Ankeny Fanatic

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Volleyball

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Havanna Dolbeare, ACA volleyball

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Sophomore outside hitter Havanna Dolbeare was named the captain of the Class 1A all-tournament team after leading the Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team to its fourth state title in five years on Thursday night at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Dolbeare had 20 kills and 13 digs as the top-ranked Eagles rallied from a one-set deficit to beat No. 3 … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Havanna Dolbeare, ACA volleyball

Ellison, Heither, Weathers to play in Senior Volleyball Classic on Saturday at Johnston

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Marlee Ellison of Ankeny, Sophia Heither of Ankeny Centennial and Katelyn Weathers of Ankeny Christian Academy have been selected to play in the 2026 Senior Volleyball Classic by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. The event will be held on Saturday at Johnston High School. Ellison and Heither will be teammates on the Panthers squad coached by Jodi Vogt … [Read more...] about Ellison, Heither, Weathers to play in Senior Volleyball Classic on Saturday at Johnston

‘God has been good to us’: Eagles return to top of Class 1A volleyball landscape

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Ankeny Christian Academy's Gabbie Quick watched her sister, Katie, win three consecutive state volleyball titles in 2022-24. Now, the freshman setter has a championship of her own. Quick served back-to-back aces to close out a four-set victory over third-ranked Janesville in the Class 1A title match on Thursday night at Xtream Arena in Coralville, … [Read more...] about ‘God has been good to us’: Eagles return to top of Class 1A volleyball landscape

State champion Eagles place Dolbeare, Bentz, Quick on Class 1A all-tourney team

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The Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team placed three players on the Class 1A all-tournament team after winning its fourth state title in five years on Thursday night at Xtream Arena. Sophomore outside hitter Havanna Dolbeare was named captain of the squad after pounding 20 kills in the Eagles' four-set victory over Janesville in the championship … [Read more...] about State champion Eagles place Dolbeare, Bentz, Quick on Class 1A all-tourney team

Eagles sweep Holy Trinity Catholic, will play Janesville for 4th state title in 5 years

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Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball coach Michele Quick has been under the weather for the last two days. She felt a lot better Wednesday night after the top-ranked Eagles punched their ticket to the Class 1A championship game with a second consecutive sweep in the state tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville. ACA hit .470 as a team and rolled to a … [Read more...] about Eagles sweep Holy Trinity Catholic, will play Janesville for 4th state title in 5 years

‘I was definitely feeling it!’: Bentz starts fast, leads ACA to sweep over W. Monona

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Havanna Dolbeare pounded 17 kills, Breeze Bentz added 15 more, and the top-ranked Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team posted a 25-16, 25-19, 25-19 victory over eighth-seeded West Monona in the Class 1A quarterfinals on Tuesday night at Xtream Arena. The Eagles (39-2) have never lost a match at the state tournament. They won three consecutive Class 1A … [Read more...] about ‘I was definitely feeling it!’: Bentz starts fast, leads ACA to sweep over W. Monona

‘We’ve just come so far since last year’: Eagles sweep Stanton, will return to state

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The last time the Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team stepped foot on the court at Xtream Arena, the Eagles cemented their place in Iowa high school history with a third consecutive Class 1A state championship. The 2026 Eagles may look different, but they’re hoping for the same result. Top-ranked Ankeny Christian is … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve just come so far since last year’: Eagles sweep Stanton, will return to state

Fast start ignites sweep over CAM as ACA moves one victory away from trip to state

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The Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team was already in midseason form back in August. Now, the top-ranked Eagles appear to be taking their game to an even higher level. ACA scored 20 of the first 22 points and went on to post a 25-5, 25-13, 25-10 victory over visiting CAM in a Class 1A regional semifinal on Monday. It was the ninth consecutive win … [Read more...] about Fast start ignites sweep over CAM as ACA moves one victory away from trip to state

‘We were very smooth and in control’: Top-ranked Eagles roll past Exira-EHK

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The Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team took its first step toward a fourth state championship in five years on Wednesday night. The top-ranked Eagles cruised to a 25-10, 25-11, 25-15 victory over visiting Exira-EHK in a Class 1A regional quarterfinal. The Spartans finished the season with an 11-16 record. "We played well," said ACA coach Michele … [Read more...] about ‘We were very smooth and in control’: Top-ranked Eagles roll past Exira-EHK

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Avlyn Davis, Ankeny Christian volleyball

