Ankeny volleyball standout Ava Reynolds has been named to the Class 5A all-state first team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association for the second year in a row. Reynolds,a senior outside hitter, led the Hawkettes to a 40-6 record and a semifinal appearance in the Class 5A state tournament. She racked up a team-high 435 kills while posting a .341 hitting … [Read more...] about Reynolds earns repeat all-state honors; ACA’s Quick named to Class 1A 3rd team
Ava Reynolds
Reynolds earns repeat all-tournament honors after leading Ankeny to semifinals
Ankeny volleyball standout Ava Reynolds has been named to the Class 5A all-tournament team for the second straight year. Reynolds had 19 kills, 11 digs and four blocks in the Hawkettes' loss to eventual champion Pleasant Valley in Wednesday's semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. On Monday, she pounded 27 kills as Ankeny rallied for … [Read more...] about Reynolds earns repeat all-tournament honors after leading Ankeny to semifinals
SURVIVE AND ADVANCE: Hawkettes outlast Urbandale, Dykstra in 5 sets
University of Minnesota football coach PJ Fleck provided some inspiration for the Ankeny volleyball team on Monday. After the third-ranked Hawkettes lost two of the first three sets against No. 6 Urbandale in the Class 5A quarterfinals, Ankeny coach Dave Whims channeled his inner Fleck before the fourth set. "The girls were kind of down after losing … [Read more...] about SURVIVE AND ADVANCE: Hawkettes outlast Urbandale, Dykstra in 5 sets
Whims returns to bench, Hawkettes sweep Ames to tie for league crown
Ankeny volleyball coach Dave Whims appears to be on the road to recovery. His team has bounced back just fine from a loss to Ankeny Centennial last month. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes closed out the regular season on Tuesday with a sweep over visiting Ames on Senior Night. They rolled to a 25-6, 25-12, 25-12 victory to earn a share of the CIML Iowa … [Read more...] about Whims returns to bench, Hawkettes sweep Ames to tie for league crown
‘DIG OR DIE MENTALITY’: Hawkettes rally in all 3 sets to sweep Urbandale
After taking over the No. 1 spot in the Class 5A rankings, the Ankeny volleyball team passed another huge test Thursday with a sweep at No. 5 Urbandale. The Hawkettes overcame a late deficit in all three sets to post a 26-24, 25-20, 25-23 victory in the non-conference match. They improved to 15-1 on the season, while the J-Hawks' record fell to … [Read more...] about ‘DIG OR DIE MENTALITY’: Hawkettes rally in all 3 sets to sweep Urbandale
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 151
Ankeny Centennial volleyball coach Jessica Rinehart joined assistant coach Sam Sheldon and senior outside hitter Ava Reynolds of Ankeny as the guests on the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 151
Ankeny volleyball star Schrader named state’s player of the year by IGCA
2020 has been the year of COVID-19. It has also been the year of Phyona Schrader. The senior setter led the Ankeny volleyball team to the Class 5A state championship earlier this month. She was selected the captain of the all-tournament team. Now, Schrader has received more honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. She was named to the Elite … [Read more...] about Ankeny volleyball star Schrader named state’s player of the year by IGCA
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Lexi Stephens, Ankeny volleyball
Junior libero Lexi Stephens helped the Ankeny volleyball team capture the fifth state championship in school history last week in Cedar Rapids. She racked up a team-high 272 digs as the Hawkettes posted a 22-2 record and finished the season with a 19-match winning streak. Stephens also had 69 assists. She was named to the CIML Iowa Conference second … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Lexi Stephens, Ankeny volleyball
VIDEO: Hawkettes knock off Iowa City Liberty for 5A crown
JUMP FOR JOY!: Hawkettes, Whims capture their 5th state championships
When Dave Whims came out of retirement in 2019 to coach the Ankeny volleyball team once again, he thought the Hawkettes had the potential to eventually win another state championship. It happened faster than he expected. Second-ranked Ankeny defeated No. 5 Iowa City Liberty in four sets to capture the Class 5A title on Thursday at the Alliant Energy … [Read more...] about JUMP FOR JOY!: Hawkettes, Whims capture their 5th state championships
HAWKETTES ARE BACK ON TOP FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2009
It took 11 years, but the Ankeny volleyball team is back on top. The second-ranked Hawkettes captured their first state championship in more than a decade by defeating No. 5 Iowa City Liberty in four sets in the Class 5A final on Thursday at the Alliant Energy Power House in Cedar Rapids. They won the match by scores of 25-21, 25-17, 21-25, 25-19. "It … [Read more...] about HAWKETTES ARE BACK ON TOP FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2009
‘I knew we could do it’: Ankeny outlasts Spartans, will play I.C. Liberty for crown
Ava Reynolds watched the ball fall to the floor and then screamed with joy. The junior outside hitter blocked a Pleasant Valley spike attempt to send the second-ranked Ankeny volleyball team to the Class 5A championship match. "I don't even know (what I was thinking)...just excitement," said Reynolds. "I was just so proud of my team, and everybody did … [Read more...] about ‘I knew we could do it’: Ankeny outlasts Spartans, will play I.C. Liberty for crown
VIDEO: Hawkettes survive five-set thriller to reach title match
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ava Reynolds, Ankeny volleyball
Junior outside hitter Ava Reynolds has helped the second-ranked Ankeny volleyball team to a third consecutive appearance in the Class 5A state tournament. She had four kills on Tuesday as the Hawkettes swept Southeast Polk in a regional final at Ankeny. Reynolds leads Ankeny with 206 kills. She has compiled a .297 hitting percentage. Here is some … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ava Reynolds, Ankeny volleyball
Hawkettes roll past Ames, clinch outright CIML Iowa Conference crown
The Ankeny volleyball players were determined to win the outright CIML Iowa Conference championship. The second-ranked Hawkettes accomplished their goal on Tuesday night. Ankeny rolled to a 25-10, 25-19, 25-21 victory at Ames to complete a perfect conference season. The Hawkettes finished 5-0 in the league and improved to 18-2 overall by posting their … [Read more...] about Hawkettes roll past Ames, clinch outright CIML Iowa Conference crown
‘They have a lot of weapons’: Hawkettes top rival, will likely become No. 1 team
Ankeny volleyball player Hannah Baier stopped to chat with Ankeny Centennial's Reagan Angus as she walked out of the Jaguars' gym on Tuesday night. There were no hard feelings after a hard-fought match between crosstown rivals. "We're all really close," Angus said. The second-ranked Hawkettes took control in the third set and went on to post a … [Read more...] about ‘They have a lot of weapons’: Hawkettes top rival, will likely become No. 1 team
Ankeny’s Reynolds to play volleyball at University of Denver
Ankeny volleyball player Ava Reynolds received her first scholarship offer last week. It took the junior-to-be less than 24 hours to accept it. Reynolds announced on June 16 that she has verbally committed to the University of Denver. "Denver was the first school I talked to and got an offer from," said Reynolds. "I heard from several other schools … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Reynolds to play volleyball at University of Denver