Ankeny Christian wins Class 1A state volleyball championship

 

Seventh-ranked Ankeny Christian pulled off a stunning comeback to beat No. 4 Gladbrook Reinbeck in five sets for the Class 1A state title, 21-25, 19-25, 28-26, 26-24, 15-10.

 

The Rebels (34-10) had four match points in sets 3 and 4, but the Eagles (39-3) had an answer every time, then closed the fifth set with five of the final six points.

 

Carley Craighead totaled 20 kills and 10 digs for Ankeny Christian, which swept top-ranked Springville in the semifinals. Macey Nehring added 18 kills and 14 digs, Anna Weathers 15 kills. Captin of the all-tournament team, Katie Quick had 52 assists and 15 digs.

 

Ava Wyatt led Gladbrook-Reinbeck with 25 kills.

 

Read more from Jeff Linder: Tournament rookie Ankeny Christian pulls off an improbable comeback, wins 1A state volleyball title

 

Box score: Final stats from Ankeny Christian vs. Gladbrook-Reinbeck

 

We have an XTREAM COURT STORM. #iahsvb pic.twitter.com/wG1M6hKx3C

— Jeff Linder (@jtlinder) November 4, 2022

Another Set 5

 

For the second straight set, Ankeny Christian fought off multiple match points to extend the match. This time, the Eagles trailed 24-22 when Macey Nehring came through with three straight kills.

 

Megan Cooley followed with an ace and Ankeny Christian forced a fifth set against Gladbrook-Reinbeck with a 26-24 Set 4 win.

Ankeny Christian extends the match

 

Ankeny Christian fought off two match points to go to extra points in Set 3 and extended the match with a 28-26 win.

 

The Eagles trailed 21-14 at one point in the third set.

G-R goes up 2-0

 

Gladbrook-Reinbeck is hitting .338 through two sets and took a 2-0 lead against Ankeny Christian with a 25-19 Set 2 win.

Rebels win Set 1

 

Ava Wyatt racked up 11 kills as Gladbrook-Reinbeck won Set 1 over Ankeny Christian, 25-21.

Watch the Class 1A state championship

 

It's No. 4 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (34-9) vs. No. 7 Ankeny Christian (38-3) in the Class 1A state championship match at 7 p.m.

 

Western Christian wins Class 2A state championship

 

In a classic final between perennial powers, No. 2-ranked Western Christian stunned No. 1 Dike-New Hartford, the two-time defending champion.

 

Western Christian (43-5) scored the last five points of the fifth set, rallying from 14-11 down to win it. Set scores were 25-21, 19-25, 25-21, 13-25, 16-14.

 

Abby VerBurg tallied 26 kills, including one that broke a 14-14 tie in the decisive set. Stella Winterfeld had 24 kills and 15 digs and was named captain of the all-tournament team. Hannah Broek totaled 53 assists.

 

Payton Petersen led the Wolverines (44-3) with 26 kills and 11 digs.

 

Read more from Jeff Linder: Western Christian outlasts Dike-New Hartford in an epic Class 2A final

 

Box score: Final stats from Western Christian-DNH

Class 2A final is going 5

 

Dike-New Hartford came back with an emphatic Set 4 win, 25-13, to force a fifth set against Western Christian.

 

It's fitting that a match of this quality will go five. The Wolverines are hitting .333 through four sets, the Wolfpack .263. Two of the best teams -- and programs -- in Iowa.

Western Christian rallies in Set 3

 

Down 18-13, Western Christian fought back to win Set 3, 25-21, and take a 2-1 lead in the match against Dike-New Hartford.

 

Three of the last four points were Abby VerBurg kills, giving her 22 in the match.

D-NH responds in Set 2

 

After dropping the first set, No. 1 Dike-New Hartford tied the match at 1-1 with a 25-19 Set 2 win over Western Christian.

Western Christian wins Set 1

 

Stella Winterfeld had eight kills, Abby VerBurg contributed seven and Western Christian took the first set against top-ranked Dike-New Hartford, 25-21.

 

The Wolfpack scored the last four points.

Watch the Class 2A state championship

 

It's No. 1 Dike-New Hartford (44-2) vs. No. 2 Western Christian (42-5) in the Class 2A state championship match at 4:45 p.m. [Live stats]

 

One of these teams has won each of the last 12 2A titles — and will make it 13.

 

Davenport Assumption wins Class 3A state volleyball championship

 

Second-ranked Davenport Assumption swept No. 4 Sioux Center (25-23, 25-16, 25-21) to win the Class 3A state title.

 

Their first state title is redemption for the Knights (33-7) after losing in the semifinals as the No. 1-ranked team last season.

 

Assumption's Ava Schubert had 17 kills and was named captain of the all-tournament team.

 

Sioux Center, which knocked off No. 1 Des Moines Christian in this year's semifinals, finished 32-4.

 

Read more from Jeff Linder: Davenport Assumption wins its first state volleyball championship

 

Box score: Final stats from Davenport Assumption-Sioux Center

Assumption goes up 2-0

 

Davenport Assumption closed the second set on a 12-3 run to win, 25-16, and go up 2-0 in the match against Sioux Center.

