Marion, CP-U, Mount Vernon earn volleyball top seeds

By Jeff Holmes

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union announced its 2026 Regional brackets Thursday afternoon on YouTube, and three area schools received top seeds in their tournaments.

Marion (17-12) will host 4A Region 8. The Wolves will receive a first-round bye, then take on the winner of the Oct. 20 game between Xavier (9-9) and Davenport North (2-23). The Regional finals are scheduled for Oct. 27. Waverly-Shell Rock (18-13) is the second seed.

Sixth-rated Center Point-Urbana (19-8) will open the postseason Oct. 20 at home as they host Vinton-Shellsburg (3-28) in a 7 p.m. match in Region 3A-6. The semifinals are scheduled for Oct. 22 with all 3A finals on Oct. 27. Roland-Story (24-5) is the Region’s second seed.

Mount Vernon (22-8) is the other area top-seed in Region 3A-8. The 8th-ranked Mustangs will take on Maquoketa (1-19) on Oct. 20. Wilton (27-4) is the second seed.

Other area teams were assigned as follows (all games 7 pm):

CLASS 5A
Region 3 (Host Ankeny): Des Moines East (5-18) at Jefferson (6-20), Oct. 20 (first round); North Scott (11-12) at Kennedy (13-13), Oct. 22. (Semifinals). FINALS Oct. 27.
Region 4 (Host Dowling Catholic): Linn-Mar (10-17) at Indianola (17-10), Oct. 22.
Region 7 (Host Pleasant Valley): Prairie (15-15) at Johnston (16-12), Oct. 22.

CLASS 4A
Region 4 (Host Clear Creek-Amana): Washington (1-25) at Benton (14-14), Oct. 20.

CLASS 2A
Region 6 (Host Aplington-Parkersburg): Alburnett (9-13) at Maquoketa Valley (9-11), Oct. 19
Region 7 (Host Woodward-Granger): South Hardin (10-18) at Lisbon (20-11), Oct. 21

CLASS 1A
Region 3 (Host Wapsie Valley): North Linn (7-15) at Marquette Catholic (7-20), Oct. 19
Region 7 (Host Dunkerton): Central City (1-12) at Springville (10-13), Oct. 19