The state of volleyball in the city of Ankeny couldn’t be much better.
Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny are ranked in the top two spots in Class 5A in the latest rankings from the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union.
The Jaguars (10-2) moved into the No. 1 spot after winning the Little Hawk Invitational on Saturday at Iowa City High for the fourth straight year. They followed that up with an impressive sweep over visiting Urbandale on Tuesday.
Centennial is the only team that has defeated No. 5 Indianola (11-1). The Jaguars also knocked off preseason No. 1 Pleasant Valley at the Centennial Invitational on Aug. 31.
Ankeny (13-2), meanwhile, moved up two spots from No. 4 after winning the Marj White Classic on Saturday at Valley. The Hawkettes defeated four top-10 opponents at the tournament, including then-No. 1 Dowling Catholic.
That win over the Maroons (11-3), who are now ranked third, allowed Ankeny to move up despite Tuesday’s loss at Waukee. The No. 8 Warriors are one of five teams from the CIML Conference in the top 10; they are one spot behind crosstown rival Waukee Northwest.
The best team in Ankeny might be Ankeny Christian Academy, the two-time defending state champion in Class 1A. The Eagles are 8-2 and have been ranked No. 1 all season.
Ankeny Christian lost to Ankeny at the Ankeny Quadrangular on Aug. 27, but avenged that loss in the semifinals of the Centennial tournament four days later. The Eagles then defeated Dowling in the championship match.