Preseason area Super Ten

A preseason area Super Ten for the 2015 volleyball season.

1. CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY (28-12, Class 5A regional finalist) - The return of three Division-I commitments - Anna Fluent (Loyola, Chicago), Brinley Milbrath (Northern Illinois) and Macy Anderson (Nebraska-Omaha) has the Cougars dreaming big dreams. After three straight regional-final losses, expect this team to make it downtown, and make some noise.

2. WEST DELAWARE (45-3, Class 4A state runner-up) - Setter Carlee Ketchum is a returning first-team all-stater, and the Hawks return their top three hitters (Addison Brooks, Kristen Wegmann and Bridget Hoffmann). If West Delaware can get its defense to its normal high level, this may finally be the year it gets over the hump and wins a championship.

3. LINN-MAR (27-12, Class 5A regional semifinalist) - The Lions were going to be solid anyway, but the arrival of second-team all-stater Amanda Ollinger turns them from solid to potentially special.

4. IOWA CITY HIGH (24-11, Class 5A state qualifier) - Five starters are back, including second-team all-stater Alexa Aldrich-Ingram, from a squad that won the MVC tournament last year.

5. IOWA CITY WEST (28-12, Class 5A state qualifier) - The top two hitters have graduated, leaving net responsibilities to junior middles Ali Tauchen and Emily Halverson, who stand 6-foot and 6-2, respectively.

6. MARION (34-8, Class 4A state semifinalist) - The Indians lost their setter and libero to Division-I programs, but still will have a potent swing crew, led by first-team all-stater Alyssa Thomas.

7. WEST BRANCH (34-6, Class 2A state qualifier) - Just one graduation loss of note (leading hitter Madison Russell), but the Bears should battle West Liberty for the RVC South title again.

8. WEST LIBERTY (36-6, Class 3A state qualifier) - No returners are taller than 5-9, but first-team all-stater Cassedi Simon returns, as do top hitters Hailey Daufeldt and Audra Bridenstine.

9. UNION (24-12, Class 3A state qualifier) - Junior-dominated lineup will cut its teeth in the mighty NICL. Knights will miss Maria Wrage, but everybody else is back.

10. MOUNT VERNON (33-8, Class 3A state runner-up) - 'V” is for Volesky (as in Kaitlyn). And Vandersall (as in Wynne). And victories - the Mustangs will earn more than their share once again.

Class rankings:

Class 5A - 1. C.R. Kennedy (28-12), 2. Linn-Mar (27-12), 3. Iowa City High (24-11), 4. Iowa City West (28-12), 5. C.R. Prairie (23-14).

Class 4A - 1. West Delaware (45-3), 2. Marion (34-8), 3. Clear Creek Amana (26-9), 4. Western Dubuque (13-18), 5. C.R. Xavier (18-19).

Class 3A - 1. West Liberty (36-6), 2. Union (24-12), 3. Mount Vernon (33-8), 4. Center Point-Urbana (23-15), 5. Solon (33-8).

Class 2A - 1. West Branch (34-6) 2, North Cedar (29-12), 3. Iowa City Regina (16-15), 4. Alburnett (19-10), 5. BGM (15-10).

Class 1A - 1. Springville (26-14), 2. Iowa Valley (24-8), 3. North Tama (14-18), 4. Sigourney (12-12), 5. Midland (17-15).

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com