Ankeny Fanatic

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Volleyball

‘This was a good time to step away’: State’s all-time winningest coach retires

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Ankeny volleyball coach Dave Whims has retired again. Whims, who came out of retirement to coach the Hawkettes for a second stint in 2019, said this time he won't be coming back. "I'll do some consulting with coaches, and I'll share videos and drills with them," Whims said. "I think that'll keep me busy. But as far as being a head coach somewhere, I … [Read more...] about ‘This was a good time to step away’: State’s all-time winningest coach retires

‘When I went to Kearney, it felt like home’: Stephens to play volleyball for Lopers

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It took awhile, but Lexi Stephens finally found the college that was the right fit for her. Ankeny's senior libero has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball next year at Nebraska-Kearney, an NCAA Division II program. "When I went to Kearney and met the team, it felt like home," said Stephens. "They welcomed me and made me feel extremely … [Read more...] about ‘When I went to Kearney, it felt like home’: Stephens to play volleyball for Lopers

Reynolds earns repeat all-state honors; ACA’s Quick named to Class 1A 3rd team

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Ankeny volleyball standout Ava Reynolds has been named to the Class 5A all-state first team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association for the second year in a row. Reynolds,a senior outside hitter, led the Hawkettes to a 40-6 record and a semifinal appearance in the Class 5A state tournament. She racked up a team-high 435 kills while posting a .341 hitting … [Read more...] about Reynolds earns repeat all-state honors; ACA’s Quick named to Class 1A 3rd team

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Olivia Harpenau, Ankeny volleyball

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Senior middle hitter Olivia Harpenau helped the Ankeny volleyball team to a 40-6 record this season. She had three kills and a match-high five blocks on Wednesday in the Hawkettes' loss to Pleasant Valley in the Class 5A semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. Harpenau placed third on the team with 195 kills. She was second among the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Olivia Harpenau, Ankeny volleyball

Reynolds joins Anderson, Mirembe as repeat picks on all-conference first team

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The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial volleyball teams each placed three players on the CIML Iowa Conference first team. The Hawkettes and Jaguars, who tied for the league crown with newcomer Waukee Northwest, had six of the eight first-team selections. Ankeny was represented by senior outside hitter Ava Reynolds, senior libero Lexi Stephens and sophomore … [Read more...] about Reynolds joins Anderson, Mirembe as repeat picks on all-conference first team

Reynolds earns repeat all-tournament honors after leading Ankeny to semifinals

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Ankeny volleyball standout Ava Reynolds has been named to the Class 5A all-tournament team for the second straight year. Reynolds had 19 kills, 11 digs and four blocks in the Hawkettes' loss to eventual champion Pleasant Valley in Wednesday's semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. On Monday, she pounded 27 kills as Ankeny rallied for … [Read more...] about Reynolds earns repeat all-tournament honors after leading Ankeny to semifinals

‘We fell to a better team’: Hawkettes’ bid for repeat crown ends with loss to PV

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A talented squad with a lot of motivation proved to be a bad combination for the Ankeny volleyball team on Wednesday. Second-ranked Pleasant Valley posted a 25-16, 32-30, 15-25, 25-17 victory over the No. 3 Hawkettes in the Class 5A semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. The Spartans avenged last year's five-set loss to Ankeny in the … [Read more...] about ‘We fell to a better team’: Hawkettes’ bid for repeat crown ends with loss to PV

Another 5-setter?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

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If Wednesday's semifinal matches in the Class 5A state volleyball tournament are half as entertaining as Monday's quarterfinal matches, then the fans at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse will be in for a treat. Monday's action included a pair of five-set thrillers. Third-ranked Ankeny outlasted No. 6 Urbandale despite scoring five fewer points overall, while … [Read more...] about Another 5-setter?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

