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
Jessica Rinehart
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 238
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the thrilling five-set Jag-Hawk matchup at the state volleyball tournament with head coach Jessica Rinehart and junior outside hitter Jaeden Pratt of Ankeny Centennial. Dowling Catholic assistant football coach Andy Pollock … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 238
‘I was fighting for my team’: Sash leads Centennial past Hawkettes in thriller
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
‘We knew what we had to do’: Jaguars sweep C.B. Lincoln, advance to state
With a trip to the state tournament on the line, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball players didn't feel any pressure. The Jaguars simply knew what they had to do. Second-ranked Centennial rolled to a 25-17, 25-10, 25-15 victory over No. 15 Council Bluffs Lincoln in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at Centennial. The Jaguars (30-6) advanced to the … [Read more...] about ‘We knew what we had to do’: Jaguars sweep C.B. Lincoln, advance to state
‘The energy is just crazy all around’: Jaguars sweep past Iowa City West
The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team has been trying to find some additional offensive weapons to take the pressure off leading hitters Delaney Miller and Jaeden Pratt. The second-ranked Jaguars may have found some answers. Gabby Mixdorf had six kills and Ava Kronenberg added five more to help second-ranked Centennial to a 25-14, 25-15, 25-7 victory … [Read more...] about ‘The energy is just crazy all around’: Jaguars sweep past Iowa City West
‘We knew it wasn’t going to be easy’: Jags outlast Waukee NW in 5-set thriller
Tuesday's CIML Conference volleyball match between second-ranked Ankeny Centennial and No. 3 Waukee Northwest contained all the drama of a state tournament matchup. Both teams fought off two match points before the visiting Jaguars scored the last four points to pull out a thrilling 25-23, 25-21, 26-28, 13-25, 16-14 victory. "It was a great win," said … [Read more...] about ‘We knew it wasn’t going to be easy’: Jags outlast Waukee NW in 5-set thriller
Jaguars fall to No. 1 Dowling Catholic in semifinals at Westside Invitational
Jaeden Pratt and her Ankeny Centennial volleyball teammates would like nothing more than another opportunity to play CIML Conference rival Dowling Catholic. If it happens, it would be in the Class 5A state tournament--perhaps in the championship match. The second-ranked Jaguars advanced to the semifinals of the Westside Invitational on Saturday at … [Read more...] about Jaguars fall to No. 1 Dowling Catholic in semifinals at Westside Invitational
‘We just kept fighting’: Jaguars rally from 2-0 deficit to defeat Ankeny in 5 sets
There have been only three five-set matches in the storied history of the Ankeny vs. Ankeny Centennial volleyball rivalry. Tuesday's showdown at Centennial may have been the best of those three matches. After dropping the first two sets, the second-ranked Jaguars rallied for an 18-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-11 victory over No. 5 Ankeny to take an 8-7 … [Read more...] about ‘We just kept fighting’: Jaguars rally from 2-0 deficit to defeat Ankeny in 5 sets
Jaguars reach title match of Urbandale Invitational before falling to Johnston
Saturday's Urbandale Invitational provided perhaps the biggest test of the season for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team. After winning their first two matches during pool play, the second-ranked Jaguars met four consecutive top-10 opponents. They advanced to the championship match of the tournament before dropping a 25-22, 18-25, 15-12 decision to No. … [Read more...] about Jaguars reach title match of Urbandale Invitational before falling to Johnston
‘We just needed to settle in’: Jaguars shake off rust in 4-set victory at Johnston
It took a little while for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team to recover from a two-week layoff. After dropping the first set, the second-ranked Jaguars rallied for a 26-28, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20 victory at No. 7 Johnston on Tuesday. The win allowed Centennial to move into sole possession of third place in the CIML Conference. "I think we just needed … [Read more...] about ‘We just needed to settle in’: Jaguars shake off rust in 4-set victory at Johnston
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 232
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the first half of the volleyball season with Ankeny Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart and one of her top players, senior middle hitter Anna Sash. Ankeny Fanatic photographer Drue Wolfe also makes an appearance. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 232
