The 2004-05 school year was a memorable one for Ankeny High School's athletic teams. The volleyball team won the first state title in school history. A few months later, the girls' basketball squad captured a record fourth consecutive five-player crown. It's hard to believe that was 20 years ago. In honor of those two achievements, Ankeny High … [Read more...] about Ankeny to celebrate 20th anniversary of volleyball, girls’ basketball state titles
Volleyball
Ex-Ankeny setter Wallace transfers from William Jewell to Pittsburg State
By all accounts, former Ankeny volleyball standout Jesa Wallace had a productive freshman season at William Jewell College. She wasn't sure, though, if the Cardinals would even field a team next year. "Entering the transfer portal definitely wasn’t on my radar, but there was a lot of things going on that were out of my control at Jewell," said Wallace, … [Read more...] about Ex-Ankeny setter Wallace transfers from William Jewell to Pittsburg State
Centennial trio, Ankeny quartet receive all-state volleyball honors from IGCA
Several volleyball players from Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial have received postseason honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association and the coaches in the CIML Conference. Centennial standouts Delaney Miller and Jaeden Pratt were both selected to the Class 5A all-state first team by the IGCA. The junior outside hitters led the Jaguars to a 31-7 record … [Read more...] about Centennial trio, Ankeny quartet receive all-state volleyball honors from IGCA
‘I was fighting for my team’: Sash leads Centennial past Hawkettes in thriller
It's a shame that one team had to lose in the Jag-Hawk matchup at the state volleyball tournament on Monday. Both squads played well enough to win the Class 5A quarterfinal at Xtream Arena in Coralville. In the end, second-ranked Ankeny Centennial held on for a 25-16, 25-12, 22-25, 14-25, 15-12 victory over No. 7 Ankeny, which nearly overcame a huge … [Read more...] about ‘I was fighting for my team’: Sash leads Centennial past Hawkettes in thriller
‘That was a tough match’: Jaguars outlast Ankeny to advance to Class 5A semifinals
Monday's Jag-Hawk rematch in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state volleyball tournament lived up to the pre-match hype. Second-ranked Ankeny Centennial held off a furious rally by No. 7 Ankeny to post a 25-16, 25-12, 22-25, 14-25, 15-12 victory at the Xtream Arena in Coralville. The Jaguars (31-6) will play No. 3 Waukee Northwest or No. 6 Cedar Falls … [Read more...] about ‘That was a tough match’: Jaguars outlast Ankeny to advance to Class 5A semifinals
State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals
The state volleyball tournament gets under way on Monday at the Xtream Arena in Coralville. We already know that at least one team from Ankeny will advance to the Class 5A semifinals on Wednesday. Ankeny will face Ankeny Centennial in one of the four quarterfinal matchups. The tournament kicks off at noon on Court One, where Dowling Catholic will meet … [Read more...] about State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals
‘Unfinished business’: Hawkettes qualify for state, get rematch vs. Centennial
The Ankeny volleyball team got the rematch that many of the Hawkettes wanted. After sweeping visiting Iowa City Liberty in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday, seventh-ranked Ankeny will face No. 2 Ankeny Centennial in the quarterfinals of the state tournament on Monday at Xtream Arena in Coralville, beginning at 12:25 p.m. "I would love to go against … [Read more...] about ‘Unfinished business’: Hawkettes qualify for state, get rematch vs. Centennial
Hawkettes roll past Urbandale, will play Iowa City Liberty for trip to state tourney
The beat goes on for the Ankeny volleyball team. Another injury struck the seventh-ranked Hawkettes, and the players responded with a shrug of their shoulders. With starting middle hitter Ava Wille out of the lineup due to a knee injury, Ankeny rolled to a 25-18, 25-11, 25-9 victory over visiting Urbandale in a Class 5A regional semifinal on … [Read more...] about Hawkettes roll past Urbandale, will play Iowa City Liberty for trip to state tourney
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 236
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the start of the volleyball postseason with junior outside hitter Delaney Miller of Ankeny Centennial and junior libero Baileigh Carlsen of Ankeny. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 236
Hawkettes sweep Valley to avenge pair of losses, finish 4th in CIML Conference
In two previous matchups against sixth-ranked Valley, the No. 8 Ankeny volleyball team was unable to get over the hump. The third time proved to be a charm. The Hawkettes closed out their CIML Conference schedule on Tuesday with a 27-25, 25-14, 25-22 victory over visiting Valley. "It was an emotional Senior Night, but the team came to play," said … [Read more...] about Hawkettes sweep Valley to avenge pair of losses, finish 4th in CIML Conference
‘I’m not one to look back’: Ankeny sweeps to victory over Baethke’s former team
