Ankeny Fanatic

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Jessica Rinehart

‘We had good tempo’: Jaguars roll past Urbandale, will host Ottumwa Tuesday

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Regional play has finally arrived, and the second-ranked Ankeny Centennial volleyball team couldn’t have asked for a much better start to its postseason run. The top-seeded Jaguars made quick work of CIML Conference foe Urbandale during a Class 5A Region 1 semifinal on Thursday, sweeping the J-Hawks by scores of 25-10, 25-9, … [Read more...] about ‘We had good tempo’: Jaguars roll past Urbandale, will host Ottumwa Tuesday

‘That’s hard to do’: Jaguars sweep SEP, complete perfect 8-0 run through CIML

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There may not be a more battle-tested volleyball team in the state than Ankeny Centennial. The top-ranked Jaguars capped off a perfect run through the CIML Conference with a 25-11, 25-12, 25-16 victory over visiting Southeast Polk on Tuesday. Centennial, which had already clinched the outright conference title, finished 8-0 in the league and improved … [Read more...] about ‘That’s hard to do’: Jaguars sweep SEP, complete perfect 8-0 run through CIML

Jaguars reach semis of Westside Invite before falling in 3 sets to Pleasant Valley

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The best volleyball teams in Class 5A continue to take turns beating each other. Top-ranked Ankeny Centennial advanced to the semifinals of the Westside Invitational on Saturday at Cedar Rapids Jefferson before dropping a 25-12, 24-26, 15-10 decision to No. 2 Pleasant Valley, which went on to win the tournament and could become the No. 1 team in the final … [Read more...] about Jaguars reach semis of Westside Invite before falling in 3 sets to Pleasant Valley

Jaguars sweep Johnston, get help from Ankeny to clinch outright conference title

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It may not have been as pretty as the Jaguars were hoping for, but even “sloppy” play for Class 5A’s top-ranked volleyball team can still result in three-set sweeps. Ankeny Centennial’s quest for the CIML Conference title continued on its home court Tuesday as the Jaguars improved their perfect league record to 7-0 on the … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep Johnston, get help from Ankeny to clinch outright conference title

‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars knock off Waukee NW to capture Urbandale crown

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Some familiar opponents stood between the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team and the championship of the Urbandale Invitational on Saturday. The top-ranked Jaguars proved to be up for the challenge. After dispatching No. 5 Indianola in the semifinals, Centennial posted a 25-17, 25-21 win over No. 6 Waukee Northwest in the title match. The Jaguars (23-3) … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars knock off Waukee NW to capture Urbandale crown

Jaguars sweep past Valley for another road win, improve to 6-0 in conference

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Playing on the road doesn't seem to bother the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team. The top-ranked Jaguars earned their fifth consecutive road victory--and their second sweep in three days--with a 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 win at No. 12 Valley on Thursday. The win allowed Centennial to remain unbeaten in CIML Conference play. The Jaguars are now 6-0 in the … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep past Valley for another road win, improve to 6-0 in conference

Jaguars move closer to conference crown with road sweep over No. 8 Waukee

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Jaguars know there’s no such thing as a “gimme game” when it comes to the Central Iowa Metropolitan League. But after sweeping the Waukee Warriors in three sets on the road Tuesday night, the top-ranked Ankeny Centennial volleyball team is so close to locking up its first league title since 2021 that the Jaguars can … [Read more...] about Jaguars move closer to conference crown with road sweep over No. 8 Waukee

‘That’s a huge win for us’: Jaguars topple Ankeny to move closer to conference title

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It took awhile for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team to hit its stride on Thursday night. But once the Jaguars did, they were nearly unstoppable. Top-ranked Centennial rallied from a one-set deficit to post a 19-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-15 victory at No. 3 Ankeny in a CIML Conference showdown. The Jaguars shook off some rust to defeat their crosstown … [Read more...] about ‘That’s a huge win for us’: Jaguars topple Ankeny to move closer to conference title

‘This one feels really good’: No. 1 Jaguars outlast No. 3 Dowling in CIML showdown

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Perhaps no volleyball team in the state enjoys playing a fifth set as much as Ankeny Centennial. The top-ranked Jaguars were pushed to the limit on Tuesday for the third time this season, and once again they outlasted a top-10 opponent. Centennial used an 8-0 run in the fifth set to help close out a 23-25, 25-20, 25-21, 22-25, 15-12 victory at No. 3 … [Read more...] about ‘This one feels really good’: No. 1 Jaguars outlast No. 3 Dowling in CIML showdown

