Monday’s best: 5 area 2A, 1A Iowa high school volleyball regional semifinals to watch (Oct. 27, 2024)

By the end of the Wednesday, the 40-team field for the Iowa high school state volleyball tournament will be set.

There are two levels yet to climb for area small-school contenders.

The best area team in action Monday is Dyersville Beckman, the third-ranked team in Class 2A.

The best area match? Pick one of these five:

Lisbon (31-7) at No. 14 West Burlington (36-6)

Class 2A Region 3

West Burlington is an annual entrant in Lisbon’s September invitational, but the Falcons and the Lions didn’t run into each other in this year’s event. Lisbon has won 15 consecutive matches, including a four-set quarterfinal victory over Durant. Sarah Dietsch collected 16 kills, and Kaitlynn Hasselbusch distributed 47 assists. West Burlington’s Brenna Biggs boasts a .416 kill efficiency, and it one of three Falcons with 240 kills or more. Neither program has reached the state tournament, and the winner likely faces a big regional-final challenge against No. 3 Beckman.

North Mahaska (21-1) at No. 8 Iowa City Regina (22-14)

Class 2A Region 8

North Mahaska has fashioned an impressive, to be sure. But 16 of the Warhawks’ 21 wins have come against Class 1A competition (most in South Iowa Cedar League play), and Regina has faced a much more daunting schedule. The Regals also have Reese Naeve, a junior and an Iowa State commit, in their corner. Naeve has roughly two-third of the Regals’ kills, averaging a whopping 7.42 per set and attacks with at a .316 efficiency. Her 668 kills are seven more than North Mahaska has as a team. The victor will face No. 9 Pella Christian or Pleasantville for a state berth Wednesday.

Calamus-Wheatland (25-9) at Springville (26-8)

Class 1A Region 2

The teams split a pair of matches three days apart in September: Springville prevailed in a five-setter, then Cal-Wheat won in straight sets at a tournament in Wyoming. Springville spotted Easton Valley the first set in Thursday’s regional quarterfinal before winning the next three. Rowan Jacobi collected 14 kills, upping her season total to 368. Cal-Wheat won both of its first two matches via sweep, with neither opponent reaching 20 points in a single set. Seniors Brooklyn Biddle and Erica Will pace the Warriors’ attack.

Belle Plaine (17-13) at No. 5 North Tama (23-15)

Class 1A Region 7

North Tama rolled to a sweep (25-9, 25-10, 25-11) in a regular-season meeting Sept. 5 at Traer. The Redhawks captured the Iowa Star Conference tournament, knocking off Conrad BCLUW in the championship match. The Redhawks are favored to reach their fifth state tournament in an eight-year span. Junior Addison Hochstetler is an all-state libero, averaging nearly 5 digs per set. Belle Plaine outlasted Hillcrest Academy in five sets in the regional quarterfinals, taking the fifth 15-13. Kayleah Laughlin collects 3.40 kills per set for the Plainsmen.

North Linn (17-18) at No. 8 Don Bosco (18-15)

Class 1A Region 8

No getting around it, the winner of this matchup faces a long, long ride for its regional final. The opponent will be either No. 10 Sidney or Fremont-Mills, both of which are located in extreme southwest Iowa. Fortunately, that will be at a neutral site somewhere halfway. This is the first time North Linn and Don Bosco have met since 2015. The Lynx advanced with a five-set victory over Edgewood-Colesburg. Teagan Liebe collected 21 kills; Allie Haughenbury contributed 36 digs. Don Bosco swept East Buchanan.

Monday’s Class 2A regional semifinals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

Region 3

Northeast (14-13) at No. 3 Dyersville Beckman (33-6)

Lisbon (31-7) at No. 14 West Burlington (36-6)

Region 4

Hudson (27-10) at No. 4 Dike-New Hartford (27-15)

Jesup (27-11) at No. 13 Wapsie Valley (25-16)

Region 8

Pleasantville (24-11) at No. 9 Pella Christian (23-11)

North Mahaska (21-1) at No. 8 Iowa City Regina (22-14)

Monday’s Class 1A regional semifinals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

Region 1

Sigourney (17-5) at No. 1 Ankeny Christian (35-5)

Southeast Warren (26-19) at Mormon Trail (26-2)

Region 2

Wapello (18-11) at No. 3 Fort Madison Holy Trinity (27-12)

Calamus-Wheatland (25-9) at Springville (26-8)

Region 3

Turkey Valley (18-14) at No. 2 Saint Ansgar (25-6)

West Bend-Mallard (18-9) at North Iowa (26-5)

Region 7

Belle Plaine (17-13) at No. 5 North Tama (23-15)

Newell-Fonda (24-8) at No. 9 River Valley (29-2)

Region 8

North Linn (17-18) at No. 8 Don Bosco (18-15)

Fremont-Mills (26-10) at No. 10 Sidney (26-9)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com