Ankeny Fanatic

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Jessica Rinehart

‘We were like a well-oiled machine’: Jags cruise past Johnston on Senior Night

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The vibes were already high for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team heading into Tuesday's regular-season finale against 10th-ranked Johnston. No. 6 Centennial was already feeling good after a big weekend in Cedar Rapids, and the excitement grew even more for another win on Senior Night to lead the Jaguars into the … [Read more...] about ‘We were like a well-oiled machine’: Jags cruise past Johnston on Senior Night

Pollock returns to lineup, helps Jaguars defend their title at Westside Invitational

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With senior Ellie Pollock back in the lineup, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team could be peaking at the right time. Pollock returned to the court on Saturday as sixth-ranked Centennial defended its title in the Westside Invitational at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. The Jaguars posted a 25-19, 30-28 victory over No. 4 Dowling Catholic in the championship … [Read more...] about Pollock returns to lineup, helps Jaguars defend their title at Westside Invitational

Jaguars defeat 3 ranked foes, fall to No. 6 Iowa City West in East vs. West Showdown

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team bounced back from Tuesday's loss at top-ranked Waukee Northwest by winning three of four matches in the East vs. West Showdown on Saturday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The No. 5 Jaguars, who were again without injured senior Ellie Pollock, improved to 19-7 on the season. "The Jags were great today!" said … [Read more...] about Jaguars defeat 3 ranked foes, fall to No. 6 Iowa City West in East vs. West Showdown

‘I miss her out there’: Without injured Pollock, Centennial gets swept by Wolves

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It's hard enough to beat the top-ranked Waukee Northwest volleyball team under normal circumstances. But without one of its senior leaders, No. 5 Ankeny Centennial faced an even bigger uphill climb. The Jaguars played without injured outside hitter Ellie Pollock and dropped a 25-18, 25-18, 25-9 decision on Tuesday at Northwest, which clinched at least … [Read more...] about ‘I miss her out there’: Without injured Pollock, Centennial gets swept by Wolves

Jaguars overcome ankle injury to Pollock, romp past S.E. Polk for 3rd straight sweep

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The good news for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team is that the fifth-ranked Jaguars secured their third consecutive sweep ahead of their matchup with No. 1 Waukee Northwest. The bad news is that Centennial lost a core piece to its lineup in the process, and the Jaguars are keeping their fingers tightly crossed that it’s … [Read more...] about Jaguars overcome ankle injury to Pollock, romp past S.E. Polk for 3rd straight sweep

‘That was a great win’: Centennial girls record 12 aces in sweep over No. 9 Valley

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team got off to a fast start Tuesday and never looked back. The fifth-ranked Jaguars scored the first seven points, racked up 12 aces and rolled to a 25-11, 25-10, 25-13 victory over No. 9 Valley in a CIML Conference match at Centennial. "That was a great win. I thought we played really, really well," said Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘That was a great win’: Centennial girls record 12 aces in sweep over No. 9 Valley

‘It was all just clicking really well’: Heither leads Jags to road sweep over Urbandale

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The Urbandale volleyball team didn't have any answers for Ankeny Centennial senior middle hitter Sophia Heither. So the Jaguars just kept feeding her the ball. Heither pounded 13 kills on Thursday to lead fifth-ranked Centennial to a 25-7, 25-13, 25-20 road sweep over the J-Hawks. "We usually try to establish the middles pretty early when we play," … [Read more...] about ‘It was all just clicking really well’: Heither leads Jags to road sweep over Urbandale

‘The wheels fell off a little bit’: After fast start, Jags come up short against Ankeny

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team captured lightning in a bottle to start off its Tuesday night crosstown rivalry showdown against Ankeny. But the sixth-ranked Jaguars weren’t able to keep it bottled up for long as No. 3 Ankeny overcame a resounding loss in the opening set to rally for a 15-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-14 … [Read more...] about ‘The wheels fell off a little bit’: After fast start, Jags come up short against Ankeny

‘We put ourselves in a position to win’: Jaguars nearly knock off No. 2 Mustangs

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The sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial volleyball team extended its winning streak to nine matches on Saturday before falling to No. 2 Dallas Center-Grimes in the semifinals of the Metro Classic at Southeast Polk. The Mustangs (18-0) posted a 16-21, 21-19, 15-13 victory to advance to the championship match, where they then defeated No. 12 Waukee in three sets … [Read more...] about ‘We put ourselves in a position to win’: Jaguars nearly knock off No. 2 Mustangs