‘It’s a weekend we can learn from’: No. 1 Jags lose rematch vs. Waukee Northwest

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This time, there would not be a dramatic rally by the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team. The top-ranked Jaguars dropped a 25-23, 25-19 decision to No. 7 Waukee Northwest in the semifinals of the Metro Classic on Saturday at Southeast Polk. It was a rematch of a CIML Conference matchup on Sept. 3 at Centennial, where Northwest was on the verge of a … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a weekend we can learn from’: No. 1 Jags lose rematch vs. Waukee Northwest

‘We really took control’: Jaguars sweep past Urbandale in dominating fashion

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With a dominating win on Tuesday, the second-ranked Ankeny Centennial volleyball team likely wrapped up the No. 1 spot in the next Class 5A rankings to be released on Thursday by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. The Jaguars romped to a 25-10, 25-4, 25-7 victory over visiting Urbandale in a CIML Conference match. They improved to 2-0 in the … [Read more...] about ‘We really took control’: Jaguars sweep past Urbandale in dominating fashion

‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars win Little Hawk Invite title for 4th consecutive year

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There was no letdown for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team. After rallying for a dramatic victory on Tuesday over defending Class 5A state champion Waukee Northwest, the second-ranked Jaguars traveled to Iowa City High on Saturday and won the Little Hawk Invitational for the fourth consecutive year. Centennial swept all four of its opponents in … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars win Little Hawk Invite title for 4th consecutive year

‘I think I’m still in disbelief’: Jaguars rally for improbable win over reigning champs

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) After initially leading two sets to none, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball players found themselves with their backs against the wall. The third-ranked Jaguars were just one set away from sweeping No. 9 Waukee Northwest in their home opener on Tuesday. But in a twist of fate, Centennial was a mere one point away from … [Read more...] about ‘I think I’m still in disbelief’: Jaguars rally for improbable win over reigning champs

Ankeny Christian wins Centennial Invite; Hawkettes, Jaguars tumble in semifinals

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All three of Ankeny's highly-ranked volleyball teams reached the semifinals of the Ankeny Centennial Invitational on Saturday. In the end, the smallest school emerged as the winner of the tournament. Top-ranked Ankeny Christian Academy, the two-time defending state champion in Class 1A, posted a 25-18, 21-25, 15-13 victory over Dowling Catholic in the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Christian wins Centennial Invite; Hawkettes, Jaguars tumble in semifinals

‘We just stepped it up’: Jaguars rally from two-set deficit to stun No. 6 Indianola

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team was on the verge of being swept in its season opener on Monday at Indianola. After taking the first two sets, the sixth-ranked Indians built a 24-22 lead in Set 3 and only needed to win one of the next two points to close out the non-conference match. But No. 3 Centennial refused to quit. The Jaguars scored five … [Read more...] about ‘We just stepped it up’: Jaguars rally from two-set deficit to stun No. 6 Indianola

‘This team has a lot of weapons’: Miller, Pratt to lead the way for No. 3 Jaguars

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After reaching the Class 5A semifinals in each of the previous two seasons, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team is setting its sights even higher in 2024. But Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart said it's too early to even think about this year's state tournament. "We've broken our season into six different milestones--with a focus for each one," said … [Read more...] about ‘This team has a lot of weapons’: Miller, Pratt to lead the way for No. 3 Jaguars

‘It was a good battle’: Wolves rally past Centennial in Class 5A semifinal slugfest

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The third time proved to be a charm for the Waukee Northwest volleyball team. After losing twice to second-ranked Ankeny Centennial earlier this season, the No. 3 Wolves earned some revenge with a dramatic five-set victory in the Class 5A semifinals on Wednesday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Northwest (26-9) advanced to the championship match for the … [Read more...] about ‘It was a good battle’: Wolves rally past Centennial in Class 5A semifinal slugfest

‘I was fighting for my team’: Sash leads Centennial past Hawkettes in thriller

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It's a shame that one team had to lose in the Jag-Hawk matchup at the state volleyball tournament on Monday. Both squads played well enough to win the Class 5A quarterfinal at Xtream Arena in Coralville. In the end, second-ranked Ankeny Centennial held on for a 25-16, 25-12, 22-25, 14-25, 15-12 victory over No. 7 Ankeny, which nearly overcame a huge … [Read more...] about ‘I was fighting for my team’: Sash leads Centennial past Hawkettes in thriller