WAY Too Early Iowa Class 5A Rankings For Fall 2020

It’s early, WAY too early to probably be talking about high school volleyball.  However, at this point talk of any volleyball is what we all need. With club, camps, open gyms - you name it, being put on pause, athletes have been getting creative with workouts at home with those extra reps ultimately making the difference in their performance the next time they step on the court.  For the following high school teams, their experience, talent, and combinations coming back for the 2020 season has put them in talks of bring some of the top teams when high school teams get started with practices in August with goals of getting back to the state tournament come November.  Who is in the “Way Too Early” Class 5A Top Ten?  Ankeny  Dowling Valley  Iowa City Liberty  Waukee Urbandale Pleasant Valley  Dubuque Hempstead Bettendorf Ankeny Centennial  Ankeny - 2019 Record: 37-6 2019 Result: State Semifinals  Ankeny was a final four team in 2019 and will have to replace some key point scorers, but they will return the top setter in the state in Notre Dame commit, Phyona SchraderPhyonaSchrader6'1" | SAnkeny | 2021StateIA.  She can set or score on her own with a 6’2, big lefty handed swing where she has such a feel for the game on when to take over. Her top attackers to target will be another soon to be Senior in McKenna Scheib who can score points in the middle and up-start soon to be Junior Ava ReynoldsAvaReynolds6'0" | OHAnkeny | 2022StateIA who is having a breakout slub season for Club Ignit Select 16 Blue.  Dowling - 2019 - 32-12 2019 Result: State Quarterfinals The depth of this squad is extremely deep with plenty of athletes at every position.  The Senior class provides a ton of depth with the likes of libero Anna FlynnAnnaFlynnDS/LDowling | 2021StateIA, setter Sophia PainovichSophiaPainovichSDowling | 2021StateIA, middles Lauren HavlikLaurenHavlik6'0" | MBDowling | 2021StateIA and Grace EvansGraceEvansMBDowling | 2021StateIA, and plenty of point scorers in Olivia NahasOliviaNahas5'11" | OHDowling | 2021StateIA, Emerson ThelenEmersonThelenOHDowling | 2021StateIA, Piper KirchoffPiperKirchoff5'9" | RSDowling | 2022StateIA, and plenty more.  Again depth is going to be such a strength for this squad and that is why I think they are just ahead of Valley heading into the start of the season.  Valley - 2019 - 42-5 2019 Result - State Runner-Up  This team is electric and can score points in a hurry.  They also have one of the top outside hitters in the Class of 2022 in Hayden KubikHaydenKubik6'1" | OHWest Des Moines Valley | 2022StateIA that is not only the best in Iowa, but one who is among the best in the country.  She can score in any rotation and is etching her name among some of the best to play in Iowa. They will also return Payton LombardiPaytonLombardi5'5" | DS/LWest Des Moines Valley | 2021StateIA on the pin and Olivia LombardiOliviaLombardi5'7" | DS/LWest Des Moines Valley | 2023StateIA as a libero.  Two big pieces to their puzzle last year who were Seniors are Olivia CurryOliviaCurryRSWest Des Moines Valley | 2020StateIA (Omaha) and Jacey SpannJaceySpannRSWest Des Moines Valley | 2020StateIA (Grand View). This setter/middle duo were extremely dynamic for the Tigers and Curry was someone who could set or swing from the right side always giving the team multiple options in 2019.  Iowa City Liberty - 2019 -  34-3 2019 Results - State Quarterfinals  Liberty was a team with a lot of promise as well as expectations last year and they set a standard for their program, qualifying for the state tournament for the first time in their schools history.  Heading into 2020, they won’t have big time players in Rylee FayRyleeFay5'9" | SIowa City Liberty | 2020StateIA or LeeAnn PotterLeeAnnPotter5'9" | OHLiberty | 2020StateIA, but they will return a really talented lineup in Cassidy HartmanCassidyHartman5'10" | MBIowa City Liberty | 2023StateIAn (2023), Sydney Woods (2022), and Shelby KimmShelbyKimm5'10" | OHIowa City Liberty | 2023StateIA (2023).  They also return their libero in Addie Schmierer.  Waukee - 2019 - 34-12 2019 Result - State Quarterfinals Waukee is coming off back to back state tournament appearances where last year they gave a major scare to state champion Cedar Falls taking them to five in the quarterfinals.  