The Valley High School gym is turning into a second home for the Ankeny volleyball team.
After sweeping their CIML Conference opener on Tuesday at Valley, the fourth-ranked Hawkettes returned to the Bill Coldiron Fieldhouse on Saturday and captured the championship of the Marj White Classic. They won all five of their matches in the round-robin event, four of them against top-10 opponents.
“I think the key to our success was that we all did our part to contribute to the wins,” said Ankeny middle hitter Reagan Hanfelt, whose team is now 13-1 on the season. “Everyone played so hard, and it was such a great point in our season for us to have (it), especially this early on.”
Ankeny opened the tournament with a 21-11, 21-18 win over No. 7 Waukee Northwest, the defending Class 5A state champion. Olivia Eike had seven kills as the Hawkettes defeated Northwest for the second time in eight days.
Hanfelt contributed two blocks, while Baileigh Carlsen had eight digs. Gracyn Adams and Ilana Coleman each added a pair of aces.
“I thought we jumped out to a great start on the day vs. Northwest,” said Ankeny coach Liz Baethke. “We looked rested and ready to go. Our ball control was consistent, and our offense is starting to evolve. We were able to run a faster tempo and get the ball to our hitters. Defensively, we blocked decent and had some incredible touches on the ball. Our dig to termination ratio was amazing. I’m so proud of this team!”
Ankeny followed with a 21-12, 21-16 victory over No. 9 Waukee. Those two teams will meet again on Tuesday in a conference match at Waukee.
Hanfelt had eight kills and two blocks in the win. Miya Steinkamp recorded nine assists.
Ankeny then outlasted No. 1 Dowling Catholic in its next match, 21-19, 19-21, 16-14. The Hawkettes lost both meetings against Dowling last season, including one at the Valley tournament.
Eike had nine kills in the win. Hanfelt and Kamryn Scheib each had seven kills, and Maya Ridgeway added six.
Adams dished out 14 assists. Steinkamp chipped in eight.
“Our setters are doing an amazing job figuring out the game,” Hanfelt said. “I think that beating all of these teams was very fun and exciting, and it really is good for our confidence because we can now see how we should play and how we are capable of playing every time!”
Hanfelt also completed all 14 of her serves in the win over Dowling. She had three aces.
Carlsen led the defensive effort. She racked up 13 digs.
Ankeny also won a three-set match against No. 10 Iowa City Liberty. After dropping the first set, the Hawkettes rallied for a 19-21, 21-15, 15-9 victory.
Hanfelt had eight kills and six blocks in the match. Steinkamp dished out 13 assists, and Carlsen had 20 digs.
Ankeny then capped off its perfect day with a 21-15, 21-19 win over Valley, defeating the Tigers for the second time in five days. Scheib had 10 kills and two aces, Adams had 10 assists and 11 digs, and Eike added three blocks.
The Hawkettes will take a six-match winning streak into Tuesday’s battle at Waukee. The Warriors are also 1-0 in the league after sweeping Johnston on Thursday.
