Senior outside hitter Kamryn Scheib has helped the Ankeny volleyball team to a 24-3 record and a No. 3 ranking in Class 5A. The Hawkettes won the Waukee Invitational on Saturday for the third consecutive year.
Scheib leads Ankeny with 184 kills and 23 aces. She has also contributed 189 digs.
Here is some inside info on Scheib:
Congratulations on an outstanding season thus far. What has been the highlight for you?
I definitely think that the highlight to this season was the Valley tournament (on Sept. 7). We played lights out against almost all of the teams, and going undefeated in that tournament was a big accomplishment because we haven’t been super successful winning tournaments.
Your team suffered its only loss in CIML Conference play at No. 8 Waukee on Sept. 10, but you avenged that loss on Saturday in the semifinals of the Waukee Invitational and went on to win the tournament. What was the difference in Saturday’s match against the Warriors?
Our performance in the previous match definitely didn’t go how we wanted it to. We didn’t play poorly, but we also didn’t play as a team and that killed us. Waukee had the momentum almost the entire game, and they played really well. On Saturday we played as a team. We knew we could beat them, and we stayed super confident and had high energy the entire match. It was a good match, but we defeated them!
In what ways do you think this team has shown the most growth since the beginning of the season?
Last year was a rollercoaster for us with all the injuries. We worked really hard this summer in the weight room to gain muscle and keep our strength up to prevent those type of injuries, and it has definitely helped us this season. We haven’t had much of a rollercoaster team like we did last year. We bond as a team really well, which definitely helps on the court.
Your team will host Southeast Polk on Tuesday before hosting its annual showdown against No. 1 Ankeny Centennial on Thursday. After dropping a five-set match to Centennial in last year’s Class 5A quarterfinals, have you thought about that match frequently over the last 11 months and has it provided any motivation for you?
I think about the quarterfinal match from state last year almost every single day. I watch it a lot to see what I could’ve done better and how I could’ve helped the team more. It’s super motivational to me because I know we have it in us, and we have to prove it on Thursday. Centennial is a really hard team to beat, but we have to stay determined this upcoming week and really lock in.
What do you think will be the keys to beating the Jaguars?
The key to beating Centennial is staying out of our own heads. This is a rivalry game that is one of the most intense games we will play all season. Staying calm and focused will lead us in a positive way and will help us on Thursday.
Ankeny will recognize the 20th anniversary of its 2004 state championship team on Thursday, as well as the school’s other championship squads since then. Will your sister McKenna be here, since she played on the last championship team in 2020?
Unfortunately, McKenna will not–she has a job in St. Louis which keeps her pretty busy. I look up to my sister, and she is one of my biggest supporters and inspires me to have a championship mindset.
What would that mean to you if you could close out your career with a state title of your own?
Winning state my senior year would be the biggest achievement. I’ve always wanted it, and we have worked so hard as a team. Ending my senior year with a championship would be one of the biggest dreams I could achieve.
Centennial is the third different No. 1 team in Class 5A following Pleasant Valley and Dowling Catholic. Do you think that shows that the Class 5A field is pretty wide open this season?
I definitely think rankings don’t mean much during the season. Everyone has off games, and it really just shows how a team can stay consistent and consistency is key to a championship team. The CIML is the best conference in 5A volleyball, and the top five teams are pretty equal in talent. Working as a team will make a difference in the rankings.
Your teammate and step-sister, Baileigh Carlsen, has committed to play for Auburn. After playing together all through high school, will it seem strange when the two of you are not teammates next year?
It’s gonna be tough playing without Baileigh, but I think she’s going to do great things at Auburn. She has worked so hard for it, and I am very proud of her. She deserves it, and I am excited to see where things will go. Playing without at least one sister will definitely be a big change, but it’s also a great opportunity.
You have committed to play next year for Bellevue University (Neb.). How is their season going, and do you think you’ll have a chance to get over there to catch a match?
Bellevue is currently 13-2. I am going to watch one of their matches on Oct. 12 in the morning, then I’m catching a Nebraska volleyball match that night.
You joined the Ankeny girls’ soccer team last spring and played a key role for the defensive unit, helping the Hawkettes to a 14-5 record and a trip to the Class 3A semifinals. Do you think training for and playing soccer provides any benefits for you on the volleyball court?
Playing soccer definitely helped with my athletic ability, and it made me in better shape for the volleyball season. I think it was a really good decision to play to help me stay in shape and work more on my foot work so it could help me in volleyball too. I am looking forward to the soccer season coming up here in 2025.
