Ankeny Fanatic

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Volleyball

Eagles return to state with sweep over Riverside, will face Newell-Fonda next

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The Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team will take a 26-match winning streak into next week's state tournament. The top-ranked Eagles advanced to state with a 25-19, 25-18, 25-12 victory over Riverside in a Class 1A regional final on Wednesday at Van Meter. They raised their record to 36-3, while Riverside ends the season at 27-11. "We accomplished … [Read more...] about Eagles return to state with sweep over Riverside, will face Newell-Fonda next

Eagles pound 22 aces in sweep over Mormon Trail, advance to regional final

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The Mormon Trail volleyball team had already played top-ranked Ankeny Christian Academy twice this season. But even though the Saints knew what to expect, there was little that they could do to stop the defending state champions. The host Eagles hit .418 on the night and pounded 22 aces in a 25-6, 25-15, 25-10 victory over Mormon Trail in a Class 1A … [Read more...] about Eagles pound 22 aces in sweep over Mormon Trail, advance to regional final

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Riese Gjerde, Ankeny Christian volleyball

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Senior libero Riese Gjerde has helped the top-ranked Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team to a 34-3 record. She had 11 digs on Wednesday as the Eagles swept visiting Twin Cedars in a Class 1A regional quarterfinal. Gjerde leads the team with 264 digs. She has also contributed 18 aces. Gjerde surpassed the 700-dig career mark earlier this season. … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Riese Gjerde, Ankeny Christian volleyball

No. 1 Eagles sweep past Twin Cedars, will host Mormon Trail in regional semifinal

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The Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team is on a mission to defend its Class 1A state title. The top-ranked Eagles took their first step toward reaching their goal with a 25-10, 25-6, 25-11 victory over visiting Twin Cedars in a regional quarterfinal on Wednesday. It was the 24th straight win for ACA, which raised its record to 34-3. The Sabers … [Read more...] about No. 1 Eagles sweep past Twin Cedars, will host Mormon Trail in regional semifinal

Jaali Winters Volleyball Camps to be held in Ankeny this summer

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Professional volleyball player Jaali WInters will be holding several different volleyball camps in Ankeny this summer. If you sign up before Friday, you can receive a 10 percent discount on the registration fee by using the code "EARLYBIRDJW2023". Winters is a former star at Ankeny Centennial who went on to break over 90 school records at Creighton, where … [Read more...] about Jaali Winters Volleyball Camps to be held in Ankeny this summer

Headed to H-Town: Sauer will play her final volleyball season for Cougars

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Kenna Sauer is moving from one part of Texas to another. The Texas Tech volleyball star has decided to transfer to the University of Houston for her final collegiate season. The former Ankeny Centennial standout, who played the last two years in Lubbock after transferring from Missouri, is the third transfer to join the Cougars in recent weeks. Sauer, … [Read more...] about Headed to H-Town: Sauer will play her final volleyball season for Cougars

Wisconsin standout Robinson earns AVCA all-American honors for 2nd time

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Former Ankeny Centennial volleyball star Devyn Robinson is now a two-time all-American. Robinson, a redshirt junior at Wisconsin, has been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) third team. She was joined on the squad by a pair of teammates, Sarah Franklin and Danielle Hart. The 6-foot-3 right-side hitter also earned third-team … [Read more...] about Wisconsin standout Robinson earns AVCA all-American honors for 2nd time

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Carley Craighead, Ankeny Christian volleyball

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Sophomore outside hitter Carley Craighead helped the Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team to the Class 1A state title last week at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The seventh-ranked Eagles won their last 18 matches and finished with a 39-3 record. Craighead pounded 20 kills as ACA outlasted No. 4 Gladbrook-Reinbeck in five sets in Thursday's championship … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Carley Craighead, Ankeny Christian volleyball

A COMEBACK FOR THE AGES: Eagles rally for 5-set win, claim ACA’s first crown

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The Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball squad was expected to contend for the school's first state championship in any team sport in the next couple of years. The young Eagles decided that they didn't want to wait to make some history. Seventh-ranked ACA, which starts five sophomores, used a miraculous rally to defeat No. 4 Gladbrook-Reinbeck in the … [Read more...] about A COMEBACK FOR THE AGES: Eagles rally for 5-set win, claim ACA’s first crown

Eagles pull off stunning upset, will play for school’s 1st state title in any sport

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A stunning upset has put Ankeny Christian Academy on the brink of its first state championship in any team sport. The seventh-ranked Eagles advanced to the Class 1A final at the state volleyball tournament with a 25-10, 25-19, 25-22 victory over No. 1 Springville in Wednesday's semifinals at Xtream Arena in Coralville. It was the 17th consecutive win … [Read more...] about Eagles pull off stunning upset, will play for school’s 1st state title in any sport

