Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

October is here which means the volleyball postseason is just around the corner.

Teams across the state got their first looks at the paths to the state tournament scheduled for October 30 through November 2 at Xtream Arena in Coralville on Monday with the release of regional pairings in all five classes.

Postseason action gets underway on October 16 with regional title games scheduled for October 24 and 25.

Here are a few initial notes and observation on the postseason pairings for teams in the Your Prep Sports area.

Clippers Chasing History

What an amazing season it has already been for Clear Creek Amana.

The 4A runner-up a year ago the Clippers haven’t lost since falling to Cedar Rapids Xavier in the state title match last November.

Clear Creek Amana is a perfect 35-0 this season joining Dike-New Hartford (31-0) as the only undefeated teams in the state.

With the core of last year’s runner-up team returning the expectation was for Clear Creek Amana to chase a state title this season.

Clear Creek Amana has been even more impressive than anyone could imagine.

The Clippers have dropped just three sets all season on its way to 35 consecutive wins and hasn’t lost a set in a best of five match all season.

There is still regular season work to do with the Clippers’ home tournament on Saturday and the WAMAC tournament next week but it is certainly possible Clear Creek Amana enters regional play seeking an unbeaten season.

Clear Creek Amana will have home court advantage through the 4A, Region 8 tournament and will host the winner of Keokuk (9-15) and Mount Pleasant (7-23) in its playoff opener on October 19.

Oskaloosa (10-10) is the second seed and would be the regional final opponent with a semifinal win.

Last Run for Beck and Berkland

Speaking of Clear Creek Amana two of the best to ever wear Clipper uniforms will cap their career in the next month.

Seniors Bliss Beck and Meg Berkland are both four-year starters that have already left their mark on the CCA record book and will look to add a state title in the next month.

If you haven’t been out to watch these two do it and if you have take advantage of the opportunity to see them one more time.

Berkland is well on her way to leading Clear Creek Amana in digs for the fourth consecutive season.

The senior libero ranks third in 4A in digs this season with 347 and has pushed her career dig total to 1,594 with her fourth consecutive season of 300 digs or more.

A Drake recruit, Beck has continued to establish herself as one of the best players in the state.

Beck leads 4A with 81 blocks this season and ranks fifth in 4A with 306 kills to give her 1,113 for her career.

The 6-foot-2 Beck leads 4A in hitting efficiency by more than 100 points and ranks third in the state hitting an incredible .473.

A Regina/West Branch Rematch?

Who wouldn’t want to see a rematch between River Valley Conference rivals West Branch and Regina after the two teams played one of matches of the year last month?

All that stands in the way of a third meeting this season between Regina and West Branch is an opening-round match with winless Louisa-Muscatine for the Bears on October 16.

Regina won a five-set thriller over West Branch in Iowa City on September 14 in a RVC South Division tilt that featured a pair of 30-28 sets.

It was the second win of the season for Regina after the Regals won in straight sets at the season-opening West Branch tournament in August.

A rematch in the Class 2A, Region 7 quarterfinals would be among the most intriguing early-round postseason matches for area teams.

No. 11 Regina (19-8) has a star in sophomore Reese Naeve who ranks second in the state with 422 kills.

West Branch (10-11) has been impressive defensively in year two under co-head coaches Monica Tylee and Becky Hosier.

The winner of the West Branch and Regina rematch won’t have an easy road ahead with Lisbon (22-5) potentially waiting in the semifinals and fourth-ranked Denver (30-8) the top seed.

Solon’s Next Step

Solon made huge strides last season under first-year head coach Mikayla Siddell advancing to the 3A regional title game.

In year two under Siddell the Spartans have been a regular in the 3A rankings this fall while continuing to establish themselves as one of the top programs in 3A.

For the Spartans to take the next step they will likely need to get past perhaps the premier program in 3A.

No. 11 Solon (16-11) earned the second seed in Class 3A, Region 8 and could face a regional title match against defending 3A champion Davenport Assumption.

Davenport Assumption (21-4) is the top seed in 3A, Region 8 and is seeking a sixth consecutive state tournament appearance.

Assumption defeated Solon (25-19, 25-20) at Clinton on September 16 and the two teams are schedule to play again on Saturday at the Center Point-Urbana tournament.

Solon opens postseason play at home against Central Lee (8-23) on October 17 and would host the winner of Tipton (17-13) and Mediapolis (13-11) with a win in the quarterfinals.

Home Then Road to Play Near Home

City High, West High and Liberty High face similar paths to playing at the state tournament in their back yard.

All three teams host a 5A regional before a likely road trip to the Des Moines metro area.

West High (6-18) will host Waterloo East (6-19) in a Region 2 quarterfinal on October 17 and with a win would travel to second-ranked Ankeny Centennial (22-5) in the semifinals.

Liberty High and City High will each host regional semifinals and should be tested in their postseason openers on October 19^th.

No. 10 Liberty High (13-17) hosts Ottumwa (18-7) in the Region 8 semis and then would likely hit the road to face eighth-ranked Ankeny (19-12).

The Lightning are 1-2 against Ankeny this season.

No. 12 City High (15-8) hosts Muscatine (16-6) in the Region 6 semifinals and would likely travel to sixth-ranked West Des Moines Valley (13-10) in the championship match.

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