Iowa high school volleyball 2023 regional finals roundup: 5A, 4A and 3A scores, state tournament brackets

The 2023 Iowa high school state volleyball tournament has 24 of its 40 spots filled after Tuesday’s regional finals in Class 5A, 4A and 3A.

The state tournament begins Monday at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

Here’s a look at Tuesday’s regional finals, plus the state tournament brackets in those three classes. Regional finals in Class 2A and 1A are Wednesday.

Tuesday’s Class 5A regional finals

No. 1 West Des Moines Dowling 3, Linn-Mar 0 (25-11, 25-11, 25-18) — Dowling (30-7) swept its way to its 12th straight (and 12th overall) state tournament. The top-ranked Maroons take aim at their first championship next week. Linn-Mar finished 19-14.

No. 8 West Des Moines Valley 3, No. 11 Iowa City High 1 (25-20, 25-14, 22-25, 25-21) — City High (23-10) prevented a sweep with a third-set win on the road, but Valley (19-15) is headed back to state after advancing to the semifinals last season.

No. 7 Ankeny 3, No. 14 Iowa City Liberty 0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-20) — Ankeny (24-14) won two of three best-of-three meetings against Liberty (19-22) this season and has now knocked out the defending 5A state champion with a three-set sweep. This is the Hawks’ 21st trip to state in the last 24 years.

No. 2 Ankeny Centennial 3, No. 15 Council Bluffs Lincoln 0 (25-17, 25-10, 25-15) — The Jaguars (30-6) will make their fourth straight trip to state, including a run to the semifinals last season. The Lynx went 22-20.

No. 4 Pleasant Valley 3, No. 10 Dubuque Senior 2 (20-25, 25-16, 25-18, 20-25, 15-9) — Runner-up last year after winning the 2021 state championship, Pleasant Valley (27-5) is state bound for the fifth year in a row. It wasn’t easy. The Spartans dropped the first set and outlasted the Rams (23-12) in five.

No. 3 Waukee Northwest 3, No. 12 Sioux City East 0 (25-17, 25-15, 28-26) — Class 5A’s newest school, Waukee Northwest (24-9) returns to state after making its debut last fall. Sioux City East’s season ended at 23-13.

No. 6 Cedar Falls 3, Waterloo West 0 (25-17, 26-24, 25-13) — The Tigers (34-6) beat the Wahawks (17-17) in four sets in the regular season, but only needed three here. Cedar Falls’ most-recent trip to state resulted in a runner-up finish in 2021.

No. 5 Johnston 3, No. 9 Waukee 0 (25-17, 25-8, 25-23) — Johnston (32-6) improved to 8-0 in sets against Waukee (13-20) this season.

Class 5A state volleyball tournament bracket

Quarterfinals — Monday, Oct. 30

No. 1 West Des Moines Dowling (30-7) vs. No. 8 West Des Moines Valley (19-15), noon

No. 4 Pleasant Valley (27-5) vs. No. 5 Johnston (32-6), 2 p.m.

No. 2 Ankeny Centennial (30-6) vs. No. 7 Ankeny (24-14), 12:25 p.m.

No. 3 Waukee Northwest (24-9) vs. No. 6 Cedar Falls (34-6), 2:25 p.m.

Semifinals — Wednesday, Nov. 1

10 a.m.

10:25 a.m.

Final — Thursday, Nov. 2

10 a.m.

Tuesday’s Class 4A regional finals

No. 3 Cedar Rapids Xavier 3, Waverly-Shell Rock 0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-19) — Graduation couldn’t stop this streak. Neither could a coaching change. Veterans and relative newbies contributed alike, and Cedar Rapids Xavier whipped Waverly-Shell Rock in a straight-set Class 4A volleyball regional final Tuesday night at Ron Thillen Gymnasium.

» Read the full story from The Gazette’s Jeff Linder.

No. 7 Marion 3, No. 14 Ballard 0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-18) — Marion (26-12) will be at state for the third year in a row and the seventh time in the last 10 years. Ballard went 22-9.

No. 1 Clear Creek Amana 3, Oskaloosa 0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-7) — After taking second in Class 4A last season, Clear Creek Amana (45-0) will try to complete an unbeaten season with a state championship next week. The Clippers improved to 98-4 in sets by sweeping Oskaloosa (16-17).

No. 5 Adel ADM 3, No. 13 Dallas Center-Grimes 1 (29-27, 25-21, 21-25, 25-22) — ADM (27-3) will make its second trip to state and first since 2005. DCG, which was swept by the Tigers in the regular season, finished 20-13.

