Anamosa, Monticello pursue breakthroughs into Iowa high school state volleyball tournament

Volleyball is a sport. According to Tierra Knapper, it can also be an art.

“With our setter (Sophie Sander) and our libero (Ava Gibbs), I think we have an advantage at those positions against just about anybody we play,” said Knapper, in her first year as head coach at Anamosa.

“When we’re running smooth, it’s a beautiful symphony.”

Knapper and the Blue Raiders are hopeful the music will play on, into next week. Into Coralville.

Into the state tournament.

Regional finals are Tuesday in Class 3A, 4A and 5A. Twelve matches include Gazette-area teams.

Two of them — Anamosa and Highway 151 partner Monticello — are seeking their first state appearance.

No. 11 Anamosa (32-7) plays at No. 6 Davenport Assumption (24-8); Monticello (26-8) journeys to No. 4 Dubuque Wahlert (24-8). Both of those are 3A contests.

“We’re so excited,” Knapper said. “It’s an amazing opportunity, the chance to make it for the first time. We’re ready for it to happen.”

  Buy Photo

Anamosa outlasted Center Point-Urbana in a five-set regional-semifinal thriller. Meanwhile, Monticello opened some eyes with a sweep of Solon.

“We played so well,” Monticello Coach Andrea Ellison said. “I thought we could win, but I was shocked that we won in three. Jayden (Kuper) had a huge match, and the energy and atmosphere was insane.”

At 5.79 kills per set, Kuper ranks fourth in all classes and No. 1 in 3A.

“She’s like having another coach on the floor,” Ellison said. “Her volleyball IQ is outstanding. She picks up on the tendencies of other players.”

Ellison is in her second year as head coach at her alma mater; she graduated from Monticello in 2013, then spent five years as an assistant under Claude Howard at Springville.

Former coach Stacie Breitbach is now an assistant.

In other 3A regional finals involving area teams, top-ranked Mount Vernon (41-4) hosts Nevada (30-11), No. 3 West Delaware (37-6) welcomes Union Community (37-11) and No. 8 Mid-Prairie (32-8) hosts No. 10 Wilton (32-7) in a battle of River Valley Conference South Division rivals.

No. 1 Cedar Rapids Xavier headlines three area 4A teams still playing; the Saints (27-4) host Charles City (22-9). Meanwhile, No. 4 Clear Creek Amana (36-7) entertains Dallas Center-Grimes (22-18) and No. 10 Marion (24-14) travels to No. 9 Carlisle (24-9).

Four Metro/Iowa City teams face stiff 5A challenges on the road: No. 15 Linn-Mar (18-15) is at No. 1 Pleasant Valley (31-2), No. 11 Iowa City High (17-12) plays at No. 3 Ankeny (35-4), Iowa City West (13-17) goes to No. 4 West Des Moines Dowling (24-9), and No. 10 Iowa City Liberty (15-20) journeys to No. 7 Cedar Falls (32-6).

Tuesday’s Class 5A regional finals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

No. 15 LINN-MAR (18-15) at No. 1 PLEASANT VALLEY (31-2)

Linn-Mar will try to deny Pleasant Valley a sixth consecutive state-tournament appearance, and the Lions appear to be peaking. They have won four consecutive matches, including a regional-semifinal sweep of Dubuque Hempstead. Senior Kelsey Klesner averaged 3.63 kills per set for the Lions. Pleasant Valley has won 24 consecutive matches, 20 via sweep. The Spartans hit .325 as a team, led by junior Isabelle Kremer (4.38 kills per set, .426).

No. 11 IOWA CITY HIGH (17-12) at No. 3 ANKENY (35-4)

City High pursues its first state berth in a decade. In that span, Ankeny has qualified seven times. The Hawkettes return four starters from last year’s state team, led by seniors Kamryn Scheib (2.90 kills per set) and Reagan Hanfelt (2.77), and enter with a 10-match winning streak. City entered the postseason with eight losses in its previous 11 matches, but handled Waterloo West in the regional semifinals. The Little Hawks’ top two attackers — Kaitlin Loria and Hattie Galloway — are sophomores.

IOWA CITY WEST (13-17) at No. 4 WEST DES MOINES DOWLING (24-9)

West will try to reverse a lopsided loss to Dowling in pool play at the Westside Invitational on Oct. 12 (it was 21-11, 21-11). The Maroons were 5A state runners-up last year and have six starters back from that team. That doesn’t include sophomore Kaylie Klein, who leads Dowling at 3.30 kills per set. West came into the postseason on a 2-7 slide, but the Trojans swept Marshalltown in the regional semifinals. Leading attacker Sophia Austen (3.84 kills per set) and setter Lila Eastvold are sophomores.

No. 10 IOWA CITY LIBERTY (15-20) at No. 7 CEDAR FALLS (32-6)

Liberty is two years removed from its 2022 Class 5A championship team, and Asta Hildebrand — now a senior — was a major contributor on that squad. Hildebrand leads this year’s team in kills (3.32 per set) and also contributes 3.24 assists per set. The Lightning snapped a five-match losing streak with a four-set win over Dubuque Senior in the regional semifinals. A win would send Cedar Falls to state for the ninth time in the last 10 years. The Tigers topped Liberty in the MVC tournament Oct. 15 and shared the Valley Division title.

