The energy inside Xtream Arena in Coralville during the iowa high school volleyball state tournament 2024 wasn't just loud. It was deafening. If you’ve never stood on that floor when a Class 5A powerhouse like Pleasant Valley is on a 10-1 run, it’s hard to describe the vibration in the bleachers. Honestly, it’s less of a sporting event and more of a four-day collective breath-hold for every small town and big suburb in the state.
By the time the dust settled on Championship Thursday, we had five champions, a historic first-timer, and a dynasty that simply refused to blink.
The Power Shift in Class 5A
Everyone was talking about the rematch. Waukee Northwest came in as the defending champs, looking to repeat, but Pleasant Valley was a freight train. They hadn’t lost in 29 straight games. You could see the tension in the second set when the Wolves clawed back to win 26-24.
The momentum felt like it was shifting. Then, Isabelle Kremer happened.
Kremer was basically unstoppable, hammering down 24 kills. She eventually took home the Captain of the All-Tournament team honors. The Spartans locked it down in the fourth set with a brutal 10-1 run that featured four blocks. It was a statement. They finished the season with 30 straight wins and their second title in three years.
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Historic Firsts and Small Town Heroes
If you want the real "heart of Iowa" story, you look at Class 2A. Denver had never won a state volleyball title. Ever. They went 46-3 on the season, which is just an absurd record when you think about the grind of high school sports.
In the final, they faced Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont and their star Molly Shafer. Shafer is a University of Northern Iowa commit and she was playing out of her mind, racking up 26 kills and 18 digs.
Denver didn’t rely on one superstar to counter her. They went with a "death by a thousand cuts" approach.
- Grace Mullihan hit a ridiculous .750 for the match.
- Mylee Thurm and Bailey Mullihan both added 11 kills.
- Channing Johnson stayed cool under pressure with 38 assists.
It was balanced. It was disciplined. And when the final ball hit the floor, Denver had its first-ever gold trophy.
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Mount Vernon’s Long-Awaited Revenge
Class 3A was a grudge match, plain and simple. Last year, Western Christian pulled off an upset that left Mount Vernon stunned. This year? No chance.
The Mustangs were on a mission. They swept the Wolfpack (25-17, 25-17, 25-18) in a match that honestly didn't feel as close as the score suggested. Chloe Meester and Sydney Maue were a two-headed monster at the net, combining for 30 kills.
Western Christian is a legendary program—they were looking for title number 20—but Mount Vernon’s front line was just too tall and too fast. They out-hit Western Christian .343 to .159. You just can't win when the efficiency gap is 그정도 (that large).
The 4A Sweep and 1A's Three-Peat
Sioux City Bishop Heelan made the Class 4A final look like a scrimmage. They swept Pella and didn't allow the Dutch to get closer than eight points in any set. Maddie LaFleur was a magician with 36 assists, earning the captain spot for the all-tournament team. It was the Crusaders' first title since the back-to-back years of 2006 and 2007.
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Then you have Ankeny Christian in Class 1A.
These girls are the Definition of a dynasty. They’ve won three straight titles now. They’ve lost exactly four sets in the last three years of state tournament play. Let that sink in. Katie Quick, a Drake commit, became a three-time All-Tournament Captain. They drubbed BCLUW in the final, showing that at the 1A level, there is Ankeny Christian, and then there is everyone else.
Key Takeaways from the 2024 State Tournament
The iowa high school volleyball state tournament 2024 proved that while stars like Molly Shafer and Isabelle Kremer grab the headlines, the teams with the best "second options" usually walk away with the rings.
If you’re a coach or a player looking toward next year, here’s what the 2024 tape teaches us:
- Balance beats the "One-Star" system. Denver overcame an elite individual performance from Shafer by having three different players in double-digit kills.
- Serving and passing efficiency remains king. Mount Vernon won because they didn't give Western Christian easy points.
- Experience at Xtream Arena matters. Ankeny Christian and Pleasant Valley looked comfortable in the big lights, while first-timers often struggled with the depth perception of the larger arena in the opening sets.
For those looking to catch the next wave of talent, keep an eye on the junior class from Waukee Northwest and the rising stars at Pleasant Valley. The 2025 season starts sooner than you think, and the road back to Coralville is already being paved in summer camps across the state. Check the IGHSAU website for official off-season clinic dates and regional alignment changes for the upcoming year.