Two of the state's best defensive teams will collide on Tuesday at Pleasant Valley with a trip to the girls' state basketball tournament at stake. The Class 5A Region 8 final will match seventh-ranked Pleasant Valley (21-0) against No. 10 Ankeny Centennial (14-7). Tip-off has been moved up to 6 p.m. due to the weather. "We know they're undefeated," … [Read more...] about Centennial girls head to Pleasant Valley for 5A regional final
Kenna Sauer
‘We’re not done yet’: Centennial girls advance to regional final
Kenna Sauer didn't want her basketball career to end on Saturday afternoon. The Missouri volleyball recruit scored a season-high 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Ankeny Centennial girls' team to a 50-31 victory over visiting Sioux City East in a Class 5A regional semifinal. She also had two steals and a block. "We're not done yet," said … [Read more...] about ‘We’re not done yet’: Centennial girls advance to regional final
Centennial girls avenge loss to Ames behind Sauer’s double-double
Kenna Sauer had a sour taste in her mouth following Friday's game at Johnston. Less than 24 hours later, she had a chance to do something about it. The senior forward tied a season-high with 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the ninth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 47-39 victory at No. 14 Ames on Saturday. "(Friday) … [Read more...] about Centennial girls avenge loss to Ames behind Sauer’s double-double
Jaguars connect on just 11-of-46 shots in loss to No. 3 Johnston
The recent frigid temperatures may have cooled off the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. It took a late 3-point goal by reserve Jenny Hagg to prevent the Jaguars from setting a dubious record on Friday. Hagg connected from behind the arc with 45 seconds left to produce the final points of the game in Centennial's 46-27 loss at third-ranked … [Read more...] about Jaguars connect on just 11-of-46 shots in loss to No. 3 Johnston
Jaguars rally past No. 2 Johnston, earn smoothies from DeJong
The Johnston girls' basketball team had a chance on Friday to move closer to the CIML Central Conference championship. After leading most of the way, however, the visiting Dragons couldn't put Ankeny Centennial away. The 12th-ranked Jaguars rallied in the final 2 minutes for a 50-48 victory, handing No. 2 Johnston its first conference loss. Meg Burns … [Read more...] about Jaguars rally past No. 2 Johnston, earn smoothies from DeJong
Urbandale girls hold off Centennial to earn first conference victory
During the preseason, Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball coach Scott DeJong pointed out the strength of the six teams in the CIML Central Conference. "Legitimately, you could finish fifth or sixth in our conference and be a strong state tournament contender," DeJong said. On Friday, Urbandale showed that DeJong knew what he was talking about. The … [Read more...] about Urbandale girls hold off Centennial to earn first conference victory
Burns sits out with injury as Centennial girls rout Huskies
Ten different players scored for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team in an 84-24 victory at Des Moines Hoover on Friday. Unfortunately, junior guard Meg Burns wasn't one of them. Burns sat on the bench in street clothes as she continues to battle a lingering foot injury that she suffered in July. "Her foot's just been bad, and it needs to … [Read more...] about Burns sits out with injury as Centennial girls rout Huskies
Centennial’s Robinson, Sauer named to Elite all-state volleyball team
Ankeny Centennial volleyball standouts Devyn Robinson and Kenna Sauer have been named to the Elite all-state team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Both players were also selected to the Class 5A first team after leading the Jaguars to their fourth state title in five years. Robinson, a junior middle hitter, was a repeat selection to both squads. … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Robinson, Sauer named to Elite all-state volleyball team
Jaguars to rely on team effort to compete in loaded CIML
A year ago, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team overcame a slew of injuries to post a 19-4 record. Centennial coach Scott DeJong is hoping to have better luck this season, but the Jaguars have already been bitten by the injury bug. Junior guard Meg Burns, one of the team's top returning players, has been sidelined since July due to a foot … [Read more...] about Jaguars to rely on team effort to compete in loaded CIML
BACK ON TOP: Jaguars dethrone Cedar Falls for their 4th state title
The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team was not at full strength when the Jaguars lost to Cedar Falls at the Centennial Invitational on Aug. 25. The top-ranked Tigers discovered on Friday that one player can make a huge difference, especially when she's 6-foot-1 and can jump out of the gym. Devyn Robinson had 12 kills and three blocks to help the No. 2 … [Read more...] about BACK ON TOP: Jaguars dethrone Cedar Falls for their 4th state title
VIDEO: Highlights from the Class 5A championship match
Check out some of the action from the U.S. Cellular Center: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIS7bdOO-yA … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Highlights from the Class 5A championship match
Sauer named all-tournament team captain for 2nd time in 3 years
When Kenna Sauer was a sophomore in 2016, she enjoyed a dream season for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team, earning all-tournament team captain honors after leading the Jaguars to the Class 5A state title. Sauer may have topped herself on Friday. The senior outside hitter smashed a kill from the left side to give second-ranked Centennial its fourth … [Read more...] about Sauer named all-tournament team captain for 2nd time in 3 years
The numbers behind Centennial’s stunning sweep over No. 1 Cedar Falls
How did the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team pull off a stunning sweep in the Class 5A championship match against top-ranked Cedar Falls, which had dropped only two sets all year and entered the final with a 75-match winning streak? The numbers tell part of the story: * The Jaguars outhit Cedar Falls by a .266 to .168 margin. Both teams racked up 42 … [Read more...] about The numbers behind Centennial’s stunning sweep over No. 1 Cedar Falls
Jaguars outlast Valley in epic five-set semifinal thriller
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
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 23
Check out the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by the Ankeny office of Iowa Realty. Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm discussed the state volleyball tournament with Kenna Sauer of Ankeny Centennial and Sara McCullough of Ankeny. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 23
Jaguars hold off Dowling Catholic, earn rematch against No. 3 Valley
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
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
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
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
Jaguars sweep Roosevelt, will host S.C. East in regional final
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