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Ballenger sparks Wayne State to victory over No. 6 Concordia St. Paul

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Ankeny High School's all-time kills leader has become an offensive force at the NCAA Division II volleyball level. Alyssa Ballenger pounded a career-high 18 kills to lead Wayne State College (Neb.) to a victory at sixth-ranked Concordia St. Paul on Saturday at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul. The sophomore outside hitter racked up a .472 hitting … [Read more...] about Ballenger sparks Wayne State to victory over No. 6 Concordia St. Paul

Gray, Gophers earn automatic bid to NCAA Tournament

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Megan Gray and the Minnesota women's soccer team are headed to the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers were on the NCAA bubble before knocking off 15th-ranked Penn State in penalty kicks, 5-4, to win the Big Ten Tournament title and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. "It was always something we were working toward … [Read more...] about Gray, Gophers earn automatic bid to NCAA Tournament

Bravo Kelso! UNI’s Yarrow named to all-MVC 1st team

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Former Ankeny soccer star Kelsey Yarrow has been named to the all-Missouri Valley Conference first team after leading the Northern Iowa women's team to a 9-7-3 record this season. Yarrow, a senior midfielder, was the Panthers' second-leading scorer with five goals, including two game-winning goals. She also contributed two assists. Yarrow started every … [Read more...] about Bravo Kelso! UNI’s Yarrow named to all-MVC 1st team

Augustana’s Legg named NSIC Freshman of the Year

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Former Ankeny soccer star Alexis Legg has been named the Freshman of the Year in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. She was also named to the all-NSIC third team. Legg, a midfielder, is having one of the best freshman seasons in Augustana program history. She has scored a team-high 10 goals, which ranks fifth in the NSIC. Legg has already … [Read more...] about Augustana’s Legg named NSIC Freshman of the Year

Former Ankeny soccer stars to collide in B1G semifinals on Friday

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Four former members of the Ankeny-based Iowa Rush Soccer Club have advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament later this week at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. Sixth-seeded Nebraska and seventh-seeded Minnesota both pulled off upsets in the quarterfinals on Sunday, setting up a showdown between the two teams on Friday at 12:30 p.m. The game will … [Read more...] about Former Ankeny soccer stars to collide in B1G semifinals on Friday

‘Goofy’ Moss earns B1G Freshman of the Week honors

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If Riley Moss was nervous about making his first start for the Iowa football team, he didn't show it. "Riley is kind of a guy who is pretty loose in a way," teammate Jake Gervase said after Moss intercepted two passes in the Hawkeyes' 48-31 victory at Minnesota on Saturday. "He is confident in his abilities and he is kind of a goofy kid. He was ready to … [Read more...] about ‘Goofy’ Moss earns B1G Freshman of the Week honors

UNI’s Yarrow named MVC Offensive Player of the Week

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Kelsey Yarrow was a goal-scoring machine during her soccer career at Ankeny High School. She has made a big impact at the collegiate level, too. Northern Iowa's senior midfielder was named the Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. She had three goals to help the Panthers to a pair of victories last week. On Oct. 1, … [Read more...] about UNI’s Yarrow named MVC Offensive Player of the Week

Winters becomes Creighton’s all-time kills leader

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Jaali Winters set another Creighton volleyball record during the 10th-ranked Bluejays' sweep over St. John's on Sunday in Omaha. The former Ankeny Centennial star became Creighton's all-time kills leader midway through the second set. She broke Leah Ratzlaff's previous mark of 1,622 kills on an attack off an assist from longtime friend and teammate Megan … [Read more...] about Winters becomes Creighton’s all-time kills leader

Record crowd watches Creighton volleyball team fall to Nebraska

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Ankeny natives Megan Ballenger and Jaali Winters played before a record-setting volleyball crowd on Thursday. A turnout of 14,022, the largest volleyball-only crowd in NCAA regular-season history, watched 14th-ranked Creighton fall to No. 7 Nebraska at the CHI Health Center Omaha. The Bluejays (4-3) won the first two sets before Nebraska (5-1) rallied for … [Read more...] about Record crowd watches Creighton volleyball team fall to Nebraska

Ballenger named tournament MVP, BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week

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Former Ankeny volleyball standout Megan Ballenger has been named the BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Week after leading 14th-ranked Creighton to a 3-0 weekend in Dallas at the SMU DoubleTree Classic. Ballenger, a junior, was selected MVP of the tournament after helping the Bluejays to three sweeps. She averaged 3.89 points, 3.44 kills and 0.78 … [Read more...] about Ballenger named tournament MVP, BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week

Like Lanning, Olson hopes to benefit from position switch

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Collin Olson has a lot in common with former Ankeny and Iowa State teammate Joel Lanning. Both were standouts in the same three sports in high school--football, wrestling and baseball. Both of them went on to join the Iowa State football team and had to work their way up the depth chart during their first few seasons with the Cyclones. A year ago, … [Read more...] about Like Lanning, Olson hopes to benefit from position switch

UNI’s Netten, Yarrow feel ‘right at home’ during exhibition victory at Prairie Ridge

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A large crowd gathered at the Prairie Ridge Sports Complex on Monday to watch an exhibition match between two NCAA Division I women's soccer teams. Many of the fans came to see Northern Iowa's Claire Netten and Kelsey Yarrow. It was a homecoming for the Panthers' duo, who helped their team to a 1-0 victory over Omaha. "It was so fun being back in … [Read more...] about UNI’s Netten, Yarrow feel ‘right at home’ during exhibition victory at Prairie Ridge

Ankeny’s ‘magic carpet ride’ comes to end at Little League World Series

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The goal for the Ankeny Intermediate All Stars was to win one game at the Little League World Series. Ankeny accomplished its goal with a 9-3 victory over the East Region squad on Tuesday, becoming the first Central Region team to win a game at the Intermediate World Series. "The boys saw that their attitudes mattered, and I can not think of a better … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s ‘magic carpet ride’ comes to end at Little League World Series

Ankeny All Stars earn first victory at Little League World Series

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The Ankeny Intermediate All Stars achieved a milestone victory on Tuesday at the Little League World Series in Livermore, Calif. Ankeny posted a 9-3 win over the East Region squad from the Commack (N.Y.) North Little League, becoming the first Central Region team to win a game at the Intermediate World Series. The loss eliminated Commack North from the … [Read more...] about Ankeny All Stars earn first victory at Little League World Series

Ankeny All Stars drop opening game at Little League World Series

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The Ankeny Intermediate All Stars suffered a 7-0 loss to the West Regional champs in their opening game at the Little League World Series on Sunday at Livermore, Calif. The West Region squad from the Scripps Ranch Little League in San Diego took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, then added another run in the second to knock out Central starting pitcher Greg … [Read more...] about Ankeny All Stars drop opening game at Little League World Series

Creighton’s Winters earns Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award

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The BIG EAST Conference has announced the winners of the 2017-18 BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards, which recognize academic and athletic achievement as well as community service. Creighton's lone honoree is volleyball player Jaali Winters of Ankeny, a rising senior who stars on the court and in the classroom. The Scholar-Athlete Sport … [Read more...] about Creighton’s Winters earns Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award

Ankeny Intermediate All Stars advance to Little League World Series

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The Ankeny Intermediate All Stars are heading to California for the Little League World Series after winning the Central Regional title in Kalamazoo, Mich. The team of 13 year olds punched its ticket to the World Series with a 6-2 victory over Indiana in the Central Regional championship game on Wednesday. "We've got some pretty special players," said … [Read more...] about Ankeny Intermediate All Stars advance to Little League World Series