Ankeny Fanatic

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Jessica Rinehart

Jaguars outlast Valley in epic five-set semifinal thriller

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The jubilant voices of Ankeny Centennial volleyball players Devyn Robinson and Kenna Sauer could be heard in the bowels of the U.S. Cellular Center long before the duo entered the media interview room on Thursday at the state tournament in Cedar Rapids. When Robinson and Sauer finally made their entrance along with Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart, all … [Read more...] about Jaguars outlast Valley in epic five-set semifinal thriller

Jaguars hold off Dowling Catholic, earn rematch against No. 3 Valley

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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

Jaguars, Hawkettes ready for showdowns against WDM rivals

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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

Sweet and Sauer: Centennial star earns All-American honors

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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

The tradition continues: Jaguars advance to state for 6th straight year

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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

State volleyball tourney berths on the line at Ankeny, Centennial

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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

Jaguars sweep Roosevelt, will host S.C. East in regional final

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As far as the Ankeny Centennial volleyball players were concerned, it didn't really matter who was on the other side of the net on Tuesday. The goal for the Jaguars was simply to play their game. Mission accomplished. Second-ranked Centennial rolled to a 25-7, 25-11, 25-18 victory over visiting Des Moines Roosevelt in a Class 5A regional semifinal. … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep Roosevelt, will host S.C. East in regional final

Jaguars to begin postseason run against Des Moines Roosevelt

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball players have had a full week to prepare for postseason play. The second-ranked Jaguars (36-3) closed out the regular season on Oct. 15 with a five-set loss to Omaha Marian, the No. 4 team in Nebraska's Class A. The Crusaders have won four of the last five Class A titles. "We got a competitive match, and that's what we … [Read more...] about Jaguars to begin postseason run against Des Moines Roosevelt

Jaguars ‘can only go up from here’ after losing to Omaha Marian

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If the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team goes on to win the Class 5A state title, none of the Jaguars will care about Monday's loss to Omaha (Neb.) Marian. Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart certainly won't. She scheduled the match because she wanted to challenge her players before the start of tournament play. "We wanted to see if there were things we … [Read more...] about Jaguars ‘can only go up from here’ after losing to Omaha Marian

Jaguars capture outright CIML Central Conference championship

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team captured the outright CIML Central Conference crown on Tuesday. Now, the Jaguars can focus on winning the championship that they really want--the Class 5A state title. "One of our team's goals this season was to win the conference, so we stepped on the court to do just that," Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart said … [Read more...] about Jaguars capture outright CIML Central Conference championship

Jaguars raise their game to new level, capture Westside Invite crown

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If the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team wants to win a fourth state title in five years, the Jaguars will have to take their game to a higher level. On Saturday, they may have done just that. Second-ranked Centennial went a perfect 6-0 on the day to capture the Westside Invitational title at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. The Jaguars posted a 25-16, 25-19 … [Read more...] about Jaguars raise their game to new level, capture Westside Invite crown

Class 5A volleyball pairings announced: Centennial, Ankeny will host semifinals

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The road to Cedar Rapids will go through Ankeny for both of Ankeny's ranked volleyball teams. Neither second-ranked Ankeny Centennial nor No. 6 Ankeny will have to leave town in order to qualify for the Class 5A state tournament. "When it came out (Tuesday), the girls had (the pairings) pulled up on the bus," Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart said on … [Read more...] about Class 5A volleyball pairings announced: Centennial, Ankeny will host semifinals

Rinehart excited about Jaguars’ potential despite loss to Valley

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Don't be surprised if the Ankeny Centennial and Valley volleyball teams meet again later this season at the Class 5A state tournament. The two squads have a habit of running into each other. The third-ranked Tigers rallied from a one-set deficit to beat No. 2 Centennial, 24-26, 25-22, 15-10, in the championship match of the Urbandale Invitational on … [Read more...] about Rinehart excited about Jaguars’ potential despite loss to Valley

Sauer smashes 24 kills, leads Jaguars past Dowling Catholic

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On a team with four Division I players, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball squad is hardly a one-man unit. On Tuesday, though, it may have seemed that way to visiting Dowling Catholic. Kenna Sauer pounded 24 of her team's 40 kills to lead the second-ranked Jaguars to a sweep over No. 7 Dowling. She had just three hitting errors in 43 total attacks for a … [Read more...] about Sauer smashes 24 kills, leads Jaguars past Dowling Catholic

Winters leads Centennial to sweep over Little Cyclones

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Senior Ari Winters wears No. 17 on her Ankeny Centennial volleyball uniform. On Tuesday, Winters had a huge match as the second-ranked Jaguars rolled to their 17th consecutive victory. She pounded 10 kills and posted a .600 hitting percentage to lead Centennial to a 25-11, 25-9, 25-10 triumph over visiting Ames. Winters also had a pair of blocks and … [Read more...] about Winters leads Centennial to sweep over Little Cyclones

Streaks continue: Jags win 16th straight, hand Riders 6th loss in row

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team entered Thursday's non-conference match at Des Moines Roosevelt on a long winning streak. The Roughriders, meanwhile, were looking to end a losing skid. Both streaks are still intact. The second-ranked Jaguars rolled to a 25-14, 25-13, 25-19 victory for their 16th consecutive win. They are now 21-1 on the … [Read more...] about Streaks continue: Jags win 16th straight, hand Riders 6th loss in row

Jaguars sweep past Johnston in Central Conference opener

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The second-ranked Ankeny Centennial volleyball team earned its 20th victory of the season on Tuesday with a sweep at No. 13 Johnston in its CIML Central Conference opener. The Jaguars posted a 25-8, 25-20, 25-18 triumph for their 15th consecutive win. They are now 20-1 on the season, while Johnston's record dropped to 5-5. "I thought we had an ok … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep past Johnston in Central Conference opener

Jaguars survive gauntlet of top-10 foes to capture tournament title

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There aren't too many volleyball teams who could have survived the gauntlet of top-10 opponents that Ankeny Centennial faced on Saturday in the Metro Invitational at Southeast Polk. The second-ranked Jaguars, though, did just fine. Centennial defeated four top-10 foes en route to winning the tournament for the third straight year. The Jaguars rallied … [Read more...] about Jaguars survive gauntlet of top-10 foes to capture tournament title

Jones, Wallestad step up, help Jaguars to Little Hawk Invite crown

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team was already playing without standout middle hitter Devyn Robinson. Then, senior middle hitter Megan Lively went down with an injury. No worries. The second-ranked Jaguars cruised to the championship of the Little Hawk Invitational on Saturday at Iowa City High, despite missing two of their top players. "I … [Read more...] about Jones, Wallestad step up, help Jaguars to Little Hawk Invite crown