It’s been nearly three weeks since the ADM volleyball Tigers played in a tournament, after the team had one of the more hectic early-season schedules. Through the first week and a half of the year, ADM played 18 matches across four tournaments.

Things calmed down after that, but following a string of three conference matches, the 12th-ranked Tigers travel to Dubuque this Saturday for the Dubuque Invitational, where they will be challenged by some of the toughest competition yet.

ADM, one of the smallest 4A schools, will take on a number of 5A schools. That’s exactly why Tigers head coach Mary Beth Scott looks forward to this tournament every year — she knows her team will be challenged by larger schools that often times, have taller and deeper rosters.

The Tigers will start Saturday morning with pool play. In their pool is Class 5A and No. 1-ranked Bettendorf (19-0 this season),  fellow Class 4A team Cedar Rapids-Xavier, ranked 9th, and Muscatine. Like in the world cup, the top two in each pool advance to the gold bracket, while the bottom two will be sent to the silver bracket.

“It is a really good experience for us to get back into the flow of playing a lot of games and also tougher competition,” Scott said. “It helps speed our game up.

“…It’s good for us. It typically helps us play better when we get back.”

Scott said it would be a big accomplishment for the Tigers (15-6, 2-1 Raccoon River Conference) to win the silver bracket — a goal they have almost every year — precisely because they are one of the smallest 4A schools and will be playing so many 5A squads.

Note: All rankings via the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union