Jeff Linder

Marion’s first day of volleyball practice began in quiet, with players writing their preseason thoughts into journals.

Iowa City Liberty is the preseason No. 1 in The Gazette’s area Super Ten volleyball rankings.

The final Gazette-area softball Super Ten rankings of the 2022 season.

The glittery-haired Iowa City Regina Regals get another state softball championship trophy to match with a 6-4 win over Wilton.

Mount Vernon won the Class 3A state softball championship, thanks to a late offensive onslaught against Davenport Assumption.

Nate Frese doesn’t expect to change much as head girls’ basketball coach at Iowa City West.

The nation’s winningest high school softball coach, Larry Niemeyer died Thursday night at age 84. He won three softball state championships and one in girls’ basketball at Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

As assistant coach Summer Brand wages a battle on Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Mount Vernon chases a 3A state softball championship Friday.

Southeast Warren upset No. 1 North Linn in a Class 1A state softball semifinal game.

One run and one hit was enough for Davenport Assumption in a Class 3A state softball semifinal win over Williamsburg.

Jenna Sprague faced the minimum against Saydel and Mount Vernon is returning to the Class 3A state softball championship game.

Grace Bailey pitched a four-hit shutout and hit the game-winning home run in the eighth inning as Twin Cedars outlasted Lisbon in the Class 1A state softball quarterfinals.

Down 4-0, Iowa City Regina rallied past Van Meter, 6-5, in a Class 2A state softball quarterfinal.

Peyton Driscoll struck out 14 and Williamsburg struck for three first-inning runs in a 5-1 Class 3A state softball quarterfinal win over Sioux Center.

Mount Vernon topped Dubuque Wahlert and its six eighth-grade starters in a Class 3A state softball quarterfinal.