A Gaze Into the Class 5A Crystal Ball: Top Teams and Athletes
In this article:
The Class 5A title has gone through the city of Cedar Falls or Ankeny since 2013 when Bettendorf took home the title. Does it stay put? Will it stay in Central Iowa? Possibly West Des Moines? Or will it head…
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Continue ReadingThe Class 5A title has gone through the city of Cedar Falls or Ankeny since 2013 when Bettendorf took home the title. Does it stay put? Will it stay in Central Iowa? Possibly West Des Moines? Or will it head to Iowa City? Possibly the first time ever for a high school. In Class 5A, there are top players in the state and even the country. Athletes who will be playing in front of plenty of national audiences. Who are the top teams? Who takes home the title? And who are the top athletes competing for hardware for the Upcoming 2021 season?
In The Hunt
Cassidy Hartman Cassidy Hartman 5'10" | MB Iowa City Liberty | 2023 State #130 Nation IA of @Liberty_VB is 📈📈📈 she is long, athletic and so terminal. Class of 2023 pin pic.twitter.com/kNaMsbX3QC
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 2, 2020
Iowa City Liberty
The Bolts are coming off a historic season with their school’s highest finish with a runner up trophy in Class 5A, losing in the championship match to Ankeny. They had huge wins in the statetournament with a 3-1 quarterfinal win over West Des Moines Valley and West Des Moines Dowling in the semifinals. Cassidy Hartman Cassidy Hartman 5'10" | MB Iowa City Liberty | 2023 State #130 Nation IA had 35 kills in their semifinal victory against Dowling and will be returning for her Junior season, she is one of the top outside hitters in Iowa from the Class of 2023. Liberty will also return libero, Gabbie Schroeder Gabbie Schroeder 5'7" | DS/L Iowa City Liberty | 2022 State IA (Drake), Sydney Woods Sydney Woods 5'7" | OH Iowa City Liberty | 2022 State IA , Shelby Kimm Shelby Kimm 6'0" | OH Iowa City Liberty | 2023 State IA , Lilah Van Scoyoc, and setter Mariah Rollins. This core group has plenty of experience and big matches under their belt and will come into the season with unfinished business.
West Des Moines Valley
There is a high standard for all athletics at Valley. After a quick exit from the state tournament in 2020, the Tigers will be on the hunt for redemption and to cap off an illustrious career for top Class of 2022 athlete Hayden Kubik Hayden Kubik 6'1" | OH West Des Moines Valley | 2022 State #11 Nation IA who will head to Nebraska after high school. She is one of the top outside hitters in the country. She isn’t the only Big Ten commit on this squad as libero Olivia Lombardi Olivia Lombardi 5'7" | DS/L West Des Moines Valley | 2023 State IA recently made her verbal commitment to play at Iowa, she is a top Class 2023 prospect and one of the top defenders in the Midwest. They will also return setter Ellie Morrow Ellie Morrow OH State IA and attackers Meredith Rieker Meredith Rieker 5'10" | MB West Des Moines Valley | 2022 State IA and incoming Sophomore, Gabby Lombardi.
Ruff to Cline for @PVVolleyball to take set two against Cedar Falls pic.twitter.com/vVA2si4RtS
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 2, 2020
Pleasant Valley
The Spartans have made back to back final four appearances and will once again be in the conversation for top teams in Class 5A. They will have to replace Iowa’s top all around in Emily Wood Emily Wood 5'9" | MB Pleasant Valley | 2021 State IA who will be playing softball at Iowa State. She was a key pin with a tough left handed swing to defend. They will be led by Seniors Kora Ruff Kora Ruff 5'9" | S Pleasant Valley | 2022 State #86 Nation IA and Arra Cottrell Arra Cottrell 6'0" | OH Pleasant Valley | 2022 State IA . Ruff is the top setter in Class 5A where her IQ for the game is off the charts, she knows what her matchups are, who can score, and is also an extremely solid defender of her position. She is committed to Evansville where she will be joined by another high school teammate in Chloe Cline Chloe Cline 6'1" | MB Pleasant Valley | 2023 State IA , a long athletic middle blocker who could also play on the pin. At libero will be Livia Thomsen who is always consistent and provides a dependable first contact.
