Volleyball fans from across the state will descend on Cedar Rapids as the IGHSAU will hold its state volleyball tournament Wednesday through Saturday. For those travelling to the City of Five Seasons for volleyball action at the U.S. Cellular Center, we have some hints for enjoying your time in town away from the competition.
Downtown has slowly rebounded from the devastating floods of 2008. There are a number of local eateries in area for people to get a quick bite between games or sessions. Whether you’re looking for a simple sub …

JESSICA GEHRKE
Iowa City West
Position: Outside hitter
Height, year: 5-10, senior
Honors: 2008 Elite all-state, 2008 Class 4A first-team all-state, two-time MVC player of the year.
Statistics: 4.10 kills per game, .445 kill efficiency, 2.80 digs per game.
Coach Kathy Bresnahan: “She’s an explosive athlete, she’s a four-year starter and the bigger the game is, the better she plays for us.”
 
MEGAN GILBERT
Tripoli

Position: Middle blocker
Height, year: 6-0, sophomore
Honors: 2008 Class 1A first-team all-state, 2008 state tournament all-tournament team.
Statistics: 4.60 kills per game, .441 kill efficiency, 0.80 blocks per game, 1.30 digs per game.
Coach Will Baumann: “Megan …

The Mississippi Valley Conference has quantity on its side. Five of the eight 4A qualifiers hail from the MVC.
Question is, can any of them stop Ankeny?
The Hawkettes have snagged three of the last four big-school titles and enter the week as the No. 1 team. Four players started on last year’s title team.
No. 2 Iowa City West was the team that pushed Ankeny the most last year, taking the Hawkettes to four games. West owns a 19-match win streak; that run includes triumphs over MVC foes and 4A qualifiers Cedar …

Last year, a bid by Sioux City Heelan for a third straight 3A championship was foiled in the semifinals by a combination of the flu and the Marion Indians.
What’s to stop the Crusaders this season? Probably nothing and nobody.
Heelan is in town for the 12th consecutive year, and many observers think this team is the best in the state, regardless of class. The Crusaders (50-5) have won 44 of their last 45 matches, and can set a state record for wins in a season if it gets past Dallas Center-Grimes …

Enrollment shifts have allowed a convergence of stars to align in Class 2A.
There’s Mount Vernon, which dropped a class after earning 3A runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2008.
There’s Wapsie Valley, which bumped up a class after winning 1A crowns in 2006 and 2007.
And of course, there’s Western Christian, which owns seven of the last eight 2A titles. And there’s Dike-New Hartford, which has played second fiddle to the Wolfpack the past two years.
Put it all together, and you have a marvelous field. Question is, who will navigate it for three …

Tripoli knows the drill.
For the 11th time in 12 years, the Panthers have qualified for state. In each of their previous appearances, they advanced to the finals. Eight times, they’ve taken home the title.
Odds are, they’ll do it again.
Five starters return from last year’s championship team, including sophomore Megan Gilbert — the latest in a long line of Tripoli stars. The Panthers have four losses this season, none to 1A competition.
Who can stop them? Well, Don Bosco is in the same conference (Iowa Star) and has played them close twice. …

Not too many high-school baseball coaches can say they’ve been a catcher for Philadelphia Phillies star pitcher Cliff Lee. Matt Thede can. 
Cedar Rapids Prairie has hired the former Wartburg College star and professional catcher to be its new varsity baseball coach, Prairie athletics director Rocky Bennett said.
“Cliff Lee was the pitcher for the very first pro bullpen I ever caught,” said Thede, who also played with Cleveland Indians all-star outfielder Grady Sizemore. “It’s amazing to think about things like that now.”
Thede has been the ninth-grade coach for Prairie. He played professionally in the Montreal Expos …

Statistical leaders for the state volleyball tournament:
 
CLASS 4A
KILLS/GAME Avg.
Kiah Stokes, Linn-Mar 4.76
Heidi Splinter, Dbq. Hempstead 4.75
Jessica Gehrke, Iowa City West 4.05
Ashlyn DeHoogh, WDM Valley 3.67
Chelsea Burkle, Linn-Mar 3.64
KILL EFFICIENCY Avg.
Kiah Stokes, Linn-Mar .495
Ashlyn DeHoogh, WDM Valley .467
Jessica Gehrke, Iowa City West .445
Haley Brightwell, C.R. Kennedy .427
Erin Roggenburg, Ankeny .413
ASSISTS/GAME Avg.
Christiana Fairfield, Iowa City West 10.26
Paige Harris, WDM Valley 9.13
Alexus Litts, C.R. Kennedy 9.10
Sierra Nighswonger, C.B. Abe Lincoln 8.68
Molly Dolson, Dbq. Hempstead 8.46
ACES/GAME Avg.
Lindsey Petersen, Ankeny 1.62
Heidi Splinter, Dbq. Hempstead 0.89
Molly Dolson, Dbq. Hempstead 0.73
Morgan Guge, C.R. Kennedy 0.72
Chelsea Burkle, Linn-Mar …

Class 4A state volleyball capsules, in bracket order:
 
WEST DES MOINES VALLEY
Nickname: Tigers
Coach: Doug Frazell (7th year, 213-78)
Record and ranking: 34-6, No. 6
State tournament history: 6th appearance, first since 2005.
Probable starters
8 Rachel Hussey 5-9 Sr. S
5 Cari Miller 6-0 Jr. MB
7 Paige Harris 5-7 Sr. S
4 Alex Borlabi 5-8 Sr. OH
9 Ashlyn DeHoogh 5-10 Sr. MB
6 Bailey Wilson 6-0 Jr. OH
1 Kristen Ogden 5-4 Sr. DS
 
DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD
Nickname: Mustangs
Coach: Randy Dolson (3rd year, 95-19)
Record and ranking: 32-5, No. 4
State tournament history: 12th appearance, State champions in 1975 and 2003.
Probable starters
4 Molly Dolson …

Class 3A state volleyball capsules, in bracket order:
 
DALLAS CENTER-GRIMES
Nickname: Mustangs
Coach: Angie Reed (15th year, record NA)
Record and ranking: 25-10, unranked
State tournament history: 2nd appearance. Other was 2000.
Probable starters
15 Taylor Wineland 5-6 Sr. S
8 Gail Voelker 5-8 Sr. MB
14 Kristin Messerschmidt 5-7 Jr. OH
4 Britni Reed 5-9 Sr. OH
10 Kaitlyn Johansen 5-9 Jr. MB
6 Zoe Ollendick 5-7 Sr. OH
13 Karlee Powers 5-5 Jr. L
 
SIOUX CITY HEELAN
Nickname: Crusaders
Coach: Lori Slight (3rd year, 129-33)
Record and ranking: 50-5, No. 1
State tournament history: 16th appearance, and 12 in a row. Three-time champions.
Probable starters
6 Leisa McClintock …