Soon to be Senior, Layanna GreenLayannaGreen6'0" | MBWaukee | 2021StateIA showed the state how dominant she could be, owning the net being a major force offensively and defensively. Another big contributor that is back is libero, Kori KnoxKoriKnoxDS/LWaukee | 2021StateIA.  She is scrappy and a gamechanger with how she can keep her side of the net in system.    Urbandale - 2019 - 20-17 2019 Result - Regional Final  Central Iowa is going to be a Gauntlet for teams to get through in order to compete at the state tournament.  Urbandale will be one of those teams to make a serious threat with experience returning including one of the top players out of the Class of 2023 in Lily DykstraLilyDykstra6'0" | OHUrbandale | 2023StateIA.  The six rotation outside hitter had over 300 kills in her Freshman campaign. The J-Hawks also have Kiersten BakerKierstenBakerOHUrbandale | 2021StateIA and Madi Lynch while libero Katie Carver returns after having over 400 digs in 2019.  [player_tooltip player_id="17325" first="Kora" last="Ruff"] setting Pleasant Valley - 2019 - 30-6 2019 - State Semifinals PV had a historic run getting to the 2019 state semifinals and are graduating some big point scorers in Ilah Perez-JohnsonIlahPerez-JohnsonOHPleasant Valley | 2020StateIA, Erica BrohmEricaBrohm6'0" | OHPleasant Valley | 2020StateIA, and Kaitlyn MorganKaitlynMorganOHPleasant Valley | 2020StateIA.  However, they do return one of the top setters in the state in Kora RuffKoraRuff5'9" | SPleasant Valley | 2022StateIA who will only be a Junior accompanied by two other big point scorers in Emily WoodEmilyWood5'9" | MBPleasant Valley | 2021StateIA and Chloe ClineChloeCline6'0" | MBPleasant Valley | 2023StateIA, Cline was just a Freshman last season.     Dubuque Hempstead - 2019 - 20-14 2019 - Regional Final  Hempstead returns Corinne MeierCorinneMeier5'11" | OHDubuque Hempstead | 2021StateIA on the outside who has been on the rise since the end of her Sophomore year.  Six rotations of physicality and power, Meier had over 300 kills last season. The Mustangs return all of their top attackers, but will have to replace one of their setters and a libero.     Bettendorf - 2019 - 22-14 2019 - Regional Final  Bettendorf will be under the direction of a new head coach after the retirement of legendary Coach Diane Lichtenberg.  They will have four Seniors leading the way with middle Johnaizjha AngelJohnaizjhaAngelMBBettendorf | 2021StateIA, pin hitter Annie StotlarAnnieStotlarOHBettendorf | 2021StateIA, and a strong backcourt duo in Riley DeereRileyDeereDS/LBettendorf | 2021StateIA and Caidince ClevelandCaidinceClevelandDS/LBettendorf | 2021StateIA.  The MAC, which consists of the biggest high schools in the Quad Cities with the likes of PV, Assumption, North Scott, and Bettendorf.  Ankeny Centennial - 2019 - 18-15 2019 - Regional Final  Yes, Centennial will be without big time D1 commits in Devyn RobinsonDevynRobinson6'1" | MBAnkeny Centenial | 2020StateIA and Calea JonesCaleaJonesOHAnkeny Centennial | 2020StateIA, but they have some pieces who contributed as Sophomores that can step in and take a large role on the team.  Olivia Anderson and Peyton Mitchell will be the top attackers coming back and libero Ella Becker will be a key piece to the backcourt to get their hitters in system.    Other Teams To Note… Cedar Falls - The defending state champions, but graduate athletes who have so much experience, look for Emmy Wedgbury to lead the way for the Tigers.  Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln - Always a scrappy group.  Made a trip to the state tournament in 2019, but will have some major pieces to replace.  Des Moines Roosevelt - Setter Maren PalmerMarenPalmerSDes Moines Roosevelt | 2021StateIA will look to lead her team with ever so deep pool of Central Iowa teams.  Sioux City East - This team very well could be in the top ten with their top point scorers back in Lineya Wells and Riley Donahue.  They typically play in the Ankeny Centennial Early Bird which will be an early indication of who will be an early contender. https://www.facebook.com/PrepDigIA/videos/886048761821587/