STATE

Ottumwa (31-6) at No. 2 Ankeny Centennial (30-4)

No. 13 West Des Moines Valley (14-22) at No. 5 Indianola (37-6)

No. 12 Sioux City East (21-15) at No. 6 Waukee Northwest (25-9)

Bettendorf (18-15) at No. 9 Waukee (17-14)

Tuesday’s Class 4A regional finals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

CHARLES CITY (22-9) at No. 1 CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER (27-4)

Xavier is heavily favored to reach its ninth consecutive state tournament. The Saints have won 13 consecutive matches against Iowa competition and are 25-1 against in-state teams. They dropped the first set in their regional semifinal against Waverly-Shell Rock, but stormed back to win in four. Senior Libby Fandel averages 4.74 kills per set and hits at a .302 rate, and junior Josie Smith is second statewide in assists (10.7 per set). The Saints are hitting .279, Charles City .136.

DALLAS CENTER-GRIMES (22-18) at No. 4 CLEAR CREEK AMANA (36-7)

Four starters graduated after Clear Creek Amana went 46-1 and advanced to the state semifinals last year, but the Clippers keep clicking. CCA continued to dominate the Wamac Conference West Division. None of the top four attackers are seniors, with junior Averie Lower leading the way at 3.76 kills per set. Another junior, setter Emily Henderson runs the show and averages 8.53 assists per set. DCG finished fourth in the Little Hawkeye Conference and has three attackers with more than 200 kills.

No. 10 MARION (24-14) at No. 9 CARLISLE (24-9)

Marion stands between Carlisle and its first state-tournament berth in school history. This is the teams’ third postseason meeting since 2019, with the Wolves winning the other two encounters. Marion got past Western Dubuque in four sets in the regional semifinals behind 18 kills from senior Carlee Webber, who leads the team in kills (4.08 per set). The Wolves are in pursuit on their fourth straight state appearance. Seniors Ashlee Kay Christensen (4.33 kills per set) and Sydney Light (3.61) trigger the Carlisle attack.

STATE

No. 13 MOC-Floyd Valley (16-13) at No. 2 Sioux City Heelan (40-3)

No. 14 Grinnell (17-14) at No. 3 North Scott (28-4)

No. 11 Norwalk (28-13) at No. 5 Pella (38-7)

No. 12 Sergeant Bluff-Luton (20-13) at No. 6 Lewis Central (25-8)

No. 8 Adel ADM (19-7) at No. 7 Glenwood (35-6)

Tuesday’s Class 3A regional finals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

NEVADA (30-11) at No. 1 MOUNT VERNON (41-4)

If Mount Vernon does the expected and advances, it will be the Mustangs’ 16th state appearance in 18 years (and their seventh in a row). The Mustangs return six starters from last year’s runner-up team, led by potential state player of the year Chloe Meester (4.85 kills per set, .472), a senior and Louisville commit. Sydney Huber’s 10.86 assists per set leads the state. Like the Mustangs; Nevada has swept its way to this point. Junior Rachel Borwick (3.93 kills per set) is the Cubs’ focal point.

UNION COMMUNITY (37-11) at No. 3 WEST DELAWARE (37-6)

West Delaware rolled past Union (25-22, 25-16) when the teams played Aug. 31 at Independence. The Hawks are chasing their first state appearance since winning the 3A title in 2021; Union has made it to Coralville two straight years. The Knights have a veteran setter in senior Avery Knoop, who has recorded more than 1,000 assists in each of the past three seasons. West Delaware’s attack is always quick, and this year, it’s extraordinarily balanced with four hitters between 223 and 292 kills.

MONTICELLO (26-8) at No. 4 DUBUQUE WAHLERT (24-8)

Led by senior Jayden Kuper, Monticello is on the doorstep of its first state tournament. Kuper recorded 21 kills and 15 digs in the Panthers’ regional-semifinal sweep of Solon, and is the 3A kills leader at 5.79 per set. Along with Western Christian and Dike-New Hartford, Wahlert is one of the state’s all-time titans; it is the state leader in titles (20) and ranks third in tournament appearances (31). The Golden Eagles were MVC Valley Division co-champions and have a veteran roster led by seniors Anna Roling and Olivia Donovan.

No. 11 ANAMOSA (32-7) at No. 6 DAVENPORT ASSUMPTION (24-8)

Like Monticello, Anamosa takes aim at one of the premier programs in 3A, with its first state trip on the line. Assumption has made six consecutive state appearances, a run highlighted by a title in 2022. Anamosa claimed the River Valley Conference North Division regular-season title, and advanced with a five-set victory over No. 14 Center Point-Urbana. The Blue Raiders have solid attackers to go with elite players at libero (Ava Gibbs) and setter (Sophie Sander). Assumption juniors Ellah Derrer and Erin Robbins both hit .400-plus.

No. 10 WILTON (32-7) at No. 8 MID-PRAIRIE (32-8)

Talk about familiarity. The River Valley Conference South Division co-champions collide for the third time this season; Mid-Prairie won the first two encounters, including a 3-0 sweep in divisional play. If the Golden Hawks can complete the trifecta, they’ll advance to state for the first time in 20 years. Junior Jovi Evans was the divisional player of the year, and senior libero Dakota Mitchell has committed to play at North Texas. Senior Kinsey Drake leads Wilton in both kills and digs.

STATE

Humboldt (23-9) at No. 2 Western Christian (30-13)

No. 15 Clarinda (32-9) at No. 5 Carroll Kuemper (36-3)

No. 9 Cherokee (28-7) at No. 7 Sioux Center (28-5)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com