Ankeny
The defending Class 5A State Champions will have to replace the top setter from 2020 with Phyona Schrader Phyona Schrader 6'1" | S Ankeny | 2021 State IA heading to Notre Dame and middle blocker, Mckenna Scheib Mckenna Scheib MB Ankeny | 2021 State IA going to Bradely, but their cupboard is far from bare for the Hawkettes. They will return Denver recruit in outside hitter Ava Reynolds Ava Reynolds 5'11" | OH Ankeny | 2022 State #155 Nation IA , pin attacker Hannah Baier Hannah Baier 5'6" | DS/L Ankeny | 2023 State IA , and 2020 All Tournament Team member with incoming Sophomore Aowyn Schrader. Lexi Stephens Lexi Stephens 5'4" | DS/L Ankeny | 2022 State IA will be the returning libero who was really key in their stretch to the state championship.
Ankeny Centennial
The Jaguars had a crosstown matchup in the quarterfinals of the state tournament with Ankeny where they gained valuable experience. They return plenty of kills with all of their key attackers back with Marissa Meyer Marissa Meyer RS State IA , Monica Merimbe, Delainey Winkel Delainey Winkel 5'9" | MB Ankeny Centennial | 2023 State IA , Olivia Anderson Olivia Anderson OH State IA , and Hannah Kurth Hannah Kurth 6'2" | MB Ankeny Centennial | 2023 State IA . Kurth will be a physical right side who brings plenty of power offensively and a solid block. Their 6-2 system was efficient in 2020 and will return both setters in Morgan DenBeste Morgan DenBeste S State IA and Reagan Angus. Senior, Ella Becker Ella Becker 5'6" | DS/L Ankeny Centennial | 2022 State IA will return to anchor the defense as their libero.
Cedar Falls
The Tigers are always going to be in the conversation, their tradition is that strong. They will have to replace key Seniors in Emmy Wedgbury and Halia Mahi Halia Mahi 5'9" | S Cedar Falls | 2021 State IA , but return Northern Iowa recruit Alivia Bronner Alivia Bronner 5'5" | DS/L Cedar Falls | 2022 State IA at libero, outside hitter Anisia Smith Anisia Smith 5'9" | MB Cedar Falls | 2022 State IA , and attackers Katie Remmert Katie Remmert 5'10" | OH Cedar Falls | 2023 State IA and Ellie Gerdes. Nohea Mahi Nohea Mahi 5'7" | S Cedar Falls | 2023 State IA will most likely step in as full time setter where she had 300 assists as a Sophomore.
Who Else Will Make a Run?
Des Moines Roosevelt – After Des Moines Public Schools were unable to participate in 2020, the Riders will be eager to get back on the court and show the offseason work they have put in.
Urbandale – Top 2023 outside hitter, Lily Dykstra Lily Dykstra 6'0" | OH Urbandale | 2023 State #127 Nation IA will be looking to lead the J-Hawks as well as returning setter Riley Peters
Johnston – The Dragons will look to breakthrough the gauntlet of teams in the CIML with Senior Dasha Svitashev Dasha Svitashev 5'9" | RS Johnston | 2022 State IA as their top attacker who had just under 300 kills in 2020 as well as setter Molly Trachta Molly Trachta 5'8" | S Johnston | 2023 State IA who had nearly 700 assists.
Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln – The Lynx made the state tournament in 2019 with a really talented Senior class who are finding success at the collegiate level. They are reloading and will be returning top attacker Bailey Girres and setter Molly Romano.
West Des Moines Dowling – The Maroons have made it a tradition to qualify for the state tournament and in 2020 had a roster full of Seniors. They will return Samantha Schroeder Samantha Schroeder 6'2" | MB Dowling | 2022 State IA and Piper Kirchoff Piper Kirchoff 5'9" | RS Dowling | 2022 State IA as attackers and Calliope Coppola Calliope Coppola 5'8" | DS/L Dowling | 2022 State IA who can be used as a libero or outside hitter.