SURVIVE AND ADVANCE: Hawkettes outlast Urbandale, Dykstra in 5 sets

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University of Minnesota football coach PJ Fleck provided some inspiration for the Ankeny volleyball team on Monday. After the third-ranked Hawkettes lost two of the first three sets against No. 6 Urbandale in the Class 5A quarterfinals, Ankeny coach Dave Whims channeled his inner Fleck before the fourth set. "The girls were kind of down after losing … [Read more...] about SURVIVE AND ADVANCE: Hawkettes outlast Urbandale, Dykstra in 5 sets

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 U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. We already know that at least one CIML team will advance to the Class 5A semifinals on Wednesday. Defending champion Ankeny will face CIML rival Urbandale in one of the four quarterfinal matchups. Three other CIML teams are in the Class 5A field, … [Read more...] about State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals

Hawkettes roll past Iowa City High, will play Urbandale in 5A quarterfinals

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There was no chance that the Ankeny volleyball team was going to overlook Iowa City High on Tuesday. Not with a trip to the state tournament at stake. The third-ranked Hawkettes romped to a 25-12, 25-19, 25-9 victory over No. 13 City High in a Class 5A regional final at Ankeny. "It's an amazing feeling to be going back to the Cell (U.S. Cellular … [Read more...] about Hawkettes roll past Iowa City High, will play Urbandale in 5A quarterfinals

Surging Hawkettes sweep Waukee, will host Iowa City High in regional final

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The Ankeny volleyball team is finally healthy after battling some illnesses for much of the season. That could spell trouble for the Hawkettes' opponents. Third-ranked Ankeny opened postseason play on Thursday with a sweep over visiting Waukee in a Class 5A regional semifinal. They posted a 25-9, 25-13, 25-14 victory to defeat the Warriors for the … [Read more...] about Surging Hawkettes sweep Waukee, will host Iowa City High in regional final

Whims returns to bench, Hawkettes sweep Ames to tie for league crown

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Ankeny volleyball coach Dave Whims appears to be on the road to recovery. His team has bounced back just fine from a loss to Ankeny Centennial last month. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes closed out the regular season on Tuesday with a sweep over visiting Ames on Senior Night. They rolled to a 25-6, 25-12, 25-12 victory to earn a share of the CIML Iowa … [Read more...] about Whims returns to bench, Hawkettes sweep Ames to tie for league crown

Ankeny tops City High to win Bettendorf title in possible preview of regional final

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The long road trip to Bettendorf doesn't seem to bother the Ankeny volleyball players. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes captured the title at the Bettendorf Invitational on Saturday, going a perfect 5-0 in the round-robin tournament. They won the Bettendorf crown for the fifth straight time. Ankeny also claimed the title in 2016-19 before last year's … [Read more...] about Ankeny tops City High to win Bettendorf title in possible preview of regional final

Hawkettes, Jaguars could meet in Class 5A quarterfinals for 2nd straight year

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The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial volleyball teams collided in the quarterfinals of last year's Class 5A state tournament. There's a chance that it could happen again this season. The Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union announced its regional pairings on Thursday. Centennial has been placed in Region 3, while Ankeny is in Region 4. The defending … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars could meet in Class 5A quarterfinals for 2nd straight year

Hawkettes sweep Marshalltown, move into tie for first place in Iowa Conference

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Tuesday was a good night for the Ankeny volleyball team. Not only did the fifth-ranked Hawkettes bounce back from last week's loss to Ankeny Centennial with a sweep at Marshalltown, but the Jaguars' loss to Waukee Northwest allowed Ankeny to move into a first-place tie with those two teams atop the CIML Iowa Conference. All three squads are now 4-1 with … [Read more...] about Hawkettes sweep Marshalltown, move into tie for first place in Iowa Conference

‘We wanted it so bad’: Centennial girls sweep to victory over Hawkettes

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For the last two weeks, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team focused most of its attention on third-ranked Ankeny. Not even an injury to one of their top players could prevent the No. 7 Jaguars from knocking off their crosstown rival. Centennial moved into sole possession of first place in the CIML Iowa Conference with a 28-26, 31-29, 25-23 victory at … [Read more...] about ‘We wanted it so bad’: Centennial girls sweep to victory over Hawkettes