State tournament hopefuls are many in Class 3A Iowa high school volleyball

In Iowa’s five-class volleyball structure, there’s no dispute in where the area’s power and depth lie.

Smack-dab in the middle. In Class 3A.

The regional tournament begins in 3A, 4A and 5A with quarterfinal matches — it’s a full schedule in 3A, a skeleton slate in the other two — and the list of area contenders is crowded.

You’ve got the heavy favorites, like No. 1 Mount Vernon, No. 3 West Delaware, expected to roll their way to Xtream Arena, host of the state tournament Nov. 4-7.

You’ve got the next tier, like No. 8 Mid-Prairie, No. 11 Anamosa, No. 12 Solon and No. 14 Center Point-Urbana, all certainly capable of big things.

And you’ve got a crew like Union Community, West Liberty wand Monticello, unranked but dangerous.

Everybody in 3A plays Tuesday. There is just one match in each of the 5A brackets, in what amounts to 4-vs.-5 seed quarterfinal matches.

Locally, that includes Cedar Rapids Washington (2-29) at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (6-27), and Cedar Rapids Kennedy (14-23) hosting Davenport Central (2-20).

The top two teams in each 4A regional — including No. 1 Cedar Rapids Xavier — earned a first-round bye and join the fray Thursday.

Quarterfinal matches include Waverly-Shell Rock (20-22) at Independence (18-20), Waterloo East (7-25) at Decorah (17-11), and Maquoketa (9-18) at Western Dubuque (17-16).

Last year’s 3A state runner-up, Mount Vernon (39-4) is the champion of the Wamac Conference East Division, and the Mustangs swept their way through the Wamac tournament last week. They host West Marshall (13-22) in a Region 1 opener Tuesday.

West Delaware (35-6) faces an equally, if not more, simple task in Region 3. The Hawks welcome Iowa Falls-Alden (5-24).

Solon (27-13) and Monticello (24-8) are likely Region 4 semifinal combatants and the most likely challengers to No. 4 Dubuque Wahlert (22-8).

River Valley Conference North Division champion Anamosa (30-7) and CPU (18-12) are the class of the bottom half of Region 5, while No. 5 Davenport Assumption (22-8) is expected to roll through the top.

The most intriguing 3A bracket is in Region 8, which houses River Valley South powers Mid-Prairie (30-8), Wilton (30-7) and West Liberty (25-15).

Tuesday’s Class 5A regional quarterfinals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

Region 2

Davenport West (3-24) at Davenport North (11-20)

Region 3

Cedar Rapids Washington (2-29) at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (6-27)

Region 4

Sioux City West (3-20) at Sioux City North (5-15)

Region 7

Davenport Central (2-20) at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (14-23)

Region 8

Muscatine (10-23) at Bettendorf (16-15)

Tuesday’s Class 4A regional quarterfinals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

Region 1

Waverly-Shell Rock (20-22) at Independence (18-20)

Waterloo East (7-25) at Decorah (17-11)

Region 4

Fort Madison (7-25) at Mount Pleasant (11-24)

Gilbert (15-17) at Dallas Center-Grimes (20-18)

Region 8

Oskaloosa (13-19) at Knoxville (22-16)

Maquoketa (9-18) at Western Dubuque (17-16)

Tuesday’s Class 3A regional quarterfinals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

Region 1

West Marshall (13-22) at Mount Vernon (39-4)

Clarke (9-20) at Monroe PCM (15-10)

Saydel (4-20) at Nevada (28-11)

Chariton (12-16) at Williamsburg (17-10)

Region 3

Iowa Falls-Alden (5-24) at West Delaware (35-6)

Crestwood (24-9) at New Hampton (17-15)

Clear Lake (13-15) at Roland-Story (29-4)

Hampton-Dumont/CAL (17-11) at Union Community (34-11)

Region 4

Tipton (9-20) at Dubuque Wahlert (22-8)

Waukon (17-14) at North Fayette Valley (17-16)

Camanche (11-15) at Solon (27-13)

Oelwein (13-19) at Monticello (24-8)

Region 5

Benton Community (8-28) at Davenport Assumption (22-8)

Mediapolis (16-18) at Washington (17-15)

Vinton-Shellsburg (7-28) at Anamosa (30-7)

South Tama (13-19) at Center Point-Urbana (18-12)

Region 8

Davis County (11-25) at Mid-Prairie (30-8)

Centerville (9-16) at Albia (20-13)

Fairfield (17-19) at Wilton (30-7)

Central Lee (15-15) at West Liberty (25-15)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com