Assumption takes the first set

 

A close opening set in the Class 3A final went Davenport Assumption's way, 25-23. Ava Schubert closed it out with her seventh kill.

 

Sioux Center scored the first four points, but the Knights quickly recovered.

Watch the Class 3A championship

 

It's No. 2 Davenport Assumption (32-7) vs. No. 4 Sioux Center (32-3) at 2:30 p.m.

 

Cedar Rapids Xavier wins Class 4A state championship

 

Top-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier won its second state volleyball title in three years with a 25-16, 22-25, 25-23, 25-12 victory over No. 8 Clear Creek Amana.

 

Maci Kadlec and Libby Fandel starred for the Saints (33-4), Kadlec totaling 22 kills and 16 digs while Fandel, the all-tournament team captain, had 21 and 16. Anna Shoger had 53 assists and 16 digs and Brooklyn Miller had 27 digs.

 

The Clippers (34-11) set a school record for wins this season and knocked off three higher-ranked teams to get to the final. Bliss Beck led CCA with 13 kills and five total blocks.

 

Read more from Jeff Linder: Cedar Rapids Xavier sends its seniors, and its coach, out on top

 

Gallery from Savannah Blake: Photos from Cedar Rapids Xavier's win over Clear Creek Amana

 

Box score: Final stats from Cedar Rapids Xavier-Clear Creek Amana

 

Xavier’s championship moment. #iahsvb pic.twitter.com/idk8mtA8oI

— Jeff Linder (@jtlinder) November 3, 2022

Xavier takes Set 3

 

A Libby Fandel kill and Anna Shoger ace gave Cedar Rapids Xavier a 25-23 win over Clear Creek Amana in Set 3.

 

The Saints lead the match, 2-1.

CCA responds in Set 2

 

Clear Creek Amana led wire to wire in Set 2 to win, 25-22, and even the match with Cedar Rapids Xavier at 1-1.

Xavier wins the first set

 

Cedar Rapids Xavier started the opening set on an 8-2 run, then closed with the final six points to win 25-16 after Clear Creek Amana got within three.

 

Maci Kadlec (six) and Libby Fandel (five) combined for 11 kills as the Saints hit .310.

Watch the Class 4A championship

 

It's No. 1 Cedar Rapids Xavier (32-4) vs. No. 8 Clear Creek Amana (34-10) in the Class 4A state championship match at 12:15 p.m.

 

Iowa City Liberty wins Class 5A state volleyball championship

 

Top-ranked Iowa City Liberty dropped the first set, but rallied to take the next three to beat No. 3 Pleasant Valley in the Class 5A state volleyball championship, 20-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-22.

 

This is the Lightning's first state title in any sport.

 

All-tournament team captain Cassidy Hartman totaled 24 kills and 15 digs for Liberty (33-8). Shelby Kimm added 17 kills and 16 digs and Lilah VanScoyoc had 14 kills. Asta Hildebrand had 32 assists, Mariah Rollins 26. 

 

Halle Vice (14) led four PV (29-7) players with double-figure kills.

 

Read more from Jeff Linder: Iowa City Liberty wears the crown in Class 5A volleyball

 

Gallery from Savannah Blake: Photos from Iowa City Liberty's win over Pleasant Valley

 

Box score: Final stats from Iowa City Liberty-Pleasant Valley

 

That championship moment. #iahsvb pic.twitter.com/u0WN426SIU

— Jeff Linder (@jtlinder) November 3, 2022

Liberty takes a 2-1 lead

 

Shelby Kimm's 16th kill of the match closed out a 25-22 lead for Iowa City Liberty over Pleasant Valley in Set 3. She and Cassidy Hartman combined for 34 kills through three games.

Liberty evens the match at 1-1

 

Iowa City Liberty stormed back to take Set 2 over Pleasant Valley, 25-17.

 

The Lightning hit .368 in the set and PV didn't get a block after totaling eight in Game 1. Liberty's Shelby Kimm has 12 kills in the first two sets.

PV takes the first set

 

Pleasant Valley scored the last five points and won Set 1 over Iowa City Liberty, 25-20.

 

The Spartans racked up eight blocks in the set.

Watch the Class 5A championship

 

It's No. 1 Iowa City Liberty (32-8) vs. No. 3 Pleasant Valley (29-6) in the Class 5A state championship match at 10 a.m. 

 

How to watch state volleyball championships Thursday

 

TV: Iowa PBS

 

Live stream: IowaPBS.org, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

Thursday's state volleyball schedule

 

10 a.m. — Class 5A championship: No. 1 Iowa City Liberty (32-8) vs. No. 3 Pleasant Valley (29-6)

 

12:15 p.m. — Class 4A championship: No. 1 Cedar Rapids Xavier (32-4) vs. No. 8 Clear Creek Amana (34-10)

 

2:30 p.m. — Class 3A championship: No. 4 Sioux Center (32-3) vs. No. 2 Davenport Assumption (32-7)

 

4:45 p.m. — Class 2A championship: No. 1 Dike-New Hartford (44-2) vs. No. 2 Western Christian (42-5)

 

7 p.m. — Class 1A championship: No. 7 Ankeny Christian (38-3) vs. No. 4 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (34-9)

 

Here are the updated state volleyball pairings, scores and schedules in bracket order.