Ankeny Fanatic

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Volleyball

Ankeny Christian wins Centennial Invite; Hawkettes, Jaguars tumble in semifinals

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All three of Ankeny's highly-ranked volleyball teams reached the semifinals of the Ankeny Centennial Invitational on Saturday. In the end, the smallest school emerged as the winner of the tournament. Top-ranked Ankeny Christian Academy, the two-time defending state champion in Class 1A, posted a 25-18, 21-25, 15-13 victory over Dowling Catholic in the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Christian wins Centennial Invite; Hawkettes, Jaguars tumble in semifinals

Hawkettes hold off Ankeny Christian Academy to win Ankeny Quadrangular

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Two miles are all that separate Ankeny High School and Ankeny Christian Academy. Despite preseason scrimmages and players joining up together on club teams, the Hawkette and Eagle volleyball teams had never faced each other in a regular season matchup. Well the stars finally aligned as the Hawkettes hosted a … [Read more...] about Hawkettes hold off Ankeny Christian Academy to win Ankeny Quadrangular

‘The seeds have been planted’: Hawkettes seek more growth in Baethke’s 2nd year

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Liz Baethke feels a lot more comfortable now as the head coach of the Ankeny volleyball team. The Hawkettes feel a lot more comfortable with her, too. Baethke took over the program in the summer of 2023 and guided Ankeny to a 24-15 record in her first season. The Hawkettes qualified for the state tournament before falling to Ankeny Centennial in five … [Read more...] about ‘The seeds have been planted’: Hawkettes seek more growth in Baethke’s 2nd year

Ankeny to celebrate 20th anniversary of volleyball, girls’ basketball state titles

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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

Ex-Ankeny setter Wallace transfers from William Jewell to Pittsburg State

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Hawkettes sweep Valley to avenge pair of losses, finish 4th in CIML Conference

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

‘They didn’t make many mistakes at all’: Waukee NW avenges 2 losses to Ankeny

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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