Thursday’s best: Five area Iowa high school volleyball 5A, 4A and 3A regional semifinals to watch (Oct. 23, 2025)

You’ve got a battle between divisional co-champions. That’s West Liberty and Mid-Prairie of the River Valley Conference South Division.

You’ve got two ranked-vs.-ranked encounters, both in the same region. Hello, Tipton-Mount Vernon and Anamosa-West Delaware.

And, yes, you’ve got all seven of the Metro teams still alive. Even Cedar Rapids Washington, which picked up its third win of the season Tuesday.

The volleyball postseason gets juicy Thursday night with regional semifinals in Class 5A, 4A and 3A. Here are five of the best matches that feature area teams:

No. 14 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (24-17) at Waterloo West (16-14)

5A Region 6

Both teams have been in and out of the 5A rankings all season. The Cougars hope to duplicate the outcome of their Oct. 14 match with the Wahawks, a 2-1 triumph at the MVC tournament. Kennedy has locked up its first winning season since 2022, and a victory would put the Cougars at the 25-win plateau for the first time since 2016. Better yet, this is a roster dominated by juniors, led by Addy Phillips and Kaycee Cory. West tied for second in the Valley Division and has a junior gem of its own in Ava Jones (4.24 kills per set).

Gilbert (18-13) at No. 8 Marion (26-13)

4A Region 8

Somewhat quietly, Marion has churned out another successful season. The Wolves tied for second in the rugged Wamac Conference East Division. One reason is the arrival of freshman Abbey Kirk, who leads the team in kills at 3.59 per set. Senior setter Grace Whalen (8.94 assists per set) provides veteran leadership while junior Paige Johnson (3.44 digs per set) anchors the back line. Gilbert finished fourth in the Raccoon River Conference and topped Waterloo East in a four-set regional quarterfinal.

West Liberty (25-17) at No. 8 Mid-Prairie (28-9)

3A Region 7

As usual, there’s a bevy of quality 3A area teams, and these RVC South co-champions fit the bill. Both teams swept their first-round matches. This series had been dominated by West Liberty (27 straight wins from 2009 through 2022, but Mid-Prairie has won three of the last five, including a divisional sweep on Sept. 11. Sherry Evans and Zeb Evans are in their seventh year as co-head coaches, and two of their top players are daughters Jovi Evans (senior) and Jeorgia Evans (sophomore). Mercedes Brockert posted 13 kills in West Liberty’s first-round sweep of Fairfield.

No. 15 Tipton (25-5) at No. 9 Mount Vernon (21-15)

3A Region 8

Both of the 3A-8 semifinals are River Valley-at-Wamac, ranked-vs.-ranked encounters. Mount Vernon still wears the 3A crown until eliminated, and the Mustangs opened their postseason with a sweep of Alburnett behind 10 kills from Sophia Meester. Tipton had a much steeper challenge, outlasting North Fayette Valley in five sets (it was 15-7 in the finale). It’s been a season of great progress for the Tigers, who were 9-21 in 2024. The younger sister of 2024 state player of the year Chloe Meester, Sophia leads Mount Vernon at 3.48 kills per set.

No. 14 Anamosa (25-11) at No. 11 West Delaware (30-11)

3A Region 8

Hard to believe, but this is the first meeting between these programs since 2017. The River Valley Conference tournament champion, Anamosa swept Waukon in the first round, and (like West Delaware) likes to play fast behind dynamite setter Sophie Sander (8.78 assists) and right-side hitter Olivia Miller (3.21 kills per set). West Delaware’s Lauren LeClere is a prolific hitter, notching 4.56 kills per set (second-most in 3A) with a .316 kill efficiency. She had 15 kills in the Hawks’ first-round sweep of Oelwein. West Delaware has averaged 33.7 wins through the past 10 seasons.

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Thursday’s Class 5A regional semifinals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

Region 2

Cedar Rapids Jefferson (9-27) at No. 2 Ankeny Centennial (30-5)

Linn-Mar (13-20) at Southeast Polk (13-16)

Region 5

Ottumwa (17-21) at No. 4 Waukee (24-7)

Iowa City High (9-18) at No. 11 Indianola (25-16)

Region 6

Marshalltown (15-19) at No. 6 Ankeny (25-8)

No. 14 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (24-17) at Waterloo West (16-14)

Region 7

Des Moines Roosevelt (19-17) at No. 7 West Des Moines Valley (25-12)

Cedar Rapids Prairie (18-19) at No. 9 Cedar Falls (30-8)

Region 8

Cedar Rapids Washington (3-34) at No. 8 Iowa City West (25-5)

Dubuque Hempstead (19-15) at No. 10 Iowa City Liberty (23-10)

Thursday’s Class 4A regional semifinals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

Region 1

Mount Pleasant (22-14) at No. 1 Clear Creek Amana (39-3)

Cedar Rapids Xavier (14-15) at Grinnell (14-17)

Region 6

Burlington (31-12) at No. 5 North Scott (22-10)

Decorah (13-17) at No. 11 Western Dubuque (24-11)

Region 8

Clinton (15-15) at No. 7 Solon (28-9)

Gilbert (18-13) at No. 8 Marion (26-13)

Thursday’s Class 3A regional semifinals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

Region 5

New Hampton (20-12) at No. 5 Humboldt (29-5)

Williamsburg (21-9) at No. 10 Roland-Story (33-7)

Region 7

West Liberty (25-17) at No. 8 Mid-Prairie (28-9)

Benton Community (12-24) at No. 12 Center Point-Urbana (21-13)

Region 8

No. 15 Tipton (25-5) at No. 9 Mount Vernon (21-15)

No. 14 Anamosa (25-11) at No. 11 West Delaware (30-11)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com