STATE VOLLEYBALL: Class 4A glance and picks

This field looks familiar.Six of the eight qualifiers are back from last year, including defending champion

Ankeny and 2009 runner-up

Iowa City West.Ankeny is rated No. 1 and seeking its third consecutive championship. The Hawkettes return four starters back from last year's title team and are 23-0 against 4A competition this season.West has endured a number of injuries, most notably the offseason ACL tear of all-stater Alli O'Deen, and the third-rated Women of Troy have played only 10 matches as a full team. O'Deen is back now, and West has caught fire.Two regional-final upsets rocked the bracket -- No. 6

Cedar Rapids Xavier took down No. 2 Iowa City High, and unranked

Linn-Mar shocked No. 4 Bettendorf.Xavier, Linn-Mar and No. 5

Cedar Rapids Kennedy give the Metro a trio of hopefuls. A semifinalist the last two years, Kennedy returns with a largely new cast of characters.At 29-11, Xavier is enjoying its best season in school history and has a very opportunity to get past the first round for the first time. And Linn-Mar righted its ship in time for the postseason after losing eight of its last nine regular-season matches.We're picking three No. 1 teams to win state championships this weekends. This is the exception.

LINDER'S PICKS

QuarterfinalsAnkeny over Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln in 3Cedar Rapids Xavier over Waukee in 4Iowa City West over Linn-Mar in 3Cedar Rapids Kennedy over Urbandale in 4

SemifinalsAnkeny over Cedar Rapids Xavier in 3Iowa City West over Cedar Rapids Kennedy in 4

ChampionshipIowa City West over Ankeny in 5