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New London 8, Mid-Prairie 11th
IGHSAU preseason volleyball rankings show two area teams in the Top 15
Andy Krutsinger
Aug. 23, 2023 11:57 am
The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released its preseason volleyball rankings last week, and two Union area teams find themselves on the list.
New London enters the 2023 season at No. 8 in Class 1A. Mid-Prairie clocks in at No. 11 in Class 3A.
New London went 28-10 overall last year and 10-3 in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference South Division.
The Tigers did lose a good chunk of their 2022 team, including the top hitter, setter and defender. Natalie Burden (448 kills), Elly Manning (955 assists) and Emma Nye (667 digs) were all lost to graduation.
The Tigers will bring back two of their top three hitters back from last season. Seniors Sophie Malott and Tysann Gipple will have to lead the team this season.
Mid-Prairie went 27-12 last season and finished River Valley South play 7-2.
The Golden Hawks, like the Tigers, lost their top killer in Landry Pacha, who finished with 264 last year. She also led the team with 370 assists.
Mid-Prairie does have plenty of talent back, including sophomore Jovi Evans, who is the leading returner in kills (202) and assists (370). Sophomore Harper Pacha had 173 kills last year, and junior Dakota Mitchell had a team-leading 630 digs.
2023 PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL RANKINGS
*Last season record in parenthesis*
Class 1A
1. Ankeny Christian (39-3)
2. Holy Trinity Catholic (29-16)
3. Don Bosco (28-13)
4. AHWSR (19-24)
5. Riverside (33-6)
6. Remsen St. Mary’s (20-7)
7. Council Bluffs St. Albert (17-20)
8. New London (28-10)
9. St. Ansgar (16-12)
10. BCLUW (19-20)
11. Boyden-Hull (16-15)
12. Central City (20-13)
13. Gladbrook-Reinbeck (34-10)
14. Edgewood-Colesburg (16-20)
15. North Tama (39-5)
CLASS 2A
1. Dike-New Hartford (45-3)
2. Hinton (27-3)
3. Grundy Center (31-13)
4. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (31-6)
5. Sumner-Fredericksburg (31-11)
6. Kuemper Catholic (38-5)
7. Ridge View (30-8)
8. Pella Christian (25-15)
9. Treynor (28-9)
10. Denver (36-11)
11. South Hardin (26-13)
12. Wapsie Valley (41-5)
13. Wilton (23-11)
14. Central Lyon (17-13)
15. South Central Calhoun (35-9)
CLASS 3A
1. Des Moines Christian (46-6)
2. Western Christian (43-5)
3. Davenport Assumption (33-7)
4. Union (42-10)
5. Cherokee (25-12)
6. Mount Vernon (35-6)
7. West Liberty (31-8)
8. West Delaware (29-15)
9. Solon (26-13)
10. Red Oak (22-15)
11. Mid-Prairie (27-12)
12. Wahlert Catholic (14-18)
13. Forest City (20-12)
14. Estherville Lincoln Central (22-16)
15. Roland-Story (22-13)
CLASS 4A
1. Clear Creek-Amana (34-11)
2. Indianola (37-7)
3. North Scott (33-6)
4. Cedar Rapids Xavier (33-4)
5. Norwalk (24-11)
6. Nevada (24-14)
7. Lewis Central (26-8)
8. Marion (35-7)
9. Knoxville (26-13)
10. Bondurant-Farrar (24-11)
11. North Polk (29-10)
12. ADM (19-10)
13. Bishop Heelan (24-15)
14. Charles City (27-13)
15. Waverly-Shell Rock (30-19)