What Athletes, Top Teams Are Chasing a Class 4A Title?
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Who wants it? As hands raise across the state, Class 4A will have a little bit of a different look with some teams heading down to Class 3A due to enrollment numbers. There are still the familiar names who will…
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Continue ReadingWho wants it? As hands raise across the state, Class 4A will have a little bit of a different look with some teams heading down to Class 3A due to enrollment numbers. There are still the familiar names who will be in the hunt, but who will be playing big matches at the US Cellular Center come the first week of November? I have a few ideas, let’s take a look at what we can expect from Iowa Class 4A.
Who Is Missing? Who is being added on?
Sergeant Bluff-Luton and West Delaware are heading down to 3A after both have been consistent names in the Class 4A field. SB-L was a 2019 Champion while West Delaware was a 2020 runner up. Another state tournament team from 2020 is Humboldt who was a 3A Quarterfinalist.
The Favorite
I am going to give the nod to Western Dubuque. They battled through some injuries in 2020 and finished in the final four of Class 4A and will return plenty of firepower in their lineup. Madison Maahs Madison Maahs 5'8" | S Western Dubuque | 2022 State IA , one of the top assist leaders in the state is back for her Senior year as well as outside hitters Meredith Bahl Meredith Bahl 5'10" | OH Western Dubuque | 2022 State IA and Maddie Harris Maddie Harris 5'9" | OH Western Dubuque | 2022 State IA who have been contributing on the main stage their whole career. Libero Ella Meyer Ella Meyer 5'5" | DS/L Western Dubuque | 2023 State IA is one of the top liberos in the Junior class and will be back to provide a steady first contact. Junior, Libby Lansing Libby Lansing 6'0" | MB Western Dubuque | 2022 IA will take command at the net as a middle blocker who is coming off a Class 4A All Tournament Team performance. The Bobcats are also coming off a Class 4A state softball title in July.
Remember Us? Xavier Still Strong
Xavier had a team full of Seniors, athletes who were committed to college programs across the country. Despite the graduation, they are still going to have a really strong team returning. They will return two terminal and dynamic middles in Maya Karl Maya Karl 6'0" | MB Xavier | 2022 State IA and Anika Ivester Anika Ivester 6'3" | MB Xavier | 2023 State IA as well as libero Brooklyn Miller Brooklyn Miller 5'5" | DS/L Xavier | 2023 State IA . What people have to remember is that the athletes who were not on the court last year were practicing against a state championship squad every day in 2020. They will be hungry to take the court and prove they are once again a force to be reckoned with.
Unfinished Business
Waverly-Shell Rock, Marion, and North Scott are looking for a bit of redemption heading into this upcoming season. WSR and Marion were in the state tournament in 2019, but fell in the regional finals in 2020. Avery Beckett Avery Beckett 5'10" | OH Waverly Shell Rock | 2022 State IA (South Dakota) was one of the top kill leaders across all classes as was Sophie Sedgwick for assists, they will be key for the Go-Hawks in their quest to return to Cedar Rapids. Marion will be led by a solid setter-hitter combo in Elise Mehaffy Elise Mehaffy 5'8" | S Marion | 2022 State IA and Avery Van Hook Avery Van Hook 5'9" | S Marion | 2023 State #134 Nation IA . Both can swing and set, two top all around players in the state. Van Hook will be a Junior, recently committing to South Dakota as well. Mehaffy will be heading to NCAA D2 Missouri S&T. North Scott will have plenty of firepower this season with two dominant pins in Ella McLaughlin Ella McLaughlin 5'10" | OH North Scott | 2022 State IA and Scout Kirschy. McLaughlin will head to Cornell in Mt. Vernon following high school. They also have an uber athletic middle in Grace Graham Grace Graham 5'10" | MB North Scott | 2022 State IA who will be a force along the net offensively and defensively.
Central Iowa Scramble
Central Iowa and into Southern Iowa will have plenty of teams chasing each other who could get hot at the right time and make a run to the state tournament. Oskaloosa has always been close, but has the athletes to put it together starting with Faith DeRonde Faith DeRonde 5'10" | OH Oskaloosa | 2022 State #165 Nation IA who can take over a match as an outside hitter with her front and backrow play. Bondurant-Farrar has always been competitive and will have a dynamic six rotation outside in Kendall Anderson Kendall Anderson 5'7" | OH Bondurant-Farrar | 2022 State IA who is tough to defend with her creative ability to score points. Winterset is also a very athletic team led by Denver commit Lauren Carter Lauren Carter 5'11" | S Winterset | 2022 State #43 Nation IA . Carter is one of the top setters in the state, but could also swing if her team needs it. Indianola is in Class 4A this year and will have an athletic squad led by Lauren Blake Lauren Blake 5'8" | S Indianola | 2022 State IA who can set and score points from one of the pins. Pella will be in this mix with attackers Bailey Van Voorst Bailey Van Voorst 5'10" | MB Pella | 2022 State IA and Jasmine Namminga Jasmine Namminga 6'1" | MB Pella | 2023 State IA .
Other Teams and Players To Have On The Radar
Cannot wait to officially be a Redbird ❤️ @RedbirdVB pic.twitter.com/EbWME4KcPi
— Calia Clubb Calia Clubb 5'10" | RS Clear Creek-Amana | 2022 State #138 Nation IA (@caliaclubb) July 15, 2021
Calia Clubb Calia Clubb 5'10" | RS Clear Creek-Amana | 2022 State #138 Nation IA – Clear Creek Amana
The illinois State commit has been a mainstay for the Clippers. She will carry a heavy load this season in a really tough WAMAC schedule.
Kill by Brynlee Arnold Brynlee Arnold 6'3" | RS Glenwood | 2022 State IA and Glenwood forces a TO down 9-11 but with some momentum in set five pic.twitter.com/SH014uyO2l
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 3, 2020
Glenwood
Glenwood has been to the state tournament the past two seasons to be bounced in the quarterfinal round. They will return a dominant left handed middle/right side in Brynlee Arnold Brynlee Arnold 6'3" | RS Glenwood | 2022 State IA who is committed to Omaha.
Makayla Howard Makayla Howard 5'8" | OH Clinton | 2023 State IA – Clinton
The River Queens will be battling in the MAC with the likes of Pleasant Valley and Assumption. Howard will be heading into her Junior year after 250 kills as a Sophomore.
Josie Ayala – Carroll
Western Iowa is wide open with some classification changes and Josie Ayala, who had nearly 300 kills last year will be back for the Tigers.