Thursday’s best: 5 area 5A, 4A, 3A Iowa high school volleyball regional semifinals to watch (Oct. 24, 2024)

Anamosa High School is enjoying a big volleyball season, which could transform into a historical one.

To turn that corner, the Blue Raiders must first clear a tall, immediate hurdle.

In the lone ranked-vs.-ranked area matchup as the postseason shifts to 5A/4A/3A regional-semifinal mode Thursday night, the 11th-ranked Blue Raiders host No. 14 Center Point-Urbana.

It’s the plum match in a slate full of goodies. Here are five of Thursday’s best:

Dubuque Hempstead (16-16) at No. 15 Linn-Mar (17-15)

Class 5A Region 2

Linn-Mar seeks a repeat of its victory over Hempstead in the Mississippi Valley Conference tournament (25-23, 25-18). The winner is likely to get a regional-final shot at No. 1 Pleasant Valley. The Lions are led by the Klesner twins, who will play at Wisconsin-River Falls next year. Kelsey averages 3.65 kills per set; Kira adds 1.86. Seniors Lexi Kuhle and Addi Wright are the top attackers for Hempstead.

Western Dubuque (18-16) at No. 10 Marion (23-14)

Class 4A Region 8

Both of these teams have been state-tournament regulars recently. Marion is in pursuit of its fourth consecutive berth; Western Dubuque’s regional loss to Marion last year snapped a four-year state run. Carlee Webber is No. 1 for Marion in more than just uniform number; she leads the Wolves in kills (4.06 per set) and blocks (0.67). Western Dubuque advanced with a straight-set win over Maquoketa. The Bobcats’ attack is run by a freshman, Lola Quagliano.

Monticello (25-8) at No. 12 Solon (28-13)

Class 3A Region 4

This is the final go-round for Monticello’s Jayden Kuper, one of the area’s top senior female athletes. Kuper has been both prolific and efficient at the net, averaging 5.75 kills per set and sporting a .307 kill efficiency. She also leads the Panthers in the back row at 3.94 digs per set. Solon, meanwhile, relies on balance. The Spartans have five dependable hitting threats (all between 143 and 199 kills). Grace Erwin (.438 efficiency) is at the top of that chain, and also collects more than 1 block per set. Solon’s 28 wins are its most in a season since 2014.

No. 14 Center Point-Urbana (19-12) at No. 11 Anamosa (31-7)

Class 3A Region 5

This can be classified as Anamosa’s best season in school history, and two more wins would send the Blue Raiders to their first state-tournament appearance ever. But the River Valley Conference North Division champions can’t afford to look ahead to a potential regional-final showdown with Davenport Assumption. CPU has three starters back from a team that qualified for state last year, led by seniors Addy Tupa and Gracie Hoskins. Anamosa counters with veteran hitters Reise Neuhaus and Lola Holub, and boasts an outstanding setter in junior Sophie Sander.

West Liberty (26-15) at No. 10 Wilton (31-7)

Class 3A Region 8

Fifteen miles of U.S. Highway 6 separate these River Valley Conference South Division rivals, and very little separates these strong, stable programs. This will be their ninth meeting in the past five seasons, and the teams are split evenly through the previous eight. Wilton swept this year’s divisional matchup. Seniors Kaylee Pelzer and Sophie Buysse are West Liberty’s go-to attackers, with sophomore Emma Yoder running the attack. Wilton qualified for state four straight years (2018-21) as a 2A program, and is now up in classification. Kinsey Drake averages 3.46 kills per set to pace the Beavers.

Thursday’s complete area schedule

CLASS 5A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All matches 7 p.m.)

Region 2

Davenport North (12-20) at No. 1 Pleasant Valley (30-2)

Dubuque Hempstead (16-16) at No. 15 Linn-Mar (17-15)

Region 3

Cedar Rapids Jefferson (7-27) at No. 3 Ankeny (34-4)

Waterloo West (16-14) at No. 11 Iowa City High (16-12)

Region 4

Sioux City North (7-25) at No. 4 West Des Moines Dowling (23-9)

Marshalltown (13-21) at Iowa City West (12-17)

Region 7

Cedar Rapids Kennedy (15-23) at No. 7 Cedar Falls (31-6)

Dubuque Senior (16-21) at No. 10 Iowa City Liberty (14-20)

Region 8

Bettendorf (17-15) at No. 8 Cedar Rapids Prairie (29-11)

Johnston (18-17) at No. 9 Waukee (15-14)

CLASS 4A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All matches 7 p.m.)

Region 1

Waverly-Shell Rock (21-22) at No. 1 Cedar Rapids Xavier (26-4)

Decorah (18-11) at Charles City (21-9)

Region 4

Mount Pleasant (12-25) at No. 4 Clear Creek Amana (35-7)

Dallas Center-Grimes (21-18) at No. 15 Ballard (20-16)

Region 8

Knoxville (23-16) at No. 9 Carlisle (23-9)

Western Dubuque (18-16) at No. 10 Marion (23-14)

CLASS 3A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All matches 7 p.m.)

Region 1

Monroe PCM (16-10) at No. 1 Mount Vernon (40-4)

Williamsburg (18-10) at Nevada (29-11)

Region 3

New Hampton (18-15) at No. 3 West Delaware (36-6)

Union Community (36-11) at No. 13 Roland-Story (30-4)

Region 4

Waukon (18-14) at No. 4 Dubuque Wahlert (23-8)

Monticello (25-8) at No. 12 Solon (28-13)

Region 5

Washington (18-15) at No. 6 Davenport Assumption (23-8)

No. 14 Center Point-Urbana (19-12) at No. 11 Anamosa (31-7)

Region 8

Albia (21-13) at No. 8 Mid-Prairie (31-8)

West Liberty (26-15) at No. 10 Wilton (31-7)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com