Iowa high school volleyball 2022: Preseason Gazette area Super Ten

High school volleyball practice opens statewide Monday, Aug. 8, with competitions beginning in a couple of weeks.

Western Dubuque (Class 4A) and West Delaware (3A) are reigning state champions. West Liberty was the 3A state runner-up, likewise Springville in 1A.

As we reset to 2022, here’s a preseason area Super Ten:

1. Iowa City Liberty

2021 record: 34-5 overall, 7-0 MVC Mississippi Division (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 5A state qualifier

What’s coming back: 82.8 percent of kills, 93.5 percent of assists, 64.1 percent of digs

Returning starters: MH Shelby Kimm (sr.), S Asta Hildebrand (soph.), MH Cassidy Hartman (sr.), OH Lilah Van Scoyoc (sr.), S Mariah Rollins (jr.)

2. Mount Vernon

2021 record: 34-13 overall, 2-3 Wamac East (4th)

2021 postseason: Class 3A state qualifier

What’s coming back: 91.8 percent of kills, 99.7 percent of assists, 93.9 percent of digs

Returning starters: DS Jaden Rollans (soph.), OH Brooke Ellyson (jr.), L Kameron Brand (sr.), S Madeleine Miller (sr.), MH Parker Whitham (sr.), OH Chloe Meester (soph.)

3. Marion

2021 record: 37-9 overall, 4-1 Wamac East (T-1st)

2021 postseason: Class 4A state semifinalist

What’s coming back: 71.5 percent of kills, 44.2 percent of assists, 79.8 percent of digs

Returning starters: OH Peyton Johnson (sr.), OH Sophia Paulsen (jr.), DS Natalee Hartman (jr.), S/OH Avery Van Hook (sr.), MH Michaela Goad (jr.)

4. West Delaware

2021 record: 43-5 overall, 4-1 Wamac East (T-1st)

2021 postseason: Class 3A state champion

What’s coming back: 62.8 percent of kills, 4.2 percent of assists, 37.9 percent of digs

Returning starters: DS Olivia Halverson (soph.), OH Alivia Schulte (sr.), MH Allie Demmer (sr.)

5. Cedar Rapids Xavier

2021 record: 29-5 overall, 6-1 MVC Valley (T-1st)

2021 postseason: Class 4A state qualifier

What’s coming back: 46.8 percent of kills, 15.9 percent of assists, 62.2 percent of digs

Returning starters: OH Maci Kadlec (sr.), L Brooklyn Miller (sr.), OH Libby Fandel (soph.), MH Anika Ivester (sr.)

6. West Liberty

2021 record: 39-5 overall, 5-1 River Valley South (2nd)

2021 postseason: Class 3A state runner-up

What’s coming back: 41.6 percent of kills, 97.0 percent of assists, 81.1 percent of digs

Returning starters: L Monica Morales (sr.), OH Sophia Buysse (soph.), OH Ava Morrison (soph.), S Brooklyn Buysse (sr.), MH Maelyn Wainwright (jr.)

7. Lisbon

2021 record: 36-7 overall, 6-0 Tri-Rivers East (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 1A regional finalist

What’s coming back: 99.2 percent of kills, 96.7 percent of assists, 88.9 percent of digs

Returning starters: S Kali Nelson (sr.), MH Ella Clark (sr.), OH Peyton Robinson (sr.), L Addy Happel (jr.), OH Ava Czarnecki (jr.), OH Blair Baltes (sr.), MH Jaime McFarlane (sr.)

8. North Tama

2021 record: 31-11 overall, 5-0 Iowa Star South (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 1A state semifinalist

What’s coming back: 89.1 percent of kills, 87.4 percent of assists, 51.6 percent of digs

Returning starters: DS Lainey Willenbring (sr.), S Jadyn Rausch (sr.), MH Breanna Sebetka (sr.), OH Shae Ewoldt (sr.), OH Briar Blake (soph.)

9. Springville

2021 record: 35-5 overall, 7-0 Tri-Rivers West (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 1A state runner-up

What’s coming back: 60.2 percent of kills, 89.4 percent of assists, 40.7 percent of digs

Returning starters: S Nia Howard (sr.), MH Molly Stamp (sr.), OH Kennady Breitfelder (sr.), DS Ashlynne Zaruba (sr.), MH Lily Clark (sr.)

10. Cedar Rapids Prairie

2021 record: 22-14 overall, 3-4 MVC Mississippi (5th)

2021 postseason: Class 5A regional finalist

What’s coming back: 58.5 percent of kills, 77.2 percent of assists, 75.4 percent of digs

Returning starters: DS Maggie Lueck (sr.), OH Jacey Miller (sr.), OH McKenna Murray (jr.), OH Catie Reittinger (jr.), S Taylor Ray (soph.)

Area class rankings

Class 5A: 1. Iowa City Liberty (34-5), 2. Cedar Rapids Prairie (22-14), 3. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (24-11), 4. Linn-Mar (15-20), 5. Iowa City High (20-15).

Class 4A: 1. Marion (37-9), 2. West Delaware (43-5), 3. Cedar Rapids Xavier (29-5), 4. Decorah (28-7), 5. Western Dubuque (34-3).

Class 3A: 1. Mount Vernon (34-13), 2. West Liberty (39-5), 3. Mid-Prairie (16-14), 4. Union Community (20-23), 5. Monticello (19-9).

Class 2A: 1. Lisbon (36-7), 2. West Branch (21-14), 3. Cascade (21-12), 4. Dyersville Beckman (33-12), 5. Iowa City Regina (20-12).

Class 1A: 1. North Tama (31-11), 2. Springville (35-5), 3. Central City (20-14), 4. North Linn (21-9), 5. East Buchanan (15-17).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com