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
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Blimpie Sub of the Week: Kenedy Balentine, Ankeny Centennial volleyball
Senior Kenedy Balentine of the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Balentine has helped second-ranked Centennial to a 39-3 record and a sixth consecutive appearance in the state tournament. She had six digs to help the Jaguars to a victory over No. 7 Dowling Catholic in the Class 5A quarterfinals … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Kenedy Balentine, Ankeny Centennial volleyball
Hawkettes fall to Valley for 4th time, finish season at 31-13
The Ankeny volleyball team got off to a shaky start Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state tournament. The Hawkettes never recovered. Third-ranked Valley jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the opening set and went on to post a 25-12, 25-17, 25-18 victory over No. 6 Ankeny at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. The Hawkettes finished the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes fall to Valley for 4th time, finish season at 31-13
Pairings announced for Division I, II and III soccer tournaments
Molly Close wasn't too worried when the Wartburg College women's soccer team lost to Loras, 3-2, in the championship game of the American Rivers Conference Tournament on Saturday. The former Ankeny standout thought the Knights would still receive an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III tournament, and she was right. Wartburg (13-5-1) received its … [Read more...] about Pairings announced for Division I, II and III soccer tournaments
Jaguars, Hawkettes ready for showdowns against WDM rivals
The second-ranked Ankeny Centennial volleyball team will face a familiar opponent in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state tournament on Tuesday. So will sixth-ranked Ankeny. The Jaguars (38-3) will play No. 7 Dowling Catholic (29-12) at noon on Court Two at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. The match will be followed by a showdown between … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawkettes ready for showdowns against WDM rivals
Ballenger sparks Wayne State to victory over No. 6 Concordia St. Paul
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
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Isabelle Vacek, Ankeny volleyball
Junior outside hitter Isabelle Vacek has helped the sixth-ranked Ankeny volleyball team to a 31-12 record and a berth in this week's Class 5A state tournament at Cedar Rapids. She was named to the CIML Central Conference first team. Vacek leads the Hawkettes with 348 kills. She has also contributed 82 blocks, 134 digs and 34 aces. Here is some inside … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Isabelle Vacek, Ankeny volleyball
Gray, Gophers earn automatic bid to NCAA Tournament
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
Rumley defends 50 free title, leads Ankeny to 4th-place finish
Before turning their clocks back on Saturday night, the members of the Ankeny girls' swimming team turned back the clock on Saturday afternoon during the state meet at Marshalltown, repeating some of their performances from last year. Jasmine Rumley defended her state title in the 50 freestyle and repeated her second-place finish in the 100 freestyle. She … [Read more...] about Rumley defends 50 free title, leads Ankeny to 4th-place finish
Peters earns 14th-place finish in state diving meet
Ankeny's Erica Peters was the only freshman placewinner in the state diving meet on Saturday morning at Marshalltown. Peters placed 14th in a field of 32 competitors with 386.35 points. She scored three team points for the Hawkettes, who sit in 10th place heading into the swimming finals, which begin at 4 p.m. Jayna Misra of Ames easily defended her … [Read more...] about Peters earns 14th-place finish in state diving meet
Sindt overcame hip injury to complete his undefeated season
It turns out Ankeny runner Tim Sindt wasn't fully healthy when he defended his state cross country title on Oct. 27 at Fort Dodge. Sindt, who won the boys' Class 4A race in a time of 15 minutes 36 seconds, battled an injury for the last month of the season. "I was doing a hill workout at the Southeast Polk meet (on Sept. 27) when we sat our varsity, … [Read more...] about Sindt overcame hip injury to complete his undefeated season
Bravo Kelso! UNI’s Yarrow named to all-MVC 1st team
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
Rumley, Doruska advance to Saturday’s championship finals in 2 events
Jasmine Rumley accomplished what she set out to do on Friday at the girls' state swimming meet in Marshalltown. So did some of her Ankeny teammates. Competing in the first-ever preliminaries of the state meet, Rumley easily qualified for Saturday's championship final in both the 50 and 100 freestyle events. "I was very happy with my times," Rumley … [Read more...] about Rumley, Doruska advance to Saturday’s championship finals in 2 events
Jaguars, Hawkettes dominate all-conference volleyball team
During the regular season, the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial volleyball teams dominated their other opponents in the CIML Central Conference, sweeping every match in three sets. That allowed the two squads to battle each other for the conference title on Oct. 2, when the Jaguars swept Ankeny on the Hawkettes' home court. It's not a surprise, then, that … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawkettes dominate all-conference volleyball team
Ankeny swimmers looking to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish
After placing fourth at last year's state meet, the Ankeny girls' swimming team is looking to move into the top three at this year's meet, which begins on Friday at the Marshalltown YMCA. Second-ranked Ames is seeking its eighth state title in nine years, but the Little Cyclones could be challenged by CIML rival Dowling Catholic, last year's runner-up. … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers looking to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish
Sweet and Sauer: Centennial star earns All-American honors
It isn't easy for someone to stand out on the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team. Senior outside hitter Kenna Sauer still manages to do it. Sauer, who has led the Jaguars to a 38-3 record and a trip to next week's state tournament, has been named to the 13th annual Under Armour All-America teams. She was a second-team selection. "I honestly didn't … [Read more...] about Sweet and Sauer: Centennial star earns All-American honors
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Lauren Willets, Ankeny volleyball
Junior Lauren Willets of the Ankeny volleyball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Willets has helped sixth-ranked Ankeny to a 31-12 record and a berth in next week's Class 5A state tournament at Cedar Rapids. The Hawkettes will face No. 3 Valley in Tuesday's quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Willets has played in 30 sets this … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Lauren Willets, Ankeny volleyball
The tradition continues: Jaguars advance to state for 6th straight year
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
Hawkettes punch their ticket to Cedar Rapids with sweep over Ames
After being swept off its own court by Ankeny Centennial four weeks ago, the Ankeny volleyball team needed to regroup. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes have done just that, winning eight of their last nine matches and punching their ticket to the Class 5A state tournament with a 25-12, 25-20, 25-11 victory over visiting Ames in a regional final on Monday. "I … [Read more...] about Hawkettes punch their ticket to Cedar Rapids with sweep over Ames
State volleyball tourney berths on the line at Ankeny, Centennial
Just one more win is all that separates the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial volleyball teams from earning a trip to next week's Class 5A state tournament. Both squads will host a regional final on Monday at 7 p.m. The second-ranked Jaguars (37-3) will face Sioux City East (20-20), while the No. 6 Hawkettes (30-12) will meet Ames (12-23) for the third time … [Read more...] about State volleyball tourney berths on the line at Ankeny, Centennial