The North Tama Redhawks volleyball team pictured following their Class 1A state semifinal match at Xtream Arena in Coralville on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. Front row (from left): Seniors Brooke Bradley (7), Cayleigh Heller (11), Addison Hochstetler (4), and Kruiz Ewoldt (9). Back row (from left): manager Asher Brown, assistant coach Karisa Kladivo, Grace Dvorak (6), Isabelle Gropper (14), Eva Williams (3), Jessica Morrison (5), Harper Rausch (10), Haydn Wilson (15), Alaney Sienknecht (13), Kahlia Even (12), Lily Sell (17), Madelyn Kucera (8), Brityn Blaine (1), assistant coach Breanna Sebetka, and head coach Channing Halstead. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

CORALVILLE – The North Tama Redhawks began their run at the 2025 Iowa High School State Volleyball Championships on Tuesday, Nov. 4, by sinking the Sidney Cowgirls in straight sets – defeating the 2019 state champions to advance to the state semifinals for only the third time in North Tama school history.

The following evening, hopes of making it to the summit were dashed relatively quickly at the hands of this season’s Iowa Star Conference champs, the Janesville Wildcats who swept the Redhawks 3-0 for a trip to the final.

Quarterfinals: North Tama v Sidney

North Tama’s state quarterfinal win over Sidney on Election Day was a moment of triumph some six years in the making as the last time the Redhawks faced the Cowgirls was back in 2019 during the Class 1A state semifinals: The Redhawks fell 3-1 to the top-ranked Cowgirls who went on to win the 2019 Class 1A state championship by defeating Wapsie Valley in the final.

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, inside Coralville’s Xtream Arena, third-seed North Tama toppled No. 6 Sidney in straight sets of 25-19, 25-21, 26-24. According to reporting by KMA Radio’s Derek Martin, after racking up a negative hitting percentage in the first set followed by .172 in the second, the Cowgirls attempted to turn it around in the third.

North Tama sophomore outside hitter Lily Sell lands a kill against the Janesville Wildcats during the Class 1A state semifinal match on Wednesday, Nov. 5, in Coralville. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“Trailing 22-20 in the [third] set, the Cowgirls scored the next four points on three North Tama errors and a big Myler Maher block,” Martin wrote. “On their first set point, the rally between the two teams lasted well over a minute and had several bodies sliding across and even off the floor. Eventually, [Redhawk senior outside hitter] Kruiz Ewoldt slammed home a winner before [Redhawk sophomore] Lily Sell tied it with one of her own. A Redhawks ace and Sell kill followed, and [Sidney’s] season was suddenly over.”

Ewoldt was the recognized MVP of the match against the Cowgirls, leading the Redhawk rout with 15 kills. Sell added another 14 and freshman Alaney Sienknecht nine. Sophomore Isabelle Gropper ended the evening with 21 assists and senior Cayleigh Heller a dozen more.

On defense, senior libero Addison (Addy) Hochstetler dominated with 23 digs, while Ewoldt secured seven plus a block.

North Tama notched 11 aces against Sidney, including four from Ewoldt who was 16-for-18; Gropper was 26-for-28 with three aces; junior Haydn Wilson and senior Brooke Bradley both had two aces apiece.

In defeat, Sidney ended the 2025-26 season 22-10, while the Redhawks moved on to face conference foe Janesville the next evening in the 1A semifinal round.

North Tama freshman Alaney Sienknecht (13) enthusiastically celebrates a point earned during the Redhawks’ semifinal match with Janesville on Nov. 5 during the state volleyball tournament in Coralville. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Semifinals: North Tama v Janesville

In their semifinal match, North Tama and No. 2 seed Janesville were facing each other for the third time this season. Back on Oct. 13, the Wildcats defeated the Redhawks 2-1 (28-30, 25-16, 11-15) in Osage before again claiming another 2-1 (21-19, 17-21, 10-15) victory over the Redhawks five days later during the Iowa Star Conference Gold Bracket tournament.

During the first set Wednesday evening in Coralville, the Redhawks seemed to struggle with nerves against the Wildcats before tempering their runaway heat and tying it up 8-8. Per reporting by Waverly Newspapers’ Cole Negen, leading 14-13, the Wildcats embarked on a 8-0 scoring run.

North Tama attempted a late rally by holding off Janesville’s set point four times before Wildcat freshman middle hitter Quinn Sweeney secured the kill for the 25-19 win.

In the second set, the Redhawks recovered their confidence to put up their best fight of the evening against the Wildcats, taking the first point and then trading the lead off and on by a point until the set tied up at 12-12. North Tama again pushed the set point several times before Janesville senior hitter Keke Smith scored the winning kill (25-19).

North Tama senior libero Addison (Addy) Hochstetler digs deep against the Janesville Wildcats Nov. 5 in Coralville during the 2025 Iowa High School State Volleyball Championships. Against Janesville, Hochstetler led the defense with 16 digs. Also pictured, Grace Dvorak (6) and Alaney Sienknecht (13). PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

The third set went quickly as the fast-paced Wildcats laid down the hammer beginning at roughly the halfway point. “The Wildcats held an 11-10 lead before outscoring the Redhawks 14-4 to complete the match sweep,” Negen wrote. “One more Sweeney kill gave the Wildcats the 25-14 win and clinched the Wildcats a spot in the state championship game.”

Against Janesville, Sienknecht led the offense with 11 kills followed by Ewoldt with eight and Sell with three. Gropper amassed 15 assists and Heller had seven.

Hochstetler marshaled the defense with 16 digs, while Ewoldt and Sienknecht both recorded another nine apiece. Sienknecht also had one block, as did Brooke Bradley.

In total, the Redhawks served up four aces against Janesville, including two in a row from Gropper in the second set (leading to a massive adrenaline boost), while Ewoldt recorded the other two.

Janesville (33-11) went on to lose the 1A state championship match to Saint Ansgar (31-4), while North Tama ended the 2025-26 season 29-14. Four Redhawk seniors saw their high school career end against the Wildcats, including Bradley, Ewoldt, Heller, and Hochstetler.

Redhawks Jessica Morrison (5) and Lily Sell (17) attempt to block Janesville’s Quinn Sweeney (20). PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Since 2017, North Tama has secured six regional championships leading to six state runs (2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) and three semifinal round appearances (2019, 2021, 2025) – all under head coach Channing Halstead.

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S to the Redhawks for earning their way to the Class 1A semifinal round at the 2025 Iowa High School State Volleyball Championships! Six-time state-qualifiers now. A feat to wear with pride!

Redhawk freshman Alaney Sienknecht serves against the Janesville Wildcats during the Class 1A state semifinal match on Wednesday, Nov. 5, in Coralville. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

The North Tama volleyball team celebrates a point during the Class 1A state semifinal round match played against Janesville on Nov. 5 in Coralville. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

North Tama sophomore Isabelle Gropper (14) sets up her serve against the Janesville Wildcats during the Class 1A state semifinal match on Wednesday, Nov. 5, in Coralville. In total, the Redhawks served up four aces against Janesville, including two in a row from Gropper in the second set. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Redhawk freshman outside hitter Alaney Sienknecht (13) makes a dig against the Janesville Wildcats Nov. 5 in Coralville during the 2025 Iowa High School State Volleyball Championships. Against Janesville, Sienknecht recorded nine digs and one block. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Redhawk sophomore outside hitter Lily Sell (17) successfully earns the point against the Janesville Wildcats’ 6-foot-4 freshman middle hitter Quinn Sweeney (20) following an offensive scramble during the third set of the Class 1A state semifinal match played in Coralville on Nov. 5. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER