidney – 26-4
Population: 1,037
Enrollment (Grades 9-11 2018-2019): 131
Sidney has built themselves quite the program in Southwest Iowa, and I mean SOUTHwest Iowa where it is 50 minutes South of Council Bluffs. The Cowgirls are 26-4 which features some big wins over Glenwood, St. Albert, and East Mills twice. Their four losses are to Underwood, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln, Mount Vernon, and Harlan. Sidney has four attackers with over 100 kills so far this season in Presley Brumbaugh, Paige Smith, Maddy Duncan, Kelsey Hobbie. Hobbie is leading the team and is also one of the tops in the state with 281 kills, 3.85 kills per set. Olivia Larsen is the Senior setter who can defend and dish with over 150 digs on the year, but averages nearly nine kills per set.
Class 2A:
Western Christian – 17-3
Population – Hull (2,309)
Enrollment (Grades 9-11 2018-2019): 197
Hull, where all the greatness of Pizza Ranch started. Western Christian continues to reload year after year. The athletes on the teams more than likely had moms, aunts, and sisters who were once on a Western Christian state or state championship team. The standard is set. The Wolkpack was able to win two big matches this past week against #5 in Class 3A, Spirit Lake. The Wolf Pack is led by Macay Van’t Hul as the top attacker with averaging just over 3 kills per set and an over .400 hitting efficiency while setter Olivia Granstra averages nearly nine assists per set. The three losses Western has on their record are to Skutt Catholic, Millard North, and Duchesne Academy which are all top programs out of the Omaha area.
Class 3A:
Davenport Assumption – 18-2
Population – Davenport (102,320)
Enrollment (Grades 9-11 2018-2019): 350
Welcome to the new number one club Davenport Assumption. The number one spot in Class 3A has been a bit of a merry-go round with multiple teams taking their turn at the top. This is going to make for dynamite state tournament – so exciting! The Knights have a bit of a family feel going on with the Schubert sisters in Junior, Emma Schubert and Freshman Ava Schubert. Emma is the firey outside while Ava is a long, athletic right side with a big left handed swing, leading the team in kills. Another solid all around athletic is Kylie Welch who was key for Assumption in their run to state last year. Assumption has one Class 3A loss to Tipton, but has scored huge wins over other ranked teams in Dubuque Wahlert, Wilton, and Pleasant Valley.
Class 4A:
Sergeant Bluff-Luton – 23-1
Population – Sergeant Bluff (4,702)
Enrollment (Grades 9-11 2018-2019): 377
SBL is actually one of the smaller Class 4A schools in the backyard of Sioux City. The Warriors have solidified themselves as the team to beat out of Western Iowa in Class 4A and that comes behind the arm and athleticism of Kenzie Foley. Foley is one of the more powerful players in the entire state. An all around athlete who can do it all, Foley will take her volleyball skills to St. Cloud State who is currently sitting at 11-1, ranked 12th in the country in NCAA Division 2. Foley isn’t all for the Warriors as they have some strong Senior attackers in Elle Sneller and Regina Rogers as well as some Sophomores that are starting to step up. Behind every great team is a solid libero which goes to Mia Gamet, athletic, efficient movement, and a solid platform to her team into system. The Warriors picked up big wins at the Waukee Tournament defeating Norwalk, Ankeny, and Waukee. They also picked up big wins this past weekend against Sioux Falls Christian, Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln, Sioux Center, and Unity.
Class 5A:
Cedar Falls – 26-1
Population: 41,570
Enrollment (Grades 9-11 2018-2019): 1200
Cedar Falls has had a run the past few years that has been pretty special. Winning a state title in 2017, runner up in 2018, and again sitting at number one in 2019. This team is comprised of athletes who will be on the hardcourt one way or another at the Division level with Alayna Yates out of the middle heading to Dayton, the firey outside Kacia Brown heading to Mississippi State, and setter Emerson Green will play basketball at UNI. The depth of this team is what sets it apart from others with two really strong defenders in Kirsten Graves and Emmy Wedgbury. Senior, Jada Golden-Smith has had a solid season so far with 121 kills hitting nearly .400.