Eagles rout Don Bosco in tourney debut, will play No. 1 Springville in 1A semifinals

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Ankeny Christian Academy's state volleyball tournament debut was a smashing success. The seventh-ranked Eagles got off to a fast start and never looked back in a Class 1A quarterfinal against No. 8 Don Bosco on Tuesday night. They rolled to a 25-16, 25-23, 25-14 victory at Xtream Arena in Coralville. "It was crazy," said ACA setter Katie Quick. "It's … [Read more...] about Eagles rout Don Bosco in tourney debut, will play No. 1 Springville in 1A semifinals

SHE’S A NATIONAL CHAMP: Robinson helps Badgers to first volleyball title

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Devyn Robinson's volleyball resume just keeps growing. The former Ankeny Centennial star is now an NCAA champion. Robinson had six kills and 10 blocks to help Wisconsin to a thrilling five-set victory over Big Ten Conference rival Nebraska in the title match on Saturday at Columbus, Ohio. The Badgers (31-3) posted a 22-25, 31-29, 25-23, 23-25, 15-12 … [Read more...] about SHE’S A NATIONAL CHAMP: Robinson helps Badgers to first volleyball title

BOUND FOR COLUMBUS: Robinson helps Badgers reach 3rd straight Final 4

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Devyn Robinson and the Wisconsin volleyball team are headed back to the Final Four. Again. Robinson had 11 kills and six blocks as the fourth-seeded Badgers swept Big Ten conference rival Minnesota in the Madison regional final on Saturday at UW Field House. The former Ankeny Centennial star was named to the all-region team. "I just went out there … [Read more...] about BOUND FOR COLUMBUS: Robinson helps Badgers reach 3rd straight Final 4

Florida Gulf Coast’s rally spoils potential duel between ex-Jags Sauer, Robinson

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The anticipated matchup between former Ankeny Centennial volleyball stars Devyn Robinson and Kenna Sauer in the NCAA Tournament never materialized. While Robinson's Wisconsin team cruised to an easy victory over Colgate in Friday's opening round at the UW Field House, Sauer's Texas Tech squad jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Florida Gulf Coast before … [Read more...] about Florida Gulf Coast’s rally spoils potential duel between ex-Jags Sauer, Robinson

Texas Tech’s Sauer, Wisconsin’s Robinson could meet in NCAA Tournament

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Kenna Sauer helped the Texas Tech volleyball team end a 20-year NCAA Championship drought. Now, the former Ankeny Centennial star could be headed toward a possible second-round matchup against one of her ex-Jaguar teammates. Sauer and the Red Raiders (17-12) earned their first trip to the Big Dance since 2001 during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday … [Read more...] about Texas Tech’s Sauer, Wisconsin’s Robinson could meet in NCAA Tournament

DIG THIS: Ex-Jag Macke becomes Drake’s all-time leader with her 2,424th dig

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Former Ankeny Centennial standout Kylee Macke already owned three of the top 11 single-season dig totals in Drake volleyball history. Now, the redshirt senior libero is the Bulldogs' all-time leader as well. Macke recorded 12 digs on Saturday during Drake's sweep over visiting Southern Illinois at the Knapp Center. She became the Bulldogs' career digs … [Read more...] about DIG THIS: Ex-Jag Macke becomes Drake’s all-time leader with her 2,424th dig

SAUER POWER: Ex-Jaguar star named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week

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Kenna Sauer transferred to Texas Tech looking for a fresh start to her collegiate volleyball career. It turned out to be a good move. Sauer led the Red Raiders to a 3-0 record in the Green Wave Invitational last weekend at Birmingham, Ala. The Missouri transfer was named tournament MVP after pounding 30 kills in a four-set victory over Sam Houston, the … [Read more...] about SAUER POWER: Ex-Jaguar star named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week

‘I’m excited to get there!’: Sauer to transfer from Missouri to Texas Tech

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Kenna Sauer is leaving a former Big 12 Conference school for a current one. Sauer, who played her first two years of collegiate volleyball at Missouri, has decided to transfer to Texas Tech. She will have three seasons of eligibility remaining. "What really drew me to Tech was the coaching staff and how valued they made me feel," said Sauer. "I feel … [Read more...] about ‘I’m excited to get there!’: Sauer to transfer from Missouri to Texas Tech

Ex-Centennial star Robinson earns third-team All-American honors

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A record six members of the top-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team--including former Ankeny Centennial star Devyn Robinson--have earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America honors, the organization announced on Wednesday. Robinson was named to the third team. Just the fourth Badger to earn All-America honors as a freshman, Robinson … [Read more...] about Ex-Centennial star Robinson earns third-team All-American honors