Stars Shine Bright With Top State Tournament Performances
Come state tournament time, the star players come to shine. There were so many brilliant performances we’ll be breaking down from the Iowa State Tournament that left the fans more than entertained. These athletes have been on the radar and…
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Continue ReadingCome state tournament time, the star players come to shine. There were so many brilliant performances we’ll be breaking down from the Iowa State Tournament that left the fans more than entertained. These athletes have been on the radar and have been showing their schools what they can do, but this weekend was the entire state. Here are the stars of the state tournament as I was able to take in all first-round matches and 40 teams take the bright lights of the US Cellular Center.
Kenzie Foley leading the way for @SBLWarriorVB with 15 kills shortly into set three. Foley plays club for @mvp_vball and is a @SCSUhuskies_vb commit pic.twitter.com/IM7VRd69iu
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 12, 2019
Kenzie Foley – Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Foley is no stranger to the US Cellular Center, but this time she would be going home with a state title for SBL. What Foley brings to the court is a winners mentality who is not afraid to go for the big swing and score. Strong, physical, and athletic, Foley will be taking her talent to St. Cloud State (MN) who competes in one of the top Division 2 conferences in the Northern Sun. Foley would be named the captain of the Class 4A All-Tournament Team where she had 67 kills through matches.
Akacia Brown – Cedar Falls (Title Photo)
The intensity and fire that Brown brings to the court is tough to match. Celebrating hard for every point, Finding ways to score points from the pin as well as saving points from the backrow, the performance that Brown had in the quarterfinals against Waukee (and the rest of the tournament) was one for the record books. Brown has solidified herself as one of Iowa’s best with two state titles and another runner-up finish with CF. She will be heading to Mississippi State to player her college volleyball.
Alayna Yates #17Alayna Yates – Cedar Falls
At 6’6, Yates is strong, athletic, and is so mobile along the net as a middle blocker. In three state tournament matches, Yates finished with a total of 52 kills and her lowest hitting efficiency was .455 where she hit .500 plus in her other matches. At the net defensively, she not only can block, but she makes the attackers think which results in tips and roll shots getting the Tiger offense rolling. Yates will be a force to be reckon with at the next level when she heads to Dayton who is a perennial power in the A10.
Layanna GreenLayanna Green – Waukee
Fans didn’t have to look at a score sheet or a live stream of the stats to know that Green was having a great match against Cedar Falls. Waukee, the number 8 seed heading in (which come state tournament time everyone is REALLY good) gave Cedar Falls a major scare. The reigning state high jump champion put on quite a shot with her ability to hit out of the middle as well as swing off one foot. She ability to play well above the net and adapt is special, one of the top overall athletes in the tournament.
Kora RuffKora Ruff – Pleasant Valley
Watching Ruff her Freshman year, there was just something about she orchestrated the offense for her Iowa Rocket 15s team that was different than most 15 year olds. However, this past state tournament she was offense, finding one on one matchups for her attackers, and a solid defender at the net and in the backrow. For the defenders across the net, Ruff is extremely neutral when she receives the ball and is so fast with her hands that its a tough match up for the blockers to follow. Ruff was named to the Class 5A All Tournament Team.
Delaney Rice of Marion is looking so strong and really having a night. Marion up 2-0 and 20-13 in set three pic.twitter.com/50nZgDhunl
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 13, 2019
Delaney Rice – Marion
Rice found another gear Tuesday night for Marion in the quarterfinals. Attacking out of the middle, but a blocker to recognize everywhere for North Scott, Rice controlled the match whenever she in was in the front row. The St. Louis commit had 15 kills in three sets out of the middle for Marion against North Scott to advance to the semifinals.
@GVU_VB commit Macey Kleitsch is just so fun to watch with how she just orchestrates the whole match. One of the top setters in the state for West Delaware pic.twitter.com/xcV2woNBO9
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 13, 2019
Macey Kletisch – West Delaware
Tempo Tempo Tempo…Kleitsch runs it for West Delaware who might of had the fastest offense in the state with their attackers in the air while Kletisch was releasing the ball. She just has such a great court sense where she sees the other side of the net, knows when to attack, and just finds her hitters at such a quick pace. She will head to Grand View to play volleyball, a program consistently one of the top NAIA programs in the nation.
Phyona SchraderPhyona Schrader – Ankeny
Schrader is only a Junior, but is one of the top players in Iowa out of the Class of 2021. Strong, athletic, 6’0 tall and left-handed makes for a pretty deadly combination. When Schrader is in the front row and jumps the defense just has to freeze. She is able to disguise whether she is setter or attacking so well and when she attacks, its with authority with a full left-handed swing. The Hawkettes will bring back a strong core of underclassmen and will look for another state tournament appearance next year.
Union takes a TO down 9-5 in set two Kuemper and Unity tied at 7 with Kuemper winning set one 25-18. @DrakeVolleyball commit Kara Peter with 11 kills already pic.twitter.com/VzfudGpufv
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 13, 2019
Kara Peter – Kuemper
The Drake commit came up big for Kuemper to advance to the state championship match after a state title last season. Peter had big numbers and was named to the all-tournament team with 30 kills against Unity Christian and 31 kills against Red Oak, but it was when those kills happened that was more important. Unity held a strong lead closing in on set four, but it was the key play by Kara Peter where Kuemper was able to hold on to advance to the semifinals.
Morgan Middleton celebrating with her teammates after they announced her state record of 34 kills. At the end of the day it’s a bunch of kids playing a game they love with their friends. The genuine excitement they had for her was special. pic.twitter.com/ZFAfi1eQD9
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 13, 2019
Morgan Middleton – Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
CGD had a state tournament experience that went a little too quickly, playing in Class 3A and state champion Carroll-Kuemper in the quarterfinals. This year was much different as an experienced team coming in playing another team with state tournament experience in Wilton. Middleton was splliting the block, going sharp cross, down the line, or high hands with no luck of the defense recovering. Her power and overall game was too much and resulted in a Class 2A record for kills in a three set match with 34.
Lauren Schrock attackingLauren Schrock – Mount Vernon
Some teams hardly ever play five set matches, let alone four in a row like Mount Vernon who had their regional semifinal and final go five as well as their quarterfinal match against West Liberty as well as their semifinal match against Union. Outside hitter and Iowa commit Lauren Schrock was providing blast after blast for the Mustangs who just seemed to play so clutch at the right time.