Regina, Beckman, North Tama take aim at Iowa high school state volleyball tournament bids Wednesday

You still won’t call Iowa City Regina a balanced volleyball team.

“We’ve got to keep moving the ball around a little more,” Coach Lauren Hansen said in preparation for the Regals’ Class 2A regional-final match.

“When we give the defense different looks, it’s great for us.”

Monday was a step in that direction.

Iowa State commit Reese Naeve, of course, led Regina with 26 kills. Caitlin Martin added 15, and the eighth-ranked Regals swept North Mahaska, handing the Warhawks just their second loss of the season.

Naeve will get most of the attention again Wednesday, when the Regals (23-14) face No. 9 Pella Christian (24-11) with a state-tournament bid on the line.

First serve is 7 p.m. at Grinnell High School.

It’s one of three 2A/1A matches that include area teams. In the other 2A match of area interest, No. 3 Dyersville Beckman (34-6) faces No. 14 West Burlington (34-6) at Solon.

And in 1A, No. 5 North Tama (24-15) meets No. 9 River Valley (30-2), at Webster City.

Winners advance to play at Xtream Arena at Coralville next week.

“I’m really excited for the girls to have this opportunity,” Hansen said. “We want to be disciplined and intentional.

“We talk about winning the serve-and-pass game, serving aggressively. Our libero (sophomore Addison Bollier) is phenomenal.”

A 5-foot-8 junior hitter, Naeve is the state leader (all classes) in kills per set, at 7.5. She has taken more than 1,600 swings this season and owns a .313 kill efficiency.

“She handles the pressure well,” Hansen said. “The best part of her game is that she has more than one shot.”

Regina is seeking its first trip to state since 2017. Beckman’s last appearance was in 2021. North Tama is after its fifth bid in eight years.

Wednesday’s Class 2A regional finals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

No. 3 DYERSVILLE BECKMAN (34-6) vs. No. 14 WEST BURLINGTON (37-6), at Solon

Two successful veteran coaches will meet in this showdown. Beckman’s Todd Troutman crossed the 700-win plateau in the Blazers’ first match of the season, and West Burlington’s Maureen Heath reached 1,100 wins in the regional-quarterfinal round. Both teams advanced in four sets: Beckman got past Northeast while West Burlington topped Lisbon. Give the Blazers a big advantage in strength of schedule and in balance. Six different hitters have more than 100 kills, led by junior Ava Burkle (2.62 per set). West Burlington’s Carli Cline is second in 2A in digs, Beckman’s Alexie Hogan is fifth.

No. 8 IOWA CITY REGINA (23-14) vs. No. 9 PELLA CHRISTIAN (24-11), at Grinnell

The victor will shed a mild state-tournament drought. Regina’s last trip came in 2017, Pella Christian’s in 2010. Regina junior Reese Naeve is the most prolific attacker in the state, averaging 7.5 kills per set, and she bettered that with 26 terminations in a regional-semifinal sweep of North Mahaska, which entered the match with just one loss. The Iowa State recruit owns a .313 kill efficiency. Like the Regals, Pella Christian has been steeled by tough regular-season competition and has swept its way through regional play thus far. The Eagles will rely more on a balanced attack.

STATE

No. 1 Denver (43-3) vs. South Central Calhoun (28-11), at Iowa Falls

No. 2 Eddyville EBF (33-2) vs. Tri-Center (26-11), at Adel

No. 4 Dike-New Hartford (28-15) vs. No. 13 Wapsie Valley (26-16), at Cedar Falls

No. 5 Aplington-Parkersburg (35-6) vs. No. 12 Sumner-Fredericksburg (25-17), at Waverly

No. 6 South Hardin (25-8) vs. No. 10 Grundy Center (25-15), at La Porte City

No. 7 Hinton (22-6) vs. No. 11 Boyden-Hull (18-12), at Orange City

Wednesday’s Class 1A regional finals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

No. 5 NORTH TAMA (24-15) vs. No. 9 RIVER VALLEY (30-2), at Webster City

Three of the eight 1A regions are geographically wonky, and this is one of them. Traer and Correctionville are 191 miles apart, and both have a 90-minute trip to meet in the middle. North Tama has faced the fourth-strongest schedule of 1A teams, and the Redhawks are a match away from their fifth state appearance in five years. They have won six straight matches and have swept their way through regional play thus far. Junior Kruiz Ewoldt counted 19 kills in a win over Belle Plaine on Monday. River Valley carries a 14-match win streak, including a five-set victory over Newell-Fonda. The Wolverines have never advanced to state, though predecessor Eastwood qualified twice in the late 1980s.

STATE

No. 1 Ankeny Christian (36-5) vs. Southeast Warren (27-19), at Carlisle

No. 2 Saint Ansgar (26-6) vs. North Iowa (27-5), at Mason City

No. 3 Fort Madison Holy Trinity (28-12) vs. Calamus-Wheatland (26-9), at West Liberty

No. 4 Oakland Riverside (37-3) vs. No. 11 Akron-Westfield (21-4), at Onawa

No. 6 Conrad BCLUW (30-10) vs. Gladbrook-Reinbeck (23-20), at Marshalltown

No. 7 Janesville (23-17) vs. No. 13 Southwest Valley (30-3), at Alleman

No. 8 Don Bosco (19-15) vs. No. 10 Sidney (27-9), at Van Meter

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com