No. 2 Indianola 3, No. 11 Glenwood 0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-16) — Indianola (36-4) returns to state with eyes on a deeper run after playing in last year’s quarterfinals. Glenwood’s season ended with a 30-11 record.

No. 4 North Scott 3, Knoxville 0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-17) — Make it five straight state tournaments for the Lancers, who reached the semifinals a year ago. Knoxville ended its season with a 27-10 record.

No. 10 Norwalk 3, No. 8 North Polk 2 (23-25, 25-20, 25-22, 17-25, 15-9) — A thrilling five-set win at North Polk (29-10) gave Norwalk (26-14) its first state volleyball tournament bid.

No. 6 Council Bluffs Lewis Central 3, No. 12 Sioux City Heelan 1 (21-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-23) — Lewis Central (31-2) rallied from a first-set loss to advance to state for the first time since 2017. Heelan’s season ended at 28-15.

Class 4A state volleyball tournament bracket

Quarterfinals — Monday, Oct. 30

No. 1 Clear Creek Amana (45-0) vs. No. 10 Norwalk (26-14), 4 p.m.

No. 4 North Scott (26-4) vs. No. 5 Adel ADM (27-3), 6 p.m.

No. 2 Indianola (36-4) vs. No. 7 Marion (26-12), 4:25 p.m.

No. 3 Cedar Rapids Xavier (24-6) vs. No. 6 Council Bluffs Lewis Central (31-2), 6:25 p.m.

Semifinals — Wednesday, Nov. 1

Noon

12:25 p.m.

Final — Thursday, Nov. 2

12:15 p.m.

Tuesday’s Class 3A regional finals

No. 7 Center Point-Urbana 3, No. 12 Mid-Prairie 1 (25-23, 17-25, 25-17, 25-21) — The Center Point-Urbana is state tournament bound for the first time since 2015 after defeating No. 12 Mid-Prairie (32-13) in four sets.

» Read the full story from Gazette correspondent Ryan Pleggenkuhle

No. 8 Union Community 3, No. 10 West Delaware 1 (25-16, 25-17, 25-27, 25-22) — Union (38-11) is set for its 10th state volleyball appearance since 2010 after coming back to beat West Delaware (26-15) in the fourth set despite trailing 17-12.

No. 1 Mount Vernon 3, Anamosa 0 (25-20, 25-12, 25-19) — The top-ranked Mustangs (33-4) are state bound for the sixth straight year. Mount Vernon reached last season’s semifinals. Anamosa wrapped up a breakthrough season at 28-10.

No. 4 Davenport Assumption 3, No. 13 Solon 0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-23) — Assumption (27-7), last year’s Class 3A state champion, will make its sixth consecutive state appearance. Solon finished 22-15.

No. 9 Dubuque Wahlert 3, No. 6 New Hampton 0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-23) — Wahlert (18-12) won at New Hampton (31-6) to get back to state for the first time since winning three consecutive championships from 2016 to 2018, the last its 20th overall.

No. 3 Western Christian 3, Forest City 0 (25-9, 25-14, 25-11) — Western Christian (29-13), last year’s Class 2A state champion, will make its 23rd straight state tournament appearance. The Wolfpack have won 18 titles. Forest City finished 27-6.

No. 2 Cherokee 3, No. 15 MOC-Floyd Valley 2 (25-16, 18-25, 22-25, 25-18, 15-8) — Cherokee (29-6) went five sets to earn its first trip to the state volleyball tournament. MOC-Floyd Valley finished 19-12.

No. 5 Des Moines Christian 3, Red Oak 0 (25-12, 25-12, 30-28) — Des Moines Christian (37-7) prevailed with a sweep following a lengthy third set. The Lions were semifinalists a year ago and are back at state for the third straight season. Red Oak was 26-13.

Class 3A state volleyball tournament bracket

Quarterfinals — Tuesday, Oct. 31

No. 1 Mount Vernon (33-4) vs. No. 9 Dubuque Wahlert (18-12), 10 a.m.

No. 4 Davenport Assumption (27-7) vs. No. 5 Des Moines Christian (37-7), noon

No. 2 Cherokee (29-6) vs. No. 8 Union Community (38-11), 10:25 a.m.

No. 3 Western Christian (29-13) vs. No. 6 Center Point-Urbana (27-9), 12:25 p.m.

Semifinals — Wednesday, Nov. 1

2 p.m.

2:25 p.m.

Final — Thursday, Nov. 2

2:30 p.m.