Forty Iowa high school volleyball teams opened play in the state tournament on Monday, Nov. 2, at Xtream Arena in Coralville, with five championships set to be decided by Thursday, Nov. 5. Eight teams in each of the state's five classes are chasing a title in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union's marquee event of the fall season.
The full schedule and pairings were reported by Yahoo Sports, which is tracking scores and brackets as the tournament unfolds. Quarterfinals run Monday and Tuesday, semifinals follow on Wednesday, and five championship matches close the event on Thursday.
Class 5A Quarterfinals Highlight the Week
The largest class features some of the state's most recognizable programs. Top-ranked Waukee Northwest, which enters with a 29-2 record, opened against No. 8 Pleasant Valley at noon Monday on Court 1, according to Bound's tournament listings. No. 4 Dowling Catholic, at 29-6, faced No. 5 Iowa City West in the 2 p.m. slot.
The other half of the 5A bracket pits No. 2 Dallas Center-Grimes against No. 7 Cedar Falls at 12:35 p.m., while No. 3 Ankeny meets No. 6 Ankeny Centennial at 2:35 p.m. in an all-Ankeny showdown. The 5A semifinals are set for Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 10:35 a.m., with the championship match Thursday at 10 a.m.
Class 4A: Norwalk and Davenport Assumption Lead the Field
In 4A, top-seeded Norwick drew No. 8 Ballard at 4 p.m. Monday, followed by No. 4 Western Dubuque against No. 5 North Polk at 6 p.m. No. 2 Davenport Assumption, a traditional power in eastern Iowa, takes on No. 7 Waverly-Shell Rock at 4:35 p.m., and No. 3 Clear Creek Amana faces No. 6 Sioux Center at 6:35 p.m.
The 4A semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday at noon and 12:35 p.m., with the title match set for Thursday at 12:15 p.m.
Class 3A Quarterfinals Open Tuesday
Class 3A begins its quarterfinal round on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Top-ranked Western Christian, long one of the state's dominant small-school programs, plays No. 8 Roland-Story at 10 a.m. No. 4 Solon meets No. 5 Humboldt at noon, No. 2 MOC-Floyd Valley faces No. 7 Wilton at 10:35 a.m., and No. 3 Dike-New Hartford takes on No. 6 Cherokee at 12:35 p.m.
Semifinals in 3A are set for Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 2:35 p.m., and the championship match will be played Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
Class 2A Matchups for Tuesday
No. 1 Hinton opens 2A play against No. 8 Hudson at 2 p.m. Tuesday, with No. 4 Riverside facing No. 5 Union at 4 p.m. No. 2 Grundy-Center meets No. 7 Aplington-Parkersburg at 2:35 p.m., and No. 3 Beckman Catholic, a private school from Dyersville, plays No. 6 Denver at 4:35 p.m.
The 2A semifinals are Wednesday at 4 p.m. and 4:35 p.m., and the title match is Thursday at 4:45 p.m.
Class 1A Closes Out the Night Sessions
The smallest class wraps up each tournament day. Top-seeded Ankeny Christian Academy plays No. 8 West Monona at 6 p.m. Tuesday, followed by No. 4 Wapsie Valley against No. 5 Holy Trinity Catholic at 8 p.m. No. 2 Boyden-Hull meets No. 7 Gehlen Catholic, a Le Mars parochial school, at 6:35 p.m., and No. 3 Janesville faces No. 6 Dunkerton at 8:35 p.m.
Class 1A semifinals are Wednesday at 6 p.m. and 6:35 p.m., and the championship match closes the tournament Thursday at 7 p.m.
How the Field Was Set
Teams from Classes 5A, 4A, and 3A secured their spots at Xtream Arena on the Tuesday before the tournament, according to The Des Moines Register, with Class 2A and 1A pairings finalized the following Wednesday night. KCCI has also published results and match times for fans following along at home.
For communities across Iowa, the state tournament is one of the biggest events of the year. Small towns like Dike-New Hartford, Boyden-Hull, and Janesville routinely send teams deep into the bracket, and gyms back home fill up for watch parties when the matches are on the line.
What Happens Next
Five champions will be crowned Thursday at Xtream Arena, starting with the 5A final at 10 a.m. and ending with the 1A title match at 7 p.m. Scores will update as matches conclude through the week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the 2026 Iowa high school volleyball state tournament held?
All matches are played at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, from Monday, Nov. 2, through Thursday, Nov. 5.
How many teams qualify for the state tournament?
Forty teams qualified, eight in each of the five classes, according to the IGHSAU tournament field.
When are the championship matches?
All five championship matches are Thursday, Nov. 5, running from 10 a.m. for Class 5A to 7 p.m. for Class 1A.