The Iowa high school volleyball state tournament field is nearly complete, with Class 5A, 4A and 3A teams locking up their spots Tuesday night for next week's action at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The tournament runs Monday, Nov. 2 through Thursday, Nov. 5, according to Yahoo Sports' tournament pairings and schedule.
Class 2A and 1A pairings will be finalized Wednesday night. As of Tuesday, teams from the Des Moines metro had qualified across multiple classes, including several from the CIML, though the exact count was still being updated.
Class 5A: Waukee Northwest takes the top seed
No. 1 Waukee Northwest opens quarterfinal play Monday at noon against No. 8 Pleasant Valley. The winner faces either No. 4 Dowling Catholic or No. 5 Iowa City West, who meet at 2 p.m.
On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 Dallas Center-Grimes draws No. 7 Cedar Falls at 12:35 p.m., and No. 3 Ankeny faces No. 6 Ankeny Centennial at 2:35 p.m. in a crosstown matchup that should draw a crowd.
Semifinals are Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. and 10:35 a.m. The 5A championship match is set for Thursday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m.
Class 4A: Norwalk leads the field
No. 1 Norwalk meets No. 8 Ballard at 4 p.m. Monday. No. 4 Western Dubuque takes on No. 5 North Polk at 6 p.m., No. 2 Davenport Assumption faces No. 7 Waverly-Shell Rock at 4:35 p.m., and No. 3 Clear Creek Amana plays No. 6 Sioux Center at 6:35 p.m.
The 4A semifinals run Wednesday at noon and 12:35 p.m., with the title match Thursday at 12:15 p.m.
Class 3A: Western Christian holds the No. 1 seed
No. 1 Western Christian, a perennial power from Hull, opens against No. 8 Roland-Story at 10 a.m. Tuesday. 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 plays No. 6 Cherokee at 12:35 p.m.
Semifinals are Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 2:35 p.m. The 3A championship is Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
The regional finals that set this field were played across the state earlier this week, with qualifiers decided in all five classes, CBS2 Iowa reported.
Classes 2A and 1A still to be decided
Quarterfinal slots in the two smallest classes remain open, with pairings to be announced Wednesday night. Quarterfinals in both classes are Tuesday, Nov. 3, with 2A matches at 2, 2:35, 4 and 4:35 p.m. and 1A matches at 6, 6:35, 8 and 8:35 p.m.
The 2A semifinals are Wednesday at 4 p.m. and 4:35 p.m., with the championship Thursday at 4:45 p.m. The 1A semifinals are Wednesday at 6 p.m. and 6:35 p.m., and the 1A final is Thursday at 7 p.m.
What it means for Iowa families
The state tournament is one of the biggest weeks on the Iowa high school sports calendar, drawing families, students and alumni to Coralville from communities across the state. For small-town programs like Western Christian, Dike-New Hartford and MOC-Floyd Valley, a state berth is a point of civic pride that fills gyms and sends caravans down I-80.
Ticket and session information is available through the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, which governs the tournament. Fans planning to attend should check the IGHSAU site for gate times and parking details at Xtream Arena.
For the Des Moines metro, the bracket offers plenty to track: Waukee Northwest's top seed in 5A, Dallas Center-Grimes at No. 2, Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial meeting in the first round, and Norwalk holding the No. 1 spot in 4A. The Des Moines Register's full pairings breakdown lists every matchup and start time by class.
Schedule at a glance
- Monday, Nov. 2: Class 5A and 4A quarterfinals
- Tuesday, Nov. 3: Class 3A, 2A and 1A quarterfinals
- Wednesday, Nov. 4: Semifinals in all five classes
- Thursday, Nov. 5: Championship matches in all five classes
All matches are at Xtream Arena in Coralville. First serve Monday is noon.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Iowa high school volleyball state tournament?
The tournament runs Monday, Nov. 2 through Thursday, Nov. 5 at Xtream Arena in Coralville.
Where is the state volleyball tournament played?
Xtream Arena in Coralville hosts all five classes for the full week.
Who is the top seed in Class 5A?
Waukee Northwest holds the No. 1 seed in Class 5A and opens against Pleasant Valley at noon Monday.
When will Class 2A and 1A pairings be announced?
Pairings for the two smallest classes are finalized Wednesday night, with quarterfinals Tuesday, Nov. 3.