Wednesday’s best: 5 area Iowa high school volleyball regional matches to watch

If you’re headed to Wednesday’s Class 2A volleyball regional quarterfinal at Iowa City Regina, make yourself nice and comfy.

You might be there a while.

The 14th-ranked Regals (26-10) host rival West Branch (16-16), and their Sept. 14 match was a five-set marathon. The rematch carries higher stakes; the winner moves on to next Monday’s regional-semifinal round.

Here are five of Wednesday’s best area matches:

West Branch (16-16) at No. 14 Iowa City Regina (26-10)

Class 2A Region 7

There was minimal separation between the top six teams in the River Valley Conference South Division, and that was reflected when the Bears and the Regals collided Sept. 14. The teams split a pair of 30-28 scores in Games 3 and 4, then Regina won the fifth, 15-12. Reese Naeve accumulated 29 kills in that marathon to fuel the Regals, and the sophomore ranks second in the state (all classes) with 5.88 kills per set. Sydney Wagner averages 10.85 assists per set. Regina also won a 2-0 match in an August tournament. West Branch swept Louisa-Muscatine in the first round behind Emily Coleman’s 10 kills.

Jesup (18-17) at Lisbon (27-6)

Class 2A Region 7

This is Lisbon’s second year as a 2A program, and the Lions are seeking another extended postseason run. They have reached the regional-final round with regularity the last few years. Ava Czarnecki has become the Lions’ go-to attacker; the outside hitter is fourth statewide (all classes) in kills, at 5.66 per set, despite standing a modest 5-foot-6 1/2. The Lions advanced to the Tri-Rivers tournament final Saturday before bowing to Edgewood-Colesburg. Jesup hails from the East Division of the rugged North Iowa Cedar League.

Belle Plaine (19-13) at Sigourney (16-8)

Class 1A Region 5

Belle Plaine has won 15 straight in this series, but it has become much more challenging lately. The Plainsmen prevailed in a five-setter last year, then did it again Sept. 21 (it was 17-15 in the fifth). Senior Jacey Reineke is good for about 3 kills per set. Both teams motored through first-round sweeps; Sigourney handled Montezuma, and Belle Plaine sidelined Baxter. The winner is likely to go to No. 4 Conrad BCLUW for a regional-semifinal challenge next Monday.

WACO (18-12) at Central City (23-11)

Class 1A Region 7

It has been more than 30 years since Central City has advanced to state in a major girls’ sport (and it has never happened in volleyball), but this crew has a legitimate shot at advancing to Coralville. The Wildcats swept rival Springville in Round 1 on Monday behind 10 kills and 15 digs from Bailee Weber. Central City possesses an effective, veteran setter in Belle Whitson, who has dished out 824 assists this season.

Recommended Reading

Central City sweeps Springville in regional volleyball first round

North Cedar (18-14) vs. Calamus-Wheatland (25-8)

Class 1A Region 8

Calamus-Wheatland is enjoying one of its very best seasons in school history, and the Warriors are riding a wave with 12 victories in their last 14 matches. They are 3-0 against North Cedar this season, but the last encounter was a three-set challenge at the Tri-Rivers tournament Oct. 12. North Cedar will try to reverse the recent trend behind senior back-row leader Claire Dennis, who averages 4.03 digs per set.

Wednesday’s complete area schedule

CLASS 2A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All matches 7 p.m.)

Region 6

Cascade (13-20) at No. 5 Sumner-Fredericksburg (25-13)

Northeast (17-14) at Bellevue (17-13)

Maquoketa Valley (14-14) at No. 10 Wapsie Valley (26-18)

South Winneshiek (17-12) at No. 11 Dyersville Beckman (30-7)

Region 7

Alburnett (4-19) at No. 4 Denver (31-10)

Waterloo Columbus (18-23) at Durant (17-12)

West Branch (16-16) at No. 14 Iowa City Regina (26-10)

Jesup (18-17) at Lisbon (27-6)

CLASS 1A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All matches 7 p.m.)

Region 5

Colo-Nesco (7-18) at No. 4 Conrad BCLUW (31-10)

Belle Plaine (19-13) at Sigourney (16-8)

HLV (15-17) at No. 13 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (20-18)

Lynnville-Sully (15-12) at Garwin GMG (16-11)

Region 6

Elkader Central (11-20) at No. 6 Janesville (25-11)

Dunkerton (22-16) at Starmont (15-11)

Riceville (18-21) at No. 9 Saint Ansgar (21-6)

Tripoli (13-19) at Waterloo Christian (22-12)

Region 7

Keota (10-13) at No. 5 North Tama (23-15)

WACO (18-12) at Central City (23-11)

English Valleys (15-14) at No. 10 Don Bosco (21-16)

Wapello (20-13) at North Linn (18-10)

Region 8

Danville (13-14) at No. 3 Fort Madison Holy Trinity (28-10)

Burlington Notre Dame (25-14) at Moravia (19-8)

Easton Valley (8-18) at No. 12 Edgewood-Colesburg (27-13)

North Cedar (18-14) at Calamus-Wheatland (25-8)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com