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Ari Winters

Ballenger headed to NCAA Tournament along with former Centennial trio

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Former Ankeny volleyball star Megan Ballenger will be joined in this year's NCAA Tournament field by a trio of former Ankeny Centennial standouts. Freshmen Megan Lively of Central Florida, Kenna Sauer of Missouri and Ari Winters of Denver will all be making their first trip to the NCAA Tournament. Those three players helped the Jaguars to the Class 5A … [Read more...] about Ballenger headed to NCAA Tournament along with former Centennial trio

Winters’ kill clinches Summit League crown, sends Denver to NCAA Tourney

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Ari Winters and the University of Denver volleyball team are headed to the NCAA Tournament. Winters, a former Ankeny Centennial star, helped the Pioneers to their fifth Summit League Tournament championship in program history on Sunday at Hamilton Gymnasium in Denver. The freshman outside hitter had four kills, seven block assists and four digs as Denver … [Read more...] about Winters’ kill clinches Summit League crown, sends Denver to NCAA Tourney

Centennial’s Robinson, Sauer named to Elite all-state volleyball team

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Ankeny Centennial volleyball standouts Devyn Robinson and Kenna Sauer have been named to the Elite all-state team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Both players were also selected to the Class 5A first team after leading the Jaguars to their fourth state title in five years. Robinson, a junior middle hitter, was a repeat selection to both squads. … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Robinson, Sauer named to Elite all-state volleyball team

BACK ON TOP: Jaguars dethrone Cedar Falls for their 4th state title

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team was not at full strength when the Jaguars lost to Cedar Falls at the Centennial Invitational on Aug. 25. The top-ranked Tigers discovered on Friday that one player can make a huge difference, especially when she's 6-foot-1 and can jump out of the gym. Devyn Robinson had 12 kills and three blocks to help the No. 2 … [Read more...] about BACK ON TOP: Jaguars dethrone Cedar Falls for their 4th state title

Sauer named all-tournament team captain for 2nd time in 3 years

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When Kenna Sauer was a sophomore in 2016, she enjoyed a dream season for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team, earning all-tournament team captain honors after leading the Jaguars to the Class 5A state title. Sauer may have topped herself on Friday. The senior outside hitter smashed a kill from the left side to give second-ranked Centennial its fourth … [Read more...] about Sauer named all-tournament team captain for 2nd time in 3 years

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 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

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

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

Rinehart excited about Jaguars’ potential despite loss to Valley

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Don't be surprised if the Ankeny Centennial and Valley volleyball teams meet again later this season at the Class 5A state tournament. The two squads have a habit of running into each other. The third-ranked Tigers rallied from a one-set deficit to beat No. 2 Centennial, 24-26, 25-22, 15-10, in the championship match of the Urbandale Invitational on … [Read more...] about Rinehart excited about Jaguars’ potential despite loss to Valley

Winters leads Centennial to sweep over Little Cyclones

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Senior Ari Winters wears No. 17 on her Ankeny Centennial volleyball uniform. On Tuesday, Winters had a huge match as the second-ranked Jaguars rolled to their 17th consecutive victory. She pounded 10 kills and posted a .600 hitting percentage to lead Centennial to a 25-11, 25-9, 25-10 triumph over visiting Ames. Winters also had a pair of blocks and … [Read more...] about Winters leads Centennial to sweep over Little Cyclones

Without Robinson, Jaguars fall to Cedar Falls at Centennial Invite

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team proved on Saturday that it can play pretty well without one of its best players. The top-ranked Jaguars advanced to the championship match of the Centennial Early Bird Invitational before dropping a 25-19, 25-20 decision to No. 5 Cedar Falls, the defending Class 5A state champion. The Tigers trailed in the second set, … [Read more...] about Without Robinson, Jaguars fall to Cedar Falls at Centennial Invite

Jaguars on a mission to regain Class 5A volleyball crown

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Kenna Sauer wasn't herself on the volleyball court last year. After breaking her foot early in the season, the Ankeny Centennial outside hitter tried to come back later, but she didn't resemble the player who was named the captain of the Class 5A all-tournament team as a sophomore. She had just 105 kills as the Jaguars reached the Class 5A semifinals … [Read more...] about Jaguars on a mission to regain Class 5A volleyball crown

Hawkeyes want Winters to shed some weight, move to offensive line

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Trey Winters celebrated the signing of his national letter of intent with a trip to Sports Page on Wednesday afternoon. In the future, though, the Ankeny Centennial football standout may have to skip a few meals. The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Winters signed to play at Iowa, whose coaches would like the mammoth lineman to shed some weight. "I definitely … [Read more...] about Hawkeyes want Winters to shed some weight, move to offensive line