WAY Too Early Iowa Class 5A Rankings For Fall 2020
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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…
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Continue ReadingIt’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 Schrader Phyona Schrader 6'1" | S Ankeny | 2021 State IA . 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 Reynolds Ava Reynolds 5'11" | OH Ankeny | 2022 State #155 Nation IA 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 Flynn Anna Flynn DS/L Dowling | 2021 State IA , setter Sophia Painovich Sophia Painovich S Dowling | 2021 State IA , middles Lauren Havlik Lauren Havlik 6'0" | MB Dowling | 2021 State IA and Grace Evans Grace Evans MB Dowling | 2021 State IA , and plenty of point scorers in Olivia Nahas Olivia Nahas 5'11" | OH Dowling | 2021 State IA , Emerson Thelen Emerson Thelen OH Dowling | 2021 State IA , Piper Kirchoff Piper Kirchoff 5'9" | RS Dowling | 2022 State IA , 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 Kubik Hayden Kubik 6'1" | OH West Des Moines Valley | 2022 State #11 Nation IA 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 Lombardi Payton Lombardi 5'5" | DS/L West Des Moines Valley | 2021 State IA on the pin and Olivia Lombardi Olivia Lombardi 5'7" | DS/L West Des Moines Valley | 2023 State IA as a libero. Two big pieces to their puzzle last year who were Seniors are Olivia Curry Olivia Curry RS West Des Moines Valley | 2020 State IA (Omaha) and Jacey Spann Jacey Spann RS West Des Moines Valley | 2020 State IA (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 Fay Rylee Fay 5'9" | S Iowa City Liberty | 2020 State IA or LeeAnn Potter LeeAnn Potter 5'9" | OH Liberty | 2020 State IA , but they will return a really talented lineup in Cassidy Hartman Cassidy Hartman 5'10" | MB Iowa City Liberty | 2023 State #130 Nation IA n (2023), Sydney Woods (2022), and Shelby Kimm Shelby Kimm 6'0" | OH Iowa City Liberty | 2023 State IA (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 Green Layanna Green 6'0" | MB Waukee | 2021 State IA 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 Knox Kori Knox DS/L Waukee | 2021 State IA . 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 Dykstra Lily Dykstra 6'0" | OH Urbandale | 2023 State #127 Nation IA . The six rotation outside hitter had over 300 kills in her Freshman campaign. The J-Hawks also have Kiersten Baker Kiersten Baker OH Urbandale | 2021 State IA and Madi Lynch while libero Katie Carver returns after having over 400 digs in 2019.
[player_tooltip player_id="17325" first="Kora" last="Ruff"] settingPleasant 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-Johnson Ilah Perez-Johnson OH Pleasant Valley | 2020 State IA , Erica Brohm Erica Brohm 6'0" | OH Pleasant Valley | 2020 State IA , and Kaitlyn Morgan Kaitlyn Morgan OH Pleasant Valley | 2020 State IA . However, they do return one of the top setters in the state in Kora Ruff Kora Ruff 5'9" | S Pleasant Valley | 2022 State #86 Nation IA who will only be a Junior accompanied by two other big point scorers in Emily Wood Emily Wood 5'9" | MB Pleasant Valley | 2021 State IA and Chloe Cline Chloe Cline 6'1" | MB Pleasant Valley | 2023 State IA , Cline was just a Freshman last season.
Dubuque Hempstead – 2019 – 20-14
2019 – Regional Final
Hempstead returns Corinne Meier Corinne Meier 5'11" | OH Dubuque Hempstead | 2021 State IA 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 Angel Johnaizjha Angel MB Bettendorf | 2021 State IA , pin hitter Annie Stotlar Annie Stotlar OH Bettendorf | 2021 State IA , and a strong backcourt duo in Riley Deere Riley Deere DS/L Bettendorf | 2021 State IA and Caidince Cleveland Caidince Cleveland DS/L Bettendorf | 2021 State IA . 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 Robinson Devyn Robinson 6'1" | MB Ankeny Centenial | 2020 State IA and Calea Jones Calea Jones OH Ankeny Centennial | 2020 State IA , 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 Palmer Maren Palmer S Des Moines Roosevelt | 2021 State IA 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.