Iowa high school volleyball preseason rankings 2021: Iowa City Liberty begins atop 5A

Iowa City Liberty begins the 2021 volleyball season as the top-ranked team in Class 5A.

The Lightning (24-3 and the 5A state runner-up last year) return four starters, led by Elite all-state selection Cassidy Hartman.

Shelby Kimm, a second-team 5A pick, also returns, along with hitters Sam Harvey and Kennedy Daugherty.

» Read more: Iowa City Liberty volleyball poised to ‘take it all the way’

North Scott (4A), Sergeant Bluff-Luton (3A), Dike-New Hartford (2A) and Burlington Notre Dame (1A) are the other top-rated squads.

DNH and Notre Dame are reigning state champions.

Liberty is followed in 5A by Pleasant Valley, defending champion Ankeny, Ankeny Centennial and Cedar Falls. Cedar Rapids Kennedy is eighth.

North Scott was a 4A state quarterfinalist last season and brings back six starters, led by leading hitter Ella McLaughlin.

Waverly-Shell Rock, Western Dubuque, Glenwood and Oskaloosa round out the top five; defending champion Cedar Rapids Xavier is No. 6, with Marion and Clear Creek Amana seventh and eighth.

Sergeant Bluff-Luton and West Delaware both were 4A state qualifiers last year (the Hawks advanced to the finals) and lead the list in their new home, 3A. SBL has six starters back and earned a slight nod.

Alivia Schulte and Allie Demmer give the Hawks a pair of proven threats at the net, with all-state libero Ella Koloc and setter Carlee Smith also back.

» Read more: What makes West Delaware volleyball special? From Day 1, Hawks bring the speed

Davenport Assumption, Des Moines Christian and Unity Christian complete the top five. West Liberty and Mount Vernon are eighth and ninth.

Dike-New Hartford headlines a stacked 2A. The Wolverines are virtually intact from their squad that stormed through the state bracket last year, including sophomore Payton Petersen, and are followed by Denver, Western Christian, Wilton and Wapsie Valley.

Notre Dame struck gold in its first march to state last year and bring back six starters. Springville is listed as the Nikes’ chief challenger at No. 2. The Orioles return all-state setter Nia Howard, along with top hitters Lauren Wilson, Savannah Nealman and Lily Clark.

New London, Gladbrook-Reinbeck and Le Mars Gehlen are 3-4-5; Lisbon is 10th.

IGHSAU preseason state volleyball rankings

CLASS 5A

1. Iowa City Liberty

2. Pleasant Valley

3. Ankeny

4. Ankeny Centennial

5. Cedar Falls

6. West Des Moines Valley

7. Johnston

8. Cedar Rapids Kennedy

9. Urbandale

10. West Des Moines Dowling

11. Iowa City West

12. Sioux City East

13. Bettendorf

14. Des Moines Roosevelt

15. Cedar Rapids Prairie

CLASS 4A

1. North Scott

2. Waverly-Shell Rock

3. Western Dubuque

4. Glenwood

5. Oskaloosa

6. Cedar Rapids Xavier

7. Marion

8. Clear Creek Amana

9. Pella

10. Indianola

11. Bondurant-Farrar

12. Lewis Central

13. North Polk

14. Clinton

15. Winterset

CLASS 3A

1. Sergeant Bluff-Luton

2. West Delaware

3. Davenport Assumption

4. Des Moines Christian

5. Unity Christian

6. Red Oak

7. Sheldon

8. West Burlington

9. West Liberty

10. Mount Vernon

11. Independence

12. Union Community

13. Sioux Center

14. Roland-Story

15. Nevada

CLASS 2A

1. Dike-New Hartford

2. Denver

3. Western Christian

4. Wilton

5. Wapsie Valley

6. South Hardin

7. Carroll Kuemper

8. Sumner-Fredericksburg

9. Osage

10. Grundy Center

11. Boyden-Hull

12. Dyersville Beckman

13. Lake Mills

14. Waterloo Columbus

15. Starmont

CLASS 1A

1. Burlington Notre Dame

2. Springville

3. New London

4. Gladbrook-Reinbeck

5. Le Mars Gehlen

6. Newell-Fonda

7. Southeast Warren

8. Council Bluffs St. Albert

9. Fort Madison Holy Trinity

10. Lisbon

11. Marcus MMCRU

12. Belle Plaine

13. Tripoli

14. Lamoni

15. Janesville

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com