Last year, the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial volleyball teams met in the state tournament for the second time–with the Jaguars prevailing in a five-set thriller in the Class 5A quarterfinals.
This year, the two teams could meet in the Class 5A semifinals.
Centennial dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 in the final Class 5A rankings on Monday after falling to then-No. 2 Pleasant Valley in the semifinals of the Westside Invitational on Oct. 12 at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. The Spartans (30-2) took over the No. 1 spot heading into postseason play.
Ankeny (34-4) remained No. 3 and could potentially meet Centennial (29-4) in the semifinals next month at Coralville, assuming that Pleasant Valley also makes it to the state tournament. If the Spartans were to get upset in regional play, the Jaguars and Hawkettes would then become the top two seeds in Class 5A and could meet in the championship match.
Ankeny and Centennial also met in the Class 5A quarterfinals in 2020. The Hawkettes won a four-set match that year and went on to capture their fifth state title.
Two-time defending champion Ankeny Christian Academy (34-5) remained the No. 1 team in Class 1A. The Eagles will host a regional quarterfinal on Wednesday against the winner of Monday’s match between Melcher-Dallas (8-12) and East Union (4-24).
Centennial will host a regional semifinal on Thursday against the winner of Tuesday’s match between Urbandale (3-29) and Des Moines East (6-21). Ankeny will host a regional semifinal on Thursday against the winner of Tuesday’s match between Cedar Rapids Jefferson (6-27) and Cedar Rapids Washington (2-29).