State Tournament Powers To Battle In Mount Vernon
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It may only be labor day weekend, but the fireworks are ready this weekend in Mt. Vernon at the Shirley Ryan Invite that will feature multiple teams who have state tournament experience and plenty of volleyball hardware in their trophy…
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Continue ReadingIt may only be labor day weekend, but the fireworks are ready this weekend in Mt. Vernon at the Shirley Ryan Invite that will feature multiple teams who have state tournament experience and plenty of volleyball hardware in their trophy cases. This will be a chance for early statements to be made for many of these teams heading into September. Let the games begin as the season flys by and state champions will be awarded two months from now. We’re breaking down the pools in what will be an electric day in Mt. Vernon.
Joy Jordan Pool
Dike-New Hartford
Red Oak
Center Point-Urbana
Waverly-Shell Rock
Dike, Red Oak, and Waverly-Shell Rock have all been in the state tournament within the past two years and Dike-New Hartford is the defending Class 2A State Champion. The Wolverines already had wins over highly ranked teams in West Delaware, Iowa City Liberty, and West Des Moines Valley. What’s still scary about this team is that they are still young. The Petersen Twins 2.0 with Jadyn Petersen and Payton Petersen are two of the top players in the Class of 2024 and score the majority of the points for DNH. Junior setter, Madelyn Norton Madelyn Norton 5'8" | S Dike-New Hartford | 2023 State IA does it all with her quick hands and ability to swing if needed. She puts plenty of pressure on the other side of the net. Red Oak has made back to back state tournament appearances and will rely heavily on Senior attacker Lexi Johnson. CPU started the season with two tough opponents in Solon and Mt. Vernon and will have Senior attacker Kylie Henry. Waverly-Shell Rock was upset in the regional finals by Gilbert in 2020, but has an experienced team led by South Dakota commit Avery Beckett Avery Beckett 5'10" | OH Waverly Shell Rock | 2022 State IA and setter, Sophie Sedgwick who was one of the top assist leaders in the state last season.
Shelbey Kintzel Pool
Western Dubuque
Des Moines Christian
Nevada
Waterloo Columbus
Western Dubuque has plenty of unfinished business that will be a driving force the entire season. They have a senior class that has experience and talent with two outside attackers in 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 are solid in all six rotations. However everything goes through the first two contacts in libero Ella Meyer Ella Meyer 5'5" | DS/L Western Dubuque | 2023 State IA , and one of the top Senior setters in the MVC in Madison Maahs Madison Maahs 5'8" | S Western Dubuque | 2022 State IA . Libby Lansing Libby Lansing 6'0" | MB Western Dubuque | 2022 IA in the middle was a Class 4A All Tournament Team member in 2020. Des Moines Christian has been so close to punching their ticket to Cedar Rapids and will be led by Gardner-Webb commit Emma Cross Emma Cross 5'10" | OH Des Moines Christian | 2022 State IA who can score points from anywhere. Nevada is always going to be ready to compete. Well coached and disciplined they were state tournament participants in 2019. The Cubs are always battle tested and will be led by Junior attacker Lily Goos Lily Goos 6'1" | MB Nevada | 2023 State IA . Waterloo Columbus will be looking to contend in a loaded conference with the NICL and will have UW-La Crosse commit Faith Freshwater Faith Freshwater 6'0" | MB Waterloo Columbus | 2022 State IA who can control the net with her block and score points with her swing.
Ali Stark Pool
Assumption
Mount Vernon
Dubuque Wahlert
Ottumwa
Plenty of history with these programs here. Assumption is coming off of three straight state tournament appearances and are led by a big left handed swing on the right side in Ava Schubert Ava Schubert 6'1" | RS Assumption | 2023 State #153 Nation IA , one of the top players in the Class of 2023. She has plenty of weapons around her and will receive the majority of her sets from Rockhurst commit Carly Rolf Carly Rolf 5'9" | S Davenport Assumption | 2022 IA who can sent and swing for the Knights. Mount Vernon graduated a successful senior class who won a state title in 2019 and were state runner-up in 2020. However, like all good programs they reload. Kameron Brand will pace the defense as their returning libero and plenty of points will come from sophomore attacker, Brooke Ellyson. Madeleine Miller is the top setter you probably haven’t heard much about yet. She is going to take the state by storm and will be a big time player for the Mustangs. She has already committed to New Mexico to play college volleyball. Wahlert will be much improved and will have a solid first touch with libero Mia Kunnert Mia Kunnert 5'6" | DS/L Dubuque Wahlert | 2022 State IA and a physical middle blocker with Addison Poppe Addison Poppe 6'2" | MB Dubuque Wahlert | 2022 State IA . Ottumwa will look to get into the win column this weekend behind their top attacker, Kennedy Hugen.
Shirley Ryan Pool
Iowa City West
Beckman
Grundy Center
Tipton
Iowa City West is a team that will sneak up on plenty of opponents this season with solid attackers and defenders. Katherine Kouba Katherine Kouba 5'6" | DS/L Iowa City West | 2022 State IA controls the backcourt as libero and will have two middle blockers in front of her who are offensive and defensive threats in Sophia Deyak and Melae Lacy. Sydney Woods Sydney Woods 5'7" | OH Iowa City Liberty | 2022 State IA is an outside hitter teams will have to key on who can score with plenty of shots. Beckman is led by Iowa State commit, Kiersten Schmitt Kiersten Schmitt 6'0" | OH Beckman | 2022 State #103 Nation IA who was a setter/right side two years ago in the state tournament and is now at the point where she can play any position. She can set from the backrow and take her pick on where to attack in the front row. They will also have Olivia Hogan Olivia Hogan 5'6" | DS/L Dyersville Beckman | 2022 State IA as libero who recently committed to Northern Illinois. Grundy Center is always among teams who are in the conversation of making it to Cedar Rapids. The Spartans are off to a 7-0 start with top attackers Lainey Thoren and Carlie Willis. They also have an up and coming sophomore setter in Ellery Luhring who already has over 100 assists. Tipton has a young lineup with plenty of talent where they are led by two freshmen in kills and assists with Kaylee Pelzer and Claire Montgomery.