Tickets Punched: What Will Be The Intriguing Quarterfinal Matchups?
All the tickets are punched, the t-shirts are being made, and all the logistics of heading to the state tournament are underway. Cedar Rapids will be playing host to 40 teams starting with play Tuesday and champions crowned Friday. Here…
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Continue ReadingAll the tickets are punched, the t-shirts are being made, and all the logistics of heading to the state tournament are underway. Cedar Rapids will be playing host to 40 teams starting with play Tuesday and champions crowned Friday. Here are some first-round matchups that are extremely intriguing at first glance that will provide plenty of fireworks at the US Cellular Center Downtown CR.
Class 1A
Wapsie Valley vs. Janesville
Wapsie cannot escape the best of the Cedar Valley. After defeating Tripoli to get to state, they will face a local team in Janesville which they lost to earlier in the year at Charles City. Janesville is back….again, but with plenty of new key players with Julia Meister, Bailey Hoff, and Marra Fitzgerald leading the way. Both of these teams have put together a really tough schedule where plenty of their losses are to teams who will also be in Cedar Rapids next week.
Class 2A
Wilton vs. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
Both of these teams have state tournament experience (last year CGD was in 3A), but they are also fairly young with Wilton being led by two of the top Sophomores in the state in Ella Caffrey and Kelsey Drake who have been setting and attacking their way to the top for Wilton. CGD is led by Morgan Middleton, a do it all type attacker who is a threat to score in every rotation. Middleton has over 500 kills on the season, over six per set. The Cowgirls also have one of the top liberos in the Class 2A field in Junior Jadyn Jondle with close to 400 digs on the season.
Class 3A
Nataliie Welch attacking for Mt. VernonWest Liberty vs. Mount Vernon
If you like power on the pins, this is the match for you. West Liberty will be coming into the tournament with Macy Daufeldt, a Drake commit and Martha Pace, who have combined for 800 kills and are both hitting above .400. Mount Vernon has had plenty of tight matches in the post season winning their regional semifinal against Jesup in five sets and going five sets in their win against New Hampton as well. Lauren Schrock, an Iowa commit, leads a quad of Juniors who are over 100 kills. Natalie Welch will be key in this match as a right side matching up with Daufeldt and Pace. Expect a lot of big swings on both sides.
Class 4A
Waverly-Shell Rock vs. West Delaware
These two teams are historically some of the top teams in Class 4A. Last year they met in a regional final with West Delaware coming out on top. West Delaware may have one of the fastest offenses in the state led by multisport setter, Macey Kleitsch. The Grand View commit has experience at state volleyball and softball while she orchestrates the offense as a setter with just over eight assists per set. The Go-Hawks are a balanced attack as well led by Senior and Chicago State commit, Jaz Westmoreland with over 300 kills. Avery Beckett has had a breakout Sophomore year with over 300 kills as well.
Western Dubuque vs. Cedar Rapids Xavier
Cinderella continues to dance, with Western Dubuque advancing to state, highlighted by a major upset over Dubuque Wahlert in the regional semifinal. Western Dubuque and Cedar Rapids Xavier are from the same conference with Xavier winning their previous matchup 3-0. Xavier has the experience highlighted by a strong Junior core of Eve Magill, Jaz Yamilkoski, and Katy Garrison who played in the state title match as Sophomores. Throw in six rotation outside Elyse Winter and its a lot to handle. Western Dubuque can come into the match continuing to play the
Dowling blocking, taking on Marion at the Westside Tournament at CR Jeff.underdog, they are young and fearless and will do whatever it takes to keep on dancing.
Class 5A
West Des Moines Valley vs. West Des Moines Dowling
Has there ever been a Valley/Dowling matchup that wasn’t big, not just in volleyball, but anything?!? These two have the experience, depth, and a whole lot of talent. So far Valley has beaten Dowling three times this year. These athletes know each other all too well, with plenty of them playing club together in the Des Moines area. Valley will have the top Sophomore in the state in Hayden Kubik and Omaha commit Olivia Curry who is a swiss army knife, contributing in so many ways. Dowling is so balanced with two solid setters in Allena Shimon and Sophia Painovich. Anna Flynn is their libero who leads a strong core of passers as well.