Monday’s best: Five area Iowa high school volleyball 2A and 1A regional semifinals to watch (Oct. 27, 2025)

Rowan Jacobi is the veteran. Caylee Jensen is the up-and-comer.

Monday night, they’ll meet in the middle.

Jacobi and Jensen will be the center of attention when No. 11 Springville (25-12) welcomes North Cedar (23-11) for a Class 1A volleyball regional semifinal.

First serve is 7 p.m. at Machovec Gymnasium.

A senior at Springville and a basketball commit at the University of South Dakota, the 6-foot-2 Jacobi ranks second in 1A in kills per set (5.56) and fifth in blocks per set (1.02). Her kill rate is .396.

A 6-1 freshman, Jensen (2.52 kills per set, .373 kill efficiency) has rapidly blossomed into North Cedar’s top threat at the net.

Both are middle hitters.

North Cedar-Springville is one of the top area 2A/1A regional semifinals Monday, with winners advancing to Wednesday’s regional finals.

Here are five of them:

Cascade (18-12) at Bellevue (16-10)

2A Region 1

Bellevue tied for second in the River Valley Conference North Division (Cascade was fourth), but the Cougars claimed a five-set victory Oct. 7 (it was 18-16 in the fifth). Cascade earned an impressive sweep of Durant in the regional quarterfinals; Bellevue swept Columbus Community, snapping a five-match skid. Cascade senior Addison Frake (4.56 kills per set, .331 kill efficiency) was a unanimous RVC North first-team all-division selection; Bellevue’s Ava Yeager (5.16 digs per set) also made the first team. No. 1 Denver (45-1) is likely to face the winner Wednesday.

Maquoketa Valley (18-13) at No. 5 Dyersville Beckman (30-7)

2A Region 5

Four starters are back from Beckman’s 2A state-semifinal team from 2024, and the Blazers, winners of 30-plus matches for the seventh time in nine years, are favored to return to Coralville. Junior setter Paige Fangman (10.5 assists per set) is the 2A leader in that category, and her primary targets are senior Ava Burkle (3.62 kills per set) and sophomore Joy Burkle (2.94). Maquoketa Valley outlasted Northeast in a five-set regional quarterfinal. The winner draws a North Iowa Cedar League challenge — from No. 13 Jesup (22-10) or Hudson (27-11) — in the regional final.

Lisbon (34-9) at No. 12 Wapsie Valley (22-17)

2A Region 6

If Lisbon is to reach its first state tournament in school history, it likely will need to beat two teams from the mighty North Iowa Cedar League to get there. No. 6 Union Community (36-12) is the probable regional-final foe. The Lions are coming off an easier-than-expected four-set win over West Branch in the regional quarterfinals, winning three straight after dropping the opener. Seniors Mykala Luzum-Selmon and Kamryn Kahl delivered 19 and 15 kills, respectively. Wapsie Valley swept Eddyville EBF in the first round, ending a five-match skid. Senior Taylor Buhr (3.46) paces the Warriors.

West Burlington (19-15) at No. 8 Iowa City Regina (28-13)

2A Region 8

There’s a chance that Regina’s Reese Naeve will reach the 2,500-kill for her remarkable career (the Iowa State recruit is at 2,436 right now, along with 1,498 digs). She’s averaging 6.05 kills per set this season and hitting at a .333 clip. Regina has won 16 of its last 19 matches and hasn’t been beaten by a 2A opponent this season. West Burlington has won nine consecutive matches, and boasts a prolific hitter of its own in sophomore Kaylee Webb (5.10 kills per set). No. 10 Sumner-Fredericksburg (25-14) or South Winneshiek (21-13) awaits the winner in the regional final.

North Cedar (23-11) at No. 11 Springville (25-12)

1A Region 7

Springville is 10-0 since the calendar flipped to October, and owns an 11-match win streak overall. The Orioles were champions of the Tri-Rivers Conference West Division, and also claimed the conference tournament title. They beat North Cedar (25-23, 25-23) in the TRC tournament semifinals, their 11th win over the Knights in the last 14 meetings. Springville got past Calamus-Wheatland in a four-set regional quarterfinal while North Cedar swept Midland. The winner will face No. 9 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (25-13) or Don Bosco (20-15) in a regional final Wednesday.

* * * * *

Monday’s Class 2A regional semifinals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

Region 1

Manson-NW Webster (20-11) at No. 1 Denver (45-1)

Cascade (18-12) at Bellevue (16-10)

Region 5

Maquoketa Valley (18-13) at No. 5 Dyersville Beckman (30-7)

Hudson (27-11) at No. 13 Jesup (22-10)

Region 6

Grand View Christian (17-19) at No. 6 Union Community (36-12)

Lisbon (34-9) at No. 12 Wapsie Valley (22-17)

Region 8

West Burlington (19-15) at No. 8 Iowa City Regina (28-13)

South Winneshiek (21-13) at No. 10 Sumner-Fredericksburg (25-14)

Monday’s Class 1A regional semifinals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

Region 2

Wapello (25-11) at No. 4 Fort Madison Holy Trinity (35-6)

Edgewood-Colesburg (23-16) at No. 5 Dunkerton (27-11)

Region 3

North Mahaska (17-9) at No. 3 North Tama (26-13)

Montezuma (24-8) at No. 13 Cedar Ridge Christian (20-10)

Region 7

Don Bosco (20-15) at No. 9 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (25-13)

North Cedar (23-11) at No. 11 Springville (25-12)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com