The Gazette’s 2024 preseason Iowa high school volleyball state rankings

For the past 14 years, one of two teams has won the Class 2A state volleyball championship.

Dike-New Hartford (eight). Or Western Christian (six).

This year might be different. Dike-New Hartford is in reload mode after a 50-0 run last year. Western Christian remains in 3A after winning the title in that class last year.

So this year, 2A is refreshingly wide open. You could select any one of about seven teams as your preseason favorite. The pick here, by a tiny margin, is Denver, which returns five starters from last year’s state-semifinalist team.

In the Gazette’s preseason, first-day-of-practice state rankings, only one reigning state champion opens at No. 1. That’s Ankeny Christian, which has won the last two Class 1A titles.

The other teams on top are Pleasant Valley (5A), Cedar Rapids Xavier (4A) and Mount Vernon (3A).

Here is the complete list. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union is likely to come out with its first official rankings within the next 7-10 days.

Class 5A

1. Pleasant Valley (28-6, 5A state semifinalist)

2. West Des Moines Dowling (32-8, 5A state runner-up)

3. Cedar Falls (34-7, 5A state quarterfinalist)

4. Ankeny Centennial (31-7, 5A state semifinalist)

5. Ankeny (24-15, 5A state quarterfinalist)

6. Indianola (38-5, 4A state runner-up)

7. Iowa City Liberty (19-22, 5A regional finalist)

8. Linn-Mar (19-14, 5A regional finalist)

9. Waukee Northwest (27-9, 5A state champion)

10. Bettendorf (16-16, 5A regional semifinalist)

The next five (alphabetic order): Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln (22-20), Dubuque Senior (25-12), Sioux City East (23-13), Waukee (13-20), West Des Moines Valley (19-16).

Class 4A

1. Cedar Rapids Xavier (24-7, 4A state quarterfinalist)

2. Carlisle (24-8, 4A regional semifinalist)

3. North Scott (29-4, 4A state champion)

4. Sioux City Heelan (28-15, 4A regional finalist)

5. Charles City (29-7, 4A regional semifinalist)

6. Glenwood (30-11, 4A regional finalist)

7. Clear Creek Amana (46-1, 4A state semifinalist)

8. Lewis Central (32-3, 4A state semifinalist)

9. Dallas Center-Grimes (20-13, 4A regional finalist)

10. Norwalk (26-15, 4A state quarterfinalist)

The next five (alphabetic order): Adel ADM (27-4), Knoxville (27-10), Marion (26-13), Pella (21-20), Sergeant Bluff-Luton (12-21).

Class 3A

1. Mount Vernon (35-5, 3A state runner-up)

2. Davenport Assumption (28-8, 3A state semifinalist)

3. Western Christian (32-13, 3A state champion)

4. Sioux Center (21-13, 4A regional semifinalist)

5. Dubuque Wahlert (18-13, 3A state quarterfinalist)

6. Mid-Prairie (31-11, 3A regional finalist)

7. Center Point-Urbana (27-10, 3A state quarterfinalist)

8. Van Meter (21-11, 3A regional semifinalist)

9. Cherokee (29-7, 3A state quarterfinalist)

10. West Liberty (32-12, 3A regional semifinalist)

The next five (alphabetic order): Carroll Kuemper (34-7), Solon (22-15), Union Community (39-12), West Delaware (26-15), Wilton (22-15).

Class 2A

1. Denver (35-11, 2A state semifinalist)

2. Eddyville EBF (26-8, 2A state quarterfinalist)

3. Dyersville Beckman (31-8, 2A regional semifinalist)

4. South Hardin (35-9, 2A regional finalist)

5. Boyden-Hull (22-12, 1A state semifinalist)

6. Aplington-Parkersburg (34-9, 2A state quarterfinalist)

7. Wapsie Valley (28-19, 2A regional finalist)

8. Dike-New Hartford (50-0, 2A state champion)

9. West Burlington (38-6, 2A regional finalist)

10. Hinton (32-2, 2A state runner-up)

The next five (alphabetic order): Hudson (21-17), Iowa City Regina (26-11), Lisbon (28-7), Rock Valley (20-9), Tri-Center (26-10).

Class 1A

1. Ankeny Christian (39-3, 1A state champion)

2. River Valley (25-7, 1A regional finalist)

3. Fort Madison Holy Trinity (33-11, 1A state runner-up)

4. North Tama (25-16, 1A regional finalist)

5. Janesville (27-12, 1A regional finalist)

6. Gladbrook-Reinbeck (20-19, 1A regional quarterfinalist)

7. Oakland Riverside (27-11, 1A regional finalist)

8. Don Bosco (24-17, 1A state quarterfinalist)

9. Newell-Fonda (21-9, 1A state quarterfinalist)

10. Saint Ansgar (24-7, 1A state quarterfinalist)

The next five (alphabetic order): Conrad BCLUW (35-11), Council Bluffs St. Albert (23-15), Le Mars Gehlen (13-14), Sidney (20-11), Stanton (28-12).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com