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Sophomore setter Avlyn Davis has helped the Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team to a 28-1 record and a No. 1 ranking in Class 1A. The Eagles defeated five opponents on Saturday to win the Madrid Pink Out Tournament, capped off by a 19-21, 21-7, 15-12 victory over Webster City. Davis has recorded 325 assists, 160 digs and 49 aces this season. She … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Avlyn Davis, Ankeny Christian volleyball

Ex-Jaguar star Miller named freshman athlete of the year at Wayne State College

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Former Ankeny Centennial volleyball star Delaney Miller has been named the freshman athlete of the year at Wayne State College. Miller, an outside hitter, enjoyed a record-setting freshman season last fall. She was earlier selected to the 2025 Division II all-American third team by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Miller led Wayne State and … [Read more...] about Ex-Jaguar star Miller named freshman athlete of the year at Wayne State College

Wayne State frosh Miller selected to AVCA Division II all-American third team

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Former Ankeny Centennial star Delaney Miller has earned 2025 Division II all-American honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association. A freshman outside hitter at Wayne State College, Miller was named to the third team along with her teammate, sophomore middle hitter Chloe Hanel. The teams were announced on Wednesday by the coaches' association … [Read more...] about Wayne State frosh Miller selected to AVCA Division II all-American third team

Ex-Jags Winkel, Bechen earn postseason honors after Dubuque’s 26-5 campaign

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Former Ankeny Centennial volleyball standouts Delainey Winkel and Taylor Bechen are still enjoying a lot of success at the collegiate level. Now teammates at the University of Dubuque, the two juniors both received some postseason honors after helping the Spartans to a 26-5 record and the American Rivers Conference regular season title. Winkel, an … [Read more...] about Ex-Jags Winkel, Bechen earn postseason honors after Dubuque’s 26-5 campaign

Wayne State standout Miller named AVCA Central Region Freshman of the Year

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Wayne State College outside hitter Delaney Miller has been named the Central Region Freshman of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. The former Ankeny Centennial star also earned first-team all-region honors after helping the Wildcats to a 27-5 record and a No. 4 ranking in the final regular season AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II Top 25 Coaches … [Read more...] about Wayne State standout Miller named AVCA Central Region Freshman of the Year

ACA’s Bentz named to Class 1A all-state fourth team by Girls’ Coaches Association

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Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball standout Breeze Bentz has been named to the Class 1A all-state fourth team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Bentz, a sophomore right-side hitter, helped ACA to a 28-14 record this season. The Eagles advanced to a regional final before falling to BCLUW. Bentz placed third on her team with 212 kills and 298 … [Read more...] about ACA’s Bentz named to Class 1A all-state fourth team by Girls’ Coaches Association

Ex-Jag Miller named Freshman of Year in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference

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It didn't take long for former Ankeny Centennial volleyball standout Delaney Miller to make an impact on the NCAA Division II level. The Wayne State (Neb.) outside hitter has been named Freshman of the Year in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. She was also selected to the all-NSIC first team after recording 10 or more kills in 14 of 18 league … [Read more...] about Ex-Jag Miller named Freshman of Year in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference

Baethke accepts Hall of Fame award on behalf of Inderski, her ex-Urbandale star

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Former Urbandale star Kyla Inderski was inducted into the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union Volleyball Hall of Fame on Thursday during the state tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Ankeny coach Liz Baethke, who coached at Urbandale for 23 years before taking over the Hawkettes' program in 2023, accepted the award on behalf of her former player. … [Read more...] about Baethke accepts Hall of Fame award on behalf of Inderski, her ex-Urbandale star

‘We just couldn’t quite get over the hump’: Eagles’ 1A reign ends with loss to BCLUW

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Ankeny Christian Academy's volleyball dominance in Class 1A has come to an end. The seventh-ranked Eagles were denied a fourth consecutive trip to the state tournament on Wednesday at Nevada, where they dropped a 25-16, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16 decision to No. 6 BCLUW in a Class 1A regional final. The Comets (36-8) ended ACA's three-year reign as state … [Read more...] about ‘We just couldn’t quite get over the hump’: Eagles’ 1A reign ends with loss to BCLUW

ACA sweeps Warhawks, will play BCLUW in rematch for trip to state tournament

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Ankeny Christian Academy’s route back to Coralville includes two championship rematches from last season, and the Eagles have already survived the first one. Seventh-ranked ACA swept visiting Southeast Warren (25-14, 25-15, 25-15) in Monday’s Class 1A regional semifinal to set up a Region 8 championship match against No. 6 … [Read more...] about ACA sweeps Warhawks, will play BCLUW in rematch for trip to state tournament