Ankeny Fanatic

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Volleyball

The numbers behind Centennial’s stunning sweep over No. 1 Cedar Falls

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How did the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team pull off a stunning sweep in the Class 5A championship match against top-ranked Cedar Falls, which had dropped only two sets all year and entered the final with a 75-match winning streak? The numbers tell part of the story: * The Jaguars outhit Cedar Falls by a .266 to .168 margin. Both teams racked up 42 … [Read more...] about The numbers behind Centennial’s stunning sweep over No. 1 Cedar Falls

Jaguars outlast Valley in epic five-set semifinal thriller

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The jubilant voices of Ankeny Centennial volleyball players Devyn Robinson and Kenna Sauer could be heard in the bowels of the U.S. Cellular Center long before the duo entered the media interview room on Thursday at the state tournament in Cedar Rapids. When Robinson and Sauer finally made their entrance along with Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart, all … [Read more...] about Jaguars outlast Valley in epic five-set semifinal thriller

Jaguars hold off Dowling Catholic, earn rematch against No. 3 Valley

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There was no panic in the huddle after the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team lost to Dowling Catholic in Set 3 of a Class 5A quarterfinal at the state tournament on Tuesday. The Jaguars knew what they had to do. "I think what we have that the other teams don't is that we all trust each other," said Centennial middle hitter Megan Lively. "We all knew … [Read more...] about Jaguars hold off Dowling Catholic, earn rematch against No. 3 Valley

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Kenedy Balentine, Ankeny Centennial volleyball

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Senior Kenedy Balentine of the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Balentine has helped second-ranked Centennial to a 39-3 record and a sixth consecutive appearance in the state tournament. She had six digs to help the Jaguars to a victory over No. 7 Dowling Catholic in the Class 5A quarterfinals … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Kenedy Balentine, Ankeny Centennial volleyball

Jaguars, Hawkettes ready for showdowns against WDM rivals

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The second-ranked Ankeny Centennial volleyball team will face a familiar opponent in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state tournament on Tuesday. So will sixth-ranked Ankeny. The Jaguars (38-3) will play No. 7 Dowling Catholic (29-12) at noon on Court Two at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. The match will be followed by a showdown between … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawkettes ready for showdowns against WDM rivals

Jaguars, Hawkettes dominate all-conference volleyball team

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During the regular season, the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial volleyball teams dominated their other opponents in the CIML Central Conference, sweeping every match in three sets. That allowed the two squads to battle each other for the conference title on Oct. 2, when the Jaguars swept Ankeny on the Hawkettes' home court. It's not a surprise, then, that … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawkettes dominate all-conference volleyball team

Sweet and Sauer: Centennial star earns All-American honors

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It isn't easy for someone to stand out on the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team. Senior outside hitter Kenna Sauer still manages to do it. Sauer, who has led the Jaguars to a 38-3 record and a trip to next week's state tournament, has been named to the 13th annual Under Armour All-America teams. She was a second-team selection. "I honestly didn't … [Read more...] about Sweet and Sauer: Centennial star earns All-American honors

The tradition continues: Jaguars advance to state for 6th straight year

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For many high school volleyball teams in Iowa, earning a trip to the state tournament in Cedar Rapids is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But Ankeny Centennial is not an ordinary volleyball program. For the second-ranked Jaguars, qualifying for state has become an annual tradition. Centennial advanced to the Class 5A tournament with a 25-6, 25-14, … [Read more...] about The tradition continues: Jaguars advance to state for 6th straight year

State volleyball tourney berths on the line at Ankeny, Centennial

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Just one more win is all that separates the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial volleyball teams from earning a trip to next week's Class 5A state tournament. Both squads will host a regional final on Monday at 7 p.m. The second-ranked Jaguars (37-3) will face Sioux City East (20-20), while the No. 6 Hawkettes (30-12) will meet Ames (12-23) for the third time … [Read more...] about State volleyball tourney berths on the line at Ankeny, Centennial

Jaguars sweep Roosevelt, will host S.C. East in regional final

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As far as the Ankeny Centennial volleyball players were concerned, it didn't really matter who was on the other side of the net on Tuesday. The goal for the Jaguars was simply to play their game. Mission accomplished. Second-ranked Centennial rolled to a 25-7, 25-11, 25-18 victory over visiting Des Moines Roosevelt in a Class 5A regional semifinal. … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep Roosevelt, will host S.C. East in regional final

Jaguars to begin postseason run against Des Moines Roosevelt

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball players have had a full week to prepare for postseason play. The second-ranked Jaguars (36-3) closed out the regular season on Oct. 15 with a five-set loss to Omaha Marian, the No. 4 team in Nebraska's Class A. The Crusaders have won four of the last five Class A titles. "We got a competitive match, and that's what we … [Read more...] about Jaguars to begin postseason run against Des Moines Roosevelt

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Ari Winters, Ankeny Centennial volleyball

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Senior Ari Winters has helped the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team to a 36-3 record and a No. 2 ranking in Class 5A. She had 16 kills and six blocks as the Jaguars closed out the regular season on Oct. 15 with a five-set loss to Omaha (Neb.) Marian. Winters ranks second on the team with 256 kills. She has compiled a .294 hitting percentage. Here is … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Ari Winters, Ankeny Centennial volleyball

Jaguars ‘can only go up from here’ after losing to Omaha Marian

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If the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team goes on to win the Class 5A state title, none of the Jaguars will care about Monday's loss to Omaha (Neb.) Marian. Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart certainly won't. She scheduled the match because she wanted to challenge her players before the start of tournament play. "We wanted to see if there were things we … [Read more...] about Jaguars ‘can only go up from here’ after losing to Omaha Marian

Jaguars capture outright CIML Central Conference championship

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team captured the outright CIML Central Conference crown on Tuesday. Now, the Jaguars can focus on winning the championship that they really want--the Class 5A state title. "One of our team's goals this season was to win the conference, so we stepped on the court to do just that," Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart said … [Read more...] about Jaguars capture outright CIML Central Conference championship

Jaguars raise their game to new level, capture Westside Invite crown

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If the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team wants to win a fourth state title in five years, the Jaguars will have to take their game to a higher level. On Saturday, they may have done just that. Second-ranked Centennial went a perfect 6-0 on the day to capture the Westside Invitational title at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. The Jaguars posted a 25-16, 25-19 … [Read more...] about Jaguars raise their game to new level, capture Westside Invite crown

Class 5A volleyball pairings announced: Centennial, Ankeny will host semifinals

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The road to Cedar Rapids will go through Ankeny for both of Ankeny's ranked volleyball teams. Neither second-ranked Ankeny Centennial nor No. 6 Ankeny will have to leave town in order to qualify for the Class 5A state tournament. "When it came out (Tuesday), the girls had (the pairings) pulled up on the bus," Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart said on … [Read more...] about Class 5A volleyball pairings announced: Centennial, Ankeny will host semifinals

Jaguars sweep past Ankeny, clinch share of Central Conference crown

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There was more at stake on Tuesday than the CIML Central Conference volleyball title. The crosstown bragging rights were also on the line. After posting a five-set victory at Ankeny last year, second-ranked Ankeny Centennial needed just three sets to defeat the No. 6 Hawkettes on their home court this season. The Jaguars rolled to a 25-20, 25-22, 25-13 … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep past Ankeny, clinch share of Central Conference crown