‘We really just executed’: Jags neutralize Waukee’s Rogers in dominant victory

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The Waukee volleyball team boasts one of the state's most dominant players in senior outside hitter Malia Rogers. But the Purdue recruit was no match for Ankeny Centennial's relentless defensive effort on Tuesday. The seventh-ranked Jaguars limited Rogers to just six kills and rolled to a 25-17, 25-8, 25-15 victory at No. 11 Waukee. The Warriors hit … [Read more...] about ‘We really just executed’: Jags neutralize Waukee’s Rogers in dominant victory

‘It was a good day in Iowa City’: Jaguars capture 6th straight Little Hawk Invite title

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Coming off back-to-back losses, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team needed to get back on track. A trip to Iowa City High for the Little Hawk Invitational on Saturday was just what the seventh-ranked Jaguars needed. Centennial swept all five of its opponents--including four ranked foes--to win the tournament for the sixth consecutive year. The … [Read more...] about ‘It was a good day in Iowa City’: Jaguars capture 6th straight Little Hawk Invite title

No. 5 Dowling Catholic girls outlast Jags in 5 sets, despite frosh VanBruggen’s 17 kills

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team had a chance to pull out a huge home victory to open CIML Conference play and the opportunity just slipped away. The Class 5A preseason No. 10 Jaguars held a 2-1 set lead over No. 5 Dowling Catholic before the Maroons pulled out the fourth set and then used a big run in set five to earn … [Read more...] about No. 5 Dowling Catholic girls outlast Jags in 5 sets, despite frosh VanBruggen’s 17 kills

‘Our confidence is really growing’: Ankeny girls earn runner-up finish at Jags’ tourney

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Saturday's Ankeny Centennial Early Bird Invitational featured many of the state's top volleyball teams from multiple classes. In the end, the team walking away with the championship was the same one that captured the Class 5A title a year ago and began this season ranked No. 1 among the state's largest schools. Waukee Northwest posted a 25-22, 25-18 … [Read more...] about ‘Our confidence is really growing’: Ankeny girls earn runner-up finish at Jags’ tourney

‘It was a really cool opportunity’: Jaguars fall to NW, top Waukee in outdoor event

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Thursday night's Marj White Classic at Valley Stadium was a smashing success. All four participating volleyball teams got a unique opportunity to play outdoors under the lights. With very little wind and temperatures in the 70s, the conditions could not have been any better for this special event. "It was a really cool opportunity for our team," said … [Read more...] about ‘It was a really cool opportunity’: Jaguars fall to NW, top Waukee in outdoor event

‘I think 5A is going to be wild’: Jags look to make another deep postseason run

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A year ago, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team got over a big hurdle by advancing to the Class 5A championship match for the first time since 2018. Taking the next step and winning a state title will be an even bigger challenge. CIML Conference rival Waukee Northwest enters the season as the favorite to capture its third crown in four years. The … [Read more...] about ‘I think 5A is going to be wild’: Jags look to make another deep postseason run

Centennial volleyball team to play outdoors in Marj White Classic on Aug. 27

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When the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team opens its season on Aug. 27, the Jaguars will do so in unprecedented fashion. Centennial will be among four teams competing in the Marj White Classic hosted by Valley. The tournament has traditionally been held in the Tigers' Bill Coldiron Fieldhouse, but this year's event has been moved outdoors to Valley … [Read more...] about Centennial volleyball team to play outdoors in Marj White Classic on Aug. 27

‘We just ran into a giant’: Jaguars earn runner-up trophy in 5A state tournament

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When the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team lost a five-set thriller at Waukee Northwest on Sept. 2, it turned out to be a preview of Thursday's Class 5A championship match at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The final meeting between the two CIML Conference rivals, though, wasn't nearly as close. Top-ranked Northwest captured its second state title in three … [Read more...] about ‘We just ran into a giant’: Jaguars earn runner-up trophy in 5A state tournament

Centennial stars Lei-Butters, Schmidt named to Class 5A all-tournament team

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Ankeny Centennial volleyball standouts Mya Lei-Butters and Tatem Schmidt were both named to the Class 5A all-tournament team after leading the Jaguars to a runner-up finish in the state tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Second-ranked Centennial dropped a 25-10, 25-21, 25-18 decision to No. 1 Waukee Northwest in the title match on Thursday morning. … [Read more...] about Centennial stars Lei-Butters, Schmidt named to Class 5A all-tournament team