Iowa high school volleyball 2021: Preseason Gazette area Super 10 rankings

The 2021 “Family Week” is past. Iowa high school volleyball camps opened Monday, and official practice begins next week, with competition about three weeks away.

Which teams are projected to rise to the top in the area? Here’s a guess, with our preseason Gazette-area Super Ten.

1. Iowa City Liberty

2020 record: 24-3

2020 postseason: Class 5A state runner-up

Coach: Randy Dolson

Returning starters (4): MH Shelby Kimm (5-11, jr.), OH Kennedy Daugherty (5-10, jr.), OH Sam Harvey (5-11, sr.), MH Cassidy Hartman (6-0, jr.)

Expected returning percentages: 93.1 percent of kills, 39.0 percent of assists, 62.1 percent of assists

2. West Delaware

2020 record: 30-12

2020 postseason: Class 4A state runner-up

Coach: Brett Mather

Returning starters (5): S Carlee Smith (5-6, sr.), L Ella Koloc (5-4, sr.), OH Alivia Schulte (5-7, jr.), MH Allie Demmer (5-10, MH), DS Kayla Felton (5-6, sr.)

Expected returning percentages: 70.1 percent of kills, 98.9 percent of assists, 84.8 percent of digs

3. Western Dubuque

2020 record: 25-11

2020 postseason: Class 4A state semifinalist

Coach: Megan Scherrman

Returning starters (5): L Ella Meyer (5-4, jr.), OH Meredith Bahl (5-11, sr.), OH Maddie Harris (5-10, sr.), MH Libby Lansing (6-1, jr.), S Madison Maahs (5-8, sr.)

Expected returning percentages: 66.2 percent of kills, 99.4 percent of assists, 92.7 percent of digs

4. Springville

2020 record: 27-5

2020 postseason: Class 1A state qualifier

Coach: Claude Howard

Returning starters (6): Grace Matus (5-4, sr.), Savannah Nealman (5-7, sr.), Nia Howard (5-6, jr.), Molly Stamp (5-8, jr.), Lauren Wilson (5-11, sr.), Lily Clark (5-11, jr.)

Expected returning percentages: 99.6 percent of kills, 98.1 percent of assists, 87.8 percent of digs

5. West Liberty

2020 record: 26-7

2020 postseason: Class 3A regional finalist

Coach: Ruben Galvan

Returning starters (3): DS Rylee Goodale (5-4, jr.), S Brooklyn Buysse (5-5, jr.), OH Macy Daufeldt (5-10, sr.)

Expected returning percentages: 50.8 percent of kills, 98.6 percent of assists, 76.4 percent of digs

6. Cedar Rapids Xavier

2020 record: 26-6

2020 postseason: Class 4A state champion

Coach: Austin Filer

Returning starters (3): L Brooklyn Miller (5-9, jr.), MH Maya Karl (5-11, sr.), MH Anika Ivester (6-4, jr.)

Expected returning percentages: 30.3 percent of kills, 9.0 percent of assists, 38.0 percent of digs

7. Dyersville Beckman

2020 record: 29-10

2020 postseason: Class 2A regional semifinalist

Coach: Todd Troutman

Returning starters: OH Kiersten Schmitt (5-11, sr.), MH Lauren Osterhaus (5-9, sr.), L Olivia Hogan (5-3, sr.), OH Kamryn Klas (5-8, sr.)

Expected returning percentages: 72.8 percent of kills, 40.1 percent of assists, 54.7 percent of digs

8. Iowa City West

2020 record: 13-15

2020 postseason: Class 5A regional semifinalist

Coach: Keeley Arnold

Returning starters (6): L Alaina Greenlee (5-2, jr.), MH Melae Lacy (5-11, soph.), MH Mayown Dokun (5-11, sr.), MH Carmen Crabtree (5-11, sr.), OH Katherine Kouba (5-7, sr.), S Emma Dunlap (5-8, sr.)

Expected returning percentages: 74.8 percent of kills, 99.4 percent of assists, 94.8 percent of digs

9. Marion

2020 record: 21-12

2020 postseason: Class 4A regional finalist

Coach: Roxanne Paulsen

Returning starters (3): OH Peyton Johnson (5-7, jr.), S Avery Van Hook (5-9, jr.), S Elise Mehaffy (5-9, sr.)

Expected returning percentages: 62.9 percent of kills, 88.2 percent of assists, 60.0 percent of digs

10. Cedar Rapids Kennedy

2020 record: 15-16

2020 postseason: Class 5A regional semifinalist

Coach: Robin Fonck

Returning starters: S Mara Fluent (5-10, jr.), OH Ally Harris (5-7, sr.), MH Megan Feldman (6-0, sr.), OH Molly Joyner (5-9, sr.), MH Rylee Jaeger (5-9, sr.)

Expected returning percentages: 89.2 percent of kills, 60.6 percent of assists, 45.5 percent of digs

Area class rankings

Class 5A: 1. Iowa City Liberty (24-3), 2. Iowa City West (13-15), 3. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (15-16), 4. Cedar Rapids Prairie (18-15), 5. Iowa City High (7-11)

Class 4A: 1. Western Dubuque (25-11), 2. Cedar Rapids Xavier (26-6), 3. Marion (21-12), 4. Clear Creek Amana (25-6), 5. Solon (17-19)

Class 3A: 1. West Delaware (30-12), 2. West Liberty (26-7), 3. Independence (25-8), 4. Vinton-Shellsburg (16-23), 5. Union Community (32-10)

Class 2A: 1. Dyersville Beckman (29-10), 2. Cascade (17-8), 3. Starmont (19-13), 4. Iowa City Regina (13-10), 5. West Branch (20-13)

Class 1A: 1. Springville (27-5), 2. Lisbon (26-5), 3. Montezuma (14-7), 4. Belle Plaine (26-9), 5. Edgewood-Colesburg (15-14)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com