CEDAR RAPIDS – It could have been played on Saturday for the state championship. Both teams were no strangers to Cedar Rapids. West Delaware made its seventh appearance in a decade while Bishop Heelan returned for the 10th straight time.But for the Crusaders, they boasted ...

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Next year, there will be Ankeny High and Ankeny Centennial."It's different, kind of sad," said Megan Ballenger. "This will be the last time I get to play with some of these girls. We've played together a long time."Right now, it's Ankeny United.The top-ranked ...

Who will be the champions in the 2012 state volleyball tournament this week at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena? Vote.

DIKE -- Big Blue is back, and better than ever before.As if it ever really went away.One of the cornerstones of Iowa high school volleyball, Dike-New Hartford appears to be on the verge of a second dynasty. The Wolverines are defending Class 2A state champions. ...

Jeff Linder of The Gazette/KCRG predicts the 2012 state volleyball tournament:CLASS 5AQuarterfinalsAnkeny over Johnston in 3Iowa City High over West Des Moines Dowling in 4Dubuque Hempstead over Bettendorf in 4Pleasant Valley over Urbandale in 4SemifinalsAnkeny over Iowa City High in 5Dubuque Hempstead over Pleasant Valley ...

Team capsules for the Class 5A qualifiers at the state volleyball tournament, in bracket order:JOHNSTON (26-8)Nickname: DragonsCoach: Rick Brooks (19th year, 486-187)Tourney history: 6th appearance, first since 2008. Class 4A state champion in 2007.Starting lineup:No. Name  Ht.  Yr. Pos.1 Sanna Rasmussen 5-10 Sr. MH8 Taylor Joens 6-0 Jr. OH10 Emily Hanson 5-9 Jr. OH12 Madeline Miller 5-9 Jr. OH15 Abby Hallman 5-4 Jr. S 28 Hayley Dotseth 5-9 Jr. OH  No. 1 ANKENY (29-6)Nickname: ...

Team capsules for the Class 4A qualifiers at the state volleyball tournament, in bracket order:No. 9 CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER (26-11)Nickname: SaintsCoach: Barb Sullivan (3rd year, 95-55)Tourney history: 4th appearance. Most recent was 2010, when they made 4A semifinals.Starting lineup:No. Name Ht. Yr. Pos.1 Halle Heying 5-4 Jr. L4 Melissa Everett 6-0 Sr. MH7 Kara Zwanziger  6-0 Jr. MH12 Sarah Homan 5-6 Sr. S 13 Kayla Torson 5-11 So. OH 14  Audrey ...

Team capsules for the Class 3A qualifiers at the state volleyball tournament, in bracket order:No. 14 IOWA FALLS-ALDEN (32-4)Nickname: CadetsCoach: Steve Barhite (10th year, 216-124)Tourney history: 11th appearance, first since 2001. Class 2A state champions in 1999.Starting lineup:No. Name   Yr. Pos.3 Lindsey Barnhart   Sr. S5 Kylie Gerstein   Jr. OH6 Kelsey Redmond   So. MH 8 Harli Janes   Sr. MH13  Jamie Peterson    Sr. OH16 Jessi Timm   Sr. OH No. ...

Team capsules for the Class 2A qualifiers at the state volleyball tournament (in bracket order):No. 12 SUMNER-FREDERICKSBURG (24-6)Nickname: CougarsCoach: Ed Boltz (6th year, 120-51)Tourney history: 1st appearance as S-F, though Sumner qualified three times in the 1990s.Starting lineup:No. Name Ht. Yr. Pos.2 Kaylyn Brandt 5-9 Sr. S7 Kally Frisch 5-11 Jr. OH8 Jessica Eekhoff 5-8 Jr. MH9 Tara Converse  5-7 Jr. DS15 MaKaya Henniges  5-11  Sr. MH16 Ashley Larson 5-6 Jr. L  No. ...

Team capsules for the Class 1A qualifiers at the state volleyball tournament (in bracket order):No. 6 STANTON (34-2)Nickname: ViqueensCoach: Jody Druivenga (1st year, 34-2)Tourney history: 3rd appearance, and third in a row.Starting lineup:No. Name Ht. Yr. Pos.6 Rachel Sorensen 5-6 Sr. OH8 Ragen Anderson 5-4 Sr. S10 Kara Allen 5-11  Sr. MH12 Rochelle Sink 5-6 Sr. S13 Carmen Subbert 5-7 Jr. OH14 Erin Dekay 5-9 Jr. MH No. 4 JANESVILLE (31-8)Nickname: WildcatsCoach: Shelly ...