2025 Iowa high school state volleyball tournament: Area capsules and predictions

CORALVILLE — An in-depth look at the eight teams from The Gazette’s coverage area that will be competing in the state volleyball tournament this week at Xtream Arena:

CLASS 5A

No. 8 Iowa City West (27-5)

Coach — Jaedynn Evans (1st year, 27-5)

Tournament history — 14th appearance, first since 2016. Won back-to-back 4A championships in 2010 and 2011.

Statistical leaders

* Kills per set — Sophia Austen, 3.49

* Assists per set — Lila Eastvold, 9.81

* Digs per set — Izzie McDonald, 4.60

* Aces per set — Austen, 0.44

* Blocks per set — Taylor Otte, 0.63

First-round opponent — Trojans will face No. 2 Ankeny Centennial (32-5) in a 5A quarterfinal at 12:25 p.m. Monday.

No. 1 Clear Creek Amana (41-3)

Coach — Jackie Clubb (12th year, 354-135)

Tournament history — 7th appearance, fourth consecutive, highlighted by a 4A runner-up finish in 2022.

Statistical leaders

* Kills per set — Averie Lower, 3.05

* Assists per set — Emily Henderson, 9.29

* Digs per set — Kendall Ronnfeldt, 3.18

* Aces per set — Julia Schlarbaum, 0.71

* Blocks per set — Bailey Simpson, 0.92

First-round opponent — Clippers will face No. 9 Sergeant Bluff-Luton (19-12) in a 4A quarterfinal at 4 p.m. Monday.

No. 8 Marion (28-13)

Coach — Roxanne Paulsen (22nd year at Marion, 664-266; 26th year overall, 690 — 327)

Tournament history — 13th appearance, first since 2023. Class 3A champion in 2008.

Statistical leaders

* Kills per set — Abbey Kirk, 3.61

* Assists per set — Grace Whalen, 9.09

* Digs per set — Paige Johnson, 3.37

* Aces per set — Jaleaya Oliver and Kirk, 1.24

* Blocks per set — Nayomi Vasser, 0.57

First-round opponent — Wolves will face No. 2 Sioux Center (28-4) in a 4A quarterfinal at 4:25 p.m. Monday.

CLASS 3A

No. 8 Mid-Prairie (30-9)

Co-coaches — Sherry Evans and Zeb Evans (7th year, 153-92)

Tournament history — 4th appearance, second consecutive.

Statistical leaders

* Kills per set — Jovi Evans, 4.17

* Assists per set — Avery Helmuth, 5.60

* Digs per set — Jeorgia Evans, 5.52

* Aces per set — Jovi Evans, 0.56

* Blocks per set — Laurin Fay, 0.72

First-round opponent — Golden Hawks will face No. 2 Davenport Assumption (25-7) in a 3A quarterfinal at 10:25 a.m. Tuesday.

No. 9 Mount Vernon (23-15)

Coach — Maggie Willems (15th year, 456-156)

Tournament history — 20th appearance, eighth consecutive. Mustangs have won five championships, including the 3A title last year.

Statistical leaders

* Kills per set — Sophia Meester, 3.57

* Assists per set — Madison Hoffert, 8.83

* Digs per set — Mavrik Schweer, 4.97

* Aces per set — Hoffert, 0.43

* Blocks per set — Cali Whitaker, 0.84

First-round opponent — Mustangs will face No. 1 Western Christian (37-9) in a 3A quarterfinal at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

CLASS 2A

No. 3 Dyersville Beckman (35-6)

Coach — Todd Troutman (29th year, 767-240)

Tournament history — 11th appearance, second consecutive. Blazers are two-time runners-up.

Statistical leaders

* Kills per set — Ava Burkle, 3.61

* Assists per set — Paige Fangman, 10.74

* Digs per set — Addisson Hogan, 5.06

* Aces per set — Joy Burkle, 0.42

* Blocks per set — Miley Manternach, 0.49

First-round opponent — Blazers will face No. 4 Grundy Center (35-9) in a 2A quarterfinal at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

No. 8 Iowa City Regina (30-13)

Coach — Lauren Hansen (5th year, 119-66)

Tournament history — 5th appearance, second consecutive.

Statistical leaders

* Kills per set — Reese Naeve, 6.12

* Assists per set — Nora Wilhelm, 8.96

* Digs per set — Addison Bollier, 6.83

* Aces per set — Wilhelm, 0.39

* Blocks per set — Adalee Klein, 0.60

First-round opponent — Regals will face No. 3 Hinton (28-2) in a 2A quarterfinal at 4:25 p.m. Tuesday.

CLASS 1A

No. 3 North Tama (28-13)

Coach — Channing Halstead (12th year, 293-141)

Tournament history — 6th appearance, all since 2017.

Statistical leaders

* Kills per set — Kruiz Ewoldt, 3.70

* Assists per set — Isabelle Gropper, 4.08

* Digs per set — Addison Hochstetler, 4.22

* Aces per set — Hochstetler, 0.98

* Blocks per set — Brooke Bradley, 0.35

First-round opponent — Redhawks will face No. 8 Sidney (22-9) in a 1A quarterfinal at 8:25 p.m. Tuesday.

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The Gazette’s state volleyball tournament picks

CLASS 5A

Quarterfinals

Waukee Northwest over Indianola in 3

West Des Moines Dowling over Ankeny in 5

Ankeny Centennial over Iowa City West in 4

Pleasant Valley over West Des Moines Valley in 4

Semifinals

Waukee Northwest over West Des Moines Dowling in 3

Pleasant Valley over Ankeny Centennial in 5

Championship

Waukee Northwest over Pleasant Valley in 4

CLASS 4A

Quarterfinals

Clear Creek Amana over Sergeant Bluff-Luton in 4

Dallas Center-Grimes over North Scott in 5

Sioux Center over Marion in 4

Pella over Norwalk in 5

Semifinals

Clear Creek Amana over Dallas Center-Grimes in 5

Sioux Center over Pella in 4

Championship

Clear Creek Amana over Sioux Center in 5

CLASS 3A

Quarterfinals

Western Christian over Mount Vernon in 3

Cherokee over Humboldt in 4

Davenport Assumption over Mid-Prairie in 4

Red Oak over Carroll Kuemper in 5

Semifinals

Western Christian over Cherokee in 3

Davenport Assumption over Red Oak in 4

Championship

Western Christian over Davenport Assumption in 4

CLASS 2A

Quarterfinals

Denver over Wapsie Valley in 3

Dyersville Beckman over Grundy Center in 5

Dike-New Hartford over Aplington-Parkersburg in 3

Hinton over Iowa City Regina in 4

Semifinals

Denver over Dyersville Beckman in 4

Dike-New Hartford over Hinton in 5

Championship

Denver over Dike-New Hartford in 5

CLASS 1A

Quarterfinals

Saint Ansgar over East Mills in 3

Conrad BCLUW over Dunkerton in 5

Janesville over Gladbrook-Reinbeck in 4

North Tama over Sidney in 3

Semifinals

Saint Ansgar over Conrad BCLUW in 4

Janesville over North Tama in 5

Championship

Janesville over Saint Ansgar in 5

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com