Doubleday Insurance Coach of the Month: Jessica Rinehart, Centennial volleyball
The Jaguars' longtime coach guides the team to a four-set victory over Valley on Senior Night. … [Read more...] about Doubleday Insurance Coach of the Month: Jessica Rinehart, Centennial volleyball
‘We knew it was going to be a battle’: Jags drop first set, then rally past Valley
Anna Sash and the other seniors on the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team had some business to take care of before getting a two-week break in the middle of the season. Sash had four kills and three blocks as the second-ranked Jaguars celebrated their Senior Night on Tuesday by posting a 21-25, 25-14, 25-9, 25-19 victory over No. 8 Valley in a CIML … [Read more...] about ‘We knew it was going to be a battle’: Jags drop first set, then rally past Valley
Jaguars knock off Indianola to win Metro Classic title, avenge season-opening loss
Bouncing back from Tuesday's loss to top-ranked Dowling Catholic, the No. 2 Ankeny Centennial volleyball team cruised to the championship of the Metro Classic on Saturday at Southeast Polk. The Jaguars claimed the title with a 25-14, 25-20 win over Indianola, the No. 2 team in Class 4A. It was the first loss of the season for the Indians (16-1), who had … [Read more...] about Jaguars knock off Indianola to win Metro Classic title, avenge season-opening loss
Dowling Catholic rallies past Centennial to win volleyball showdown in 5 sets
The Ankeny Centennial volleyball players appeared to run out of gas during Tuesday's 1 vs. 2 showdown against Dowling Catholic. The top-ranked Maroons rallied for a 19-25, 27-25, 26-28, 25-18, 15-11 victory at No. 2 Centennial. They avenged a five-set loss to the Jaguars in last year's Class 5A quarterfinals. "I think the fourth set we kind of got off … [Read more...] about Dowling Catholic rallies past Centennial to win volleyball showdown in 5 sets
IT’S A THREEPEAT: Jaguars win Little Hawk Invitational for 3rd straight year
The second-ranked Ankeny Centennial volleyball team appears to be ready for Tuesday's showdown against No. 1 Dowling Catholic. The Jaguars defeated three opponents on Saturday to win the Little Hawk Invitational at Iowa City High for the third consecutive year. They raised their record to 10-2 on the season. "It was a good day!" said Centennial coach … [Read more...] about IT’S A THREEPEAT: Jaguars win Little Hawk Invitational for 3rd straight year
‘Takin’ Care of Business’: Miller pounds 18 kills, leads Jaguars to road sweep
Delaney Miller pounded 18 kills and hit .533 for the match as the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team rolled to a 25-8, 25-9, 25-22 victory at Urbandale on Tuesday. The sixth-ranked Jaguars improved to 2-0 in the CIML Conference and 7-2 overall. Urbandale's records dropped to 0-2 and 4-3. "I thought our team did a great job taking care of business," … [Read more...] about ‘Takin’ Care of Business’: Miller pounds 18 kills, leads Jaguars to road sweep
Jaguars top Ankeny in semifinals, earn runner-up finish at Centennial Invite
Saturday's Ankeny Centennial Invitational featured many of the state's top volleyball teams. Sixth-ranked Centennial defeated four ranked opponents, including No. 8 Ankeny, on its way to the championship match. Then, in the finals, the Jaguars dropped a 25-21, 25-17 decision to Dike-New Hartford--the No. 1 team in Class 2A. "It was an incredible day … [Read more...] about Jaguars top Ankeny in semifinals, earn runner-up finish at Centennial Invite
‘We got back to playing like ourselves!’: Jags rebound from loss, sweep Waukee
One night after Indianola pounded 15 aces in a season-opening win over the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team, the sixth-ranked Jaguars had 11 of their own and bounced back with a sweep over visiting Waukee in their CIML Conference opener on Tuesday. Centennial rolled to a 25-16, 25-12, 25-12 victory to even its overall record at 1-1. It was the season … [Read more...] about ‘We got back to playing like ourselves!’: Jags rebound from loss, sweep Waukee
‘I think we’re a lot better than what we showed’: Jags fall to Indianola in 4 sets
The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team won't have much time to dissect Monday's season-opening loss to Indianola. The Jaguars will be back on the court Tuesday to host Waukee in their CIML Conference opener after falling to the visiting Indians in four sets. Indianola posted a 25-16, 25-20, 20-25, 25-19 victory in a non-conference matchup between … [Read more...] about ‘I think we’re a lot better than what we showed’: Jags fall to Indianola in 4 sets