Ankeny volleyball coach Liz Baethke was happy that her team took care of business quickly. The eighth-ranked Hawkettes rolled to a 25-14, 25-16, 25-14 victory over visiting Urbandale on Thursday. It marked the first time that Baethke has faced her former team. She coached the J-Hawks for 23 years before leaving over the summer to take the reins of the … [Read more...] about ‘I’m not one to look back’: Ankeny sweeps to victory over Baethke’s former team
Regional volleyball pairings announced by Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union
The Class 5A regional volleyball pairings have been announced by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Second-ranked Ankeny Centennial (22-5) has received a first-round bye in Region 2. The Jaguars will host Iowa City West (6-18) or Waterloo East (6-19) in a regional semifinal on Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. No. 15 Council Bluffs Lincoln (17-18) will host … [Read more...] about Regional volleyball pairings announced by Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union
‘We just kept fighting’: Jaguars rally from 2-0 deficit to defeat Ankeny in 5 sets
There have been only three five-set matches in the storied history of the Ankeny vs. Ankeny Centennial volleyball rivalry. Tuesday's showdown at Centennial may have been the best of those three matches. After dropping the first two sets, the second-ranked Jaguars rallied for an 18-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-11 victory over No. 5 Ankeny to take an 8-7 … [Read more...] about ‘We just kept fighting’: Jaguars rally from 2-0 deficit to defeat Ankeny in 5 sets
Ankeny Fanatic’s prediction for the Jag-Hawk volleyball showdown
Tuesday's CIML Conference volleyball showdown between Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial will break a 7-7 tie in the all-time series. Neither team has ever won more than three straight matches against its crosstown rival. The Hawkettes won both meetings last year, but the Jaguars defeated Ankeny earlier this season at the Centennial Invitational and will also … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic’s prediction for the Jag-Hawk volleyball showdown
‘It was a rough day’: Hawkettes finish 2-3 at W-SR Invitational without top hitter
Injuries have been a problem all season for the Ankeny volleyball team. Now, the Hawkettes are dealing with some sickness as well. Junior outside hitter Kamryn Scheib, who leads the team with 203 kills, was out of the lineup on Saturday as fifth-ranked Ankeny traveled to the Waverly-Shell Rock Invitational. "It was a rough day," said Ankeny coach … [Read more...] about ‘It was a rough day’: Hawkettes finish 2-3 at W-SR Invitational without top hitter
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 233 (Part 2)
In part two of the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the Ankeny volleyball team's injury-riddled campaign and looks ahead to the rest of the season with first-year coach Liz Baethke and junior outside hitter Kamryn Scheib. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 233 (Part 2)
‘They didn’t make many mistakes at all’: Waukee NW avenges 2 losses to Ankeny
Liz Baethke has never seen anything like this. Her Ankeny volleyball program continues to be decimated by injuries. The fifth-ranked Hawkettes were swept by No. 3 Waukee Northwest on Tuesday at the AHS gym, where an Ankeny freshman earlier suffered an ACL tear. "I don't know what's happening here, but it's not good," Baethke said after the Wolves … [Read more...] about ‘They didn’t make many mistakes at all’: Waukee NW avenges 2 losses to Ankeny
‘It hurt really bad’: Torn UCL in right elbow will likely end Schrader’s season
Ankeny volleyball standout Aowyn Schrader has likely played her final high school match. The senior outside hitter has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in her right elbow and is doubtful to return this season. "I got a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection that hopefully makes me not have to do surgery," Schrader said following … [Read more...] about ‘It hurt really bad’: Torn UCL in right elbow will likely end Schrader’s season
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Baileigh Carlsen, Ankeny volleyball
Junior libero Baileigh Carlsen has helped the fifth-ranked Ankeny volleyball team to a 17-7 record. She had 10 digs and two aces on Tuesday as the Hawkettes posted a 25-21, 25-14, 25-16 victory at Southeast Polk to improve their mark to 3-1 in the CIML Conference. Carlsen leads Class 5A and ranks 19th in the entire state with 292 digs. She has completed … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Baileigh Carlsen, Ankeny volleyball
‘We did what we needed to do’: Ankeny overcomes lack of energy to sweep SEP
In a long season, there are some nights when the Ankeny volleyball team won't bring its "A" game. Tuesday was one of those nights. Still, the third-ranked Hawkettes rolled to a 25-21, 25-14, 25-16 victory at Southeast Polk in a CIML Conference match. "I was hoping for a little more energy," said Ankeny coach Liz Baethke. "We came in kind of flat, … [Read more...] about ‘We did what we needed to do’: Ankeny overcomes lack of energy to sweep SEP