Iowa high school volleyball 2024 preseason rankings: Cedar Rapids Xavier (4A), Mount Vernon (3A) among IGHSAU No. 1 teams

They are perennials, volleyball programs that knew their way to the Alliant Energy PowerHouse, and now Xtream Arena.

Cedar Rapids Xavier has played in eight consecutive state tournament. Mount Vernon has qualified 15 times in the last 17 years.

So it’s no surprise that either of these teams open the 2024 season as preseason favorites.

Xavier (Class 4A) and Mount Vernon (3A) are ranked No. 1 in their respective classes by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

Pleasant Valley (5A), Denver (2A) and two-time defending 1A champion Ankeny Christian also begin the season on top.

Xavier (24-7 last year) was a 4A state quarterfinalist and returns six starters, led by all-state outside hitter Libby Fandel, who has committed to play basketball at Kansas.

Sioux City Heelan opens at No. 2 in 4A, followed by reigning champion North Scott, Carlisle and Charles City.

Led by 2023 Class 3A player of the year Chloe Meester (a Louisville recruit) Mount Vernon (35-5) was loaded anyway, with six returning starters. The addition of transfer Sydney Maue (Arkansas commit) from Center Point-Urbana further fortified the Mustangs, who have four all-staters in their lineup.

Mount Vernon was the 3A runner-up last year to Western Christian, which begins this season at No. 3. Davenport Assumption is second; Dubuque Wahlert and Sioux Center round out the top five.

Pleasant Valley (28-6) was a 5A semifinalist last year and welcomes back six starters, four of which recorded more than 100 kills.

Last year’s runner-up, West Des Moines Dowling is No. 2, then it’s Ankeny Centennial, Cedar Falls and Ankeny.

With 2023 champion Dike-New Hartford (50-0) stung by graduation, 2A is wide open among a cluster of 6-8 teams. A state semifinalist last year, Denver (35-11) is a slight favorite over other hopefuls Eddyville EBF, Dyersville Beckman, Wapsie Valley and South Hardin. DNH is No. 6.

Ankeny Christian (39-3) has won the last two 1A titles behind all-state setter Katie Quick, and the Eagles are favored once again. Last year’s runner-up, Fort Madison Holy Trinity opens at No. 2, then it’s North Tama, Janesville and River Valley.

Class 5A

1. Pleasant Valley (28-6 in 2023)

2. West Des Moines Dowling (32-8)

3. Ankeny Centennial (31-7)

4. Cedar Falls (34-7)

5. Ankeny (24-15)

6. Indianola (38-5)

7. Iowa City Liberty (19-22)

8. Dubuque Senior (25-12)

9. Waukee Northwest (27-9)

10. Linn-Mar (19-14)

11. West Des Moines Valley (19-16)

12. Waukee (13-20)

13. Bettendorf (16-16)

14. Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln (22-20)

15. Dubuque Hempstead (19-15)

Class 4A

1. Cedar Rapids Xavier (24-7)

2. Sioux City Heelan (28-15)

3. North Scott (29-4)

4. Carlisle (24-8)

5. Charles City (29-7)

6. Clear Creek Amana (46-1)

7. Lewis Central (32-3)

8. Glenwood (30-11)

9. Dallas Center-Grimes (20-13)

10. Norwalk (26-15)

11. Pella (21-20)

12. Marion (26-13)

13. Knoxville (27-10)

14. Waverly-Shell Rock (17-27)

15. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (12-21)

Class 3A

1. Mount Vernon (35-5)

2. Davenport Assumption (28-8)

3. Western Christian (32-13)

4. Dubuque Wahlert (18-13)

5. Sioux Center (21-13)

6. Mid-Prairie (31-11)

7. Center Point-Urbana (27-10)

8. West Liberty (32-12)

9. Cherokee (29-7)

10. Carroll Kuemper (34-7)

11. Solon (22-15)

12. Union Community (39-12)

13. Van Meter (21-11)

14. West Delaware (26-15)

15. Wilton (22-15)

Class 2A

1. Denver (35-11)

2. Eddyville EBF (26-8)

3. Dyersville Beckman (31-8)

4. Wapsie Valley (28-19)

5. South Hardin (35-9)

6. Dike-New Hartford (50-0)

7. Hinton (32-2)

8. Aplington-Parkersburg (34-9)

9. Boyden-Hull (22-12)

10. Iowa City Regina (26-11)

11. West Burlington (38-6)

12. Hudson (21-17)

13. Lisbon (28-7)

14. Grundy Center (38-8)

15. South Central Calhoun (27-15)

Class 1A

1. Ankeny Christian (39-3)

2. Fort Madison Holy Trinity (33-11)

3. North Tama (25-16)

4. Janesville (27-12)

5. River Valley (25-7)

6. Don Bosco (24-17)

7. Newell-Fonda (21-9)

8. Oakland Riverside (27-11)

9. Saint Ansgar (24-7)

10. Gladbrook-Reinbeck (20-19)

11. Conrad BCLUW (35-11)

12. Stanton (28-12)

13. Council Bluffs St. Albert (23-15)

14. Sidney (20-11)

15. Edgewood-Colesburg (29-14)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com