• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

  • Home
  • About
    • Support Us
  • News
    • Podcast
  • Hawks
    • Baseball
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Softball
      • Roster
      • Schedule
  • Jaguars
    • Baseball
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Softball
      • Roster
      • Schedule

‘We’re going to be a fun, athletic team’: Jaguars to rely heavily on Pratt, Miller

August 20, 2023 by Dan Holm

Ankeny Centennial’s Jaeden Pratt celebrates after recording a kill in the Jaguars’ win over Dowling Catholic in the Class 5A quarterfinals at last year’s state tournament. Pratt was a second-team all-state selection as a sophomore. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Despite losing six key players from last year’s team, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball squad still has plenty of reasons for optimism.

The Jaguars boast two of the state’s top juniors in Delaney Miller and Jaeden Pratt. They helped lead the team to a 30-10 record and a trip to the Class 5A semifinals a year ago.

“The practices have been going well,” said Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart. “The girls worked extremely hard all summer and have been focusing in this preseason to be ready for the start of the season. The energy, focus and drive have consistently been there, and everyone is excited to get started.”

Pratt had 216 kills and a team-high 97 blocks while hitting .349 as a sophomore. She was also one of the team’s best servers, completing 364-of-386 attempts (94.3 percent) with 30 aces.

Pratt was named to the Class 5A all-state second team by the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association. She was also a Class 5A all-tournament pick and a CIML Conference first-team selection.

Pratt, who is being heavily recruited for basketball, could be a volleyball prospect, too.

“She’s just a great athlete,” Rinehart said. “We moved her to the outside in order to leave her on the court for six rotations. She’s done a great job adjusting to the new role and will be fun to watch both offensively and defensively.”

Ankeny Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart watches as Delaney Miller digs up a ball during the Jaguars’ victory over Des Moines Roosevelt in last year’s regional tournament. Miller is one of five returning varsity regulars for the Jaguars. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Miller will also be a force on the outside after leading the Jaguars with 270 kills last season. She added 121 digs and 39 aces.

Miller was named to the CIML Conference second team. She also joined Pratt on the Class 5A West all-district team.

“She’s coming off a great club season,” Rinehart said. “Her team played at a high level and faced good competition. She looks great and has been carrying a big load throughout the summer.”

Senior middle hitter Anna Sash is the team’s other returning starter. She had 148 kills while hitting .268 a year ago and placed second on the team with 79 blocks.

“She’s entered her senior year on a mission,” Rinehart said. “She’s been a great leader for us on and off the court. She has a huge presence in the middle, and we expect her to do big things.”

Senior Kambria Leazer and sophomore Mya Lei-Butters are the team’s other returning varsity regulars.

Leazer will likely take over the setting duties following the graduation of Reagan Angus. She played in 29 matches last season, contributing 154 assists and 24 blocks.

“Kam had a great off-season as well,” Rinehart said. “She ran track and played club and has come back ready to run our offense. We’ve been going between a 5-1 and 6-2 and expect Kam to play a big role in that.”

Ankeny Centennial’s Kambria Leazer sets the ball for one of her teammates during the Jaguars’ win over Sioux City West in last year’s regional tournament. Leazer will take over the setter position following the graduation of Reagan Angus. (Photo by Dan Holm)

Lei-Butters, a defensive specialist, played in all 40 matches as a freshman and racked up 124 digs. She also had 28 aces.

Lei-Butters will take over the libero position that was filled last year by Taylor Bechen.

“She played three rotations for us last year on defense,” Rinehart said. “She’s got a natural feel for the game and has been really steady and consistent for us in the libero position.”

Rinehart said she expects the five returnees to share the leadership duties along with a strong group of seniors.

“Our program has always put a heavy emphasis on seniors leading the way, and that has typically led us to really great places,” she said. “We have an awesome senior class, and we’re excited to see how far they can push our team.”

Centennial will open the season on Monday by hosting a non-conference match against Indianola. The Jaguars will host Waukee in their CIML Conference opener on Tuesday, then will host the Centennial Invitational on Saturday.

Rinehart said the Jaguars are splitting the season into three separate “chunks”.

“Our goals in this first chunk are to continue to fight to improve every time we take the court,” she said. “With a younger team and new roles we may have to experience some growing pains, but we plan to continue to communicate through those and get back in the gym and work on whatever areas need to get stronger. Ultimately it’s always a goal in this program to get to state and to win games down there, but right now we’re going to keep our focus on the first third of the season. I think we’re going to be a fun, athletic team to watch. We have a lot of depth which I think will help us reach high levels.”

Filed Under: Jaguars, Volleyball Tagged With: Jessica Rinehart

Primary Sidebar

Support Ankeny Fanatic

Recent Posts

  • Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 311
  • After losing on walk-off blast in 8th inning, Jaguars rally past Urbandale to earn split
  • Hawkettes rally from 9-2 deficit, defeat Valley on Nelson’s walk-off double in 8th
  • No. 8 Valley snaps Hawks’ winning streak, moves closer to CIML Conference crown
  • Jaguars sweep Urbandale to close out regular season, could face J-Hawks again

Find Us on Facebook

Ankeny Fanatic

Archives

  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017

Categories

  • Hawks
    • Fall
      • Boys’ Cross Country
      • Boys’ Golf
      • Football
      • Girls’ Cross Country
      • Girls’ Swimming
      • Volleyball
    • Spring
      • Boys’ Soccer
      • Boys’ Tennis
      • Boys’ Track
      • Girls’ Golf
      • Girls’ Soccer
      • Girls’ Tennis
      • Girls’ Track
    • Summer
      • Baseball
      • Softball
        • Roster
    • Winter
      • Boys’ Basketball
      • Boys’ Bowling
      • Boys’ Swimming
      • Girls’ Basketball
      • Girls’ Bowling
      • Boys’ Wrestling
  • Jaguars
    • Fall
      • Boys’ Cross Country
      • Boys’ Golf
      • Football
      • Girls’ Cross Country
      • Girls’ Swimming
      • Volleyball
    • Spring
      • Boys’ Soccer
      • Boys’ Tennis
      • Boys’ Track
      • Girls’ Golf
      • Girls’ Soccer
      • Girls’ Tennis
      • Girls’ Track
    • Summer
      • Baseball
      • Softball
    • Winter
      • Boys’ Basketball
      • Girls’ Basketball
      • Wrestling
  • Top Sports Stories
    • Football
    • Volleyball
  • Baseball
  • Softball

© 2025 Ankeny Fanatic. All rights reserved.