Ankeny Centennial rolls with sweep of Dubuque Hempstead

CEDAR RAPIDS - Ankeny Centennial remains in the hunt for a fourth straight state title.

All that with a target fixed to their backs.

The third-seeded Jaguars hit their shots to open the state tournament, sweeping No. 6 Dubuque Hempstead, 25-15, 25-15, 26-24, in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Class 5A state volleyball quarterfinal Tuesday at the U.S. Cellular Center.

Centennial is trying to join Dike, Dike-New Hartford, Dubuque Wahlert, Tripoli and Western Christian as the only programs to win four consecutive state crowns.

'Since the very first state championship we've had a target on our back,” Centennial junior Kenna Sauer said. 'That's always how it's going to be and it definitely gets harder the more successful we are.

'We need to keep our heads level and we're also after people. We're not just going to let them come after us.”

The Jaguars (30-7) hit on nearly all cylinders, taking a commanding 2-0 lead. They jumped to an 11-2 lead in the opener and the Mustangs (28-8) never closed within six.

The second set was much of the same. Centennial Coach Jessica Rinehart said her team had the potential to be dominant if they matched the effort of recent weeks.

'It looked like I hoped it would look,” Rinehart said. 'We've looked really good the last three weeks and I felt like if we played the way we've practiced the last three weeks that is what it would look like and it did.

'It's always nice when a plan comes into place.”

The sweep was the right springboard into a semifinal rematch with West Des Moines Valley (40-7) on Thursday.

'It's really big,” Sauer said. 'It sets the tone for how we want to play the rest. We've had to overcome a lot of things this season, so it's nice to get where it matters and play the way we did.”

Hempstead challenged in the third set. The Mustangs scored three straight for a 16-13 edge. Centennial battled back for four straight and a lead that switched hands four more times.

Devyn Robinson had a late kill, Sauer added two more and Megan Lively set up set point for the Jaguars. Robinson, a sophomore middle hitter, dominated with a game-high 20 kills and five solo blocks.

I just went out there and played for my team,” Robinson said. 'I just want to put them on my back and carry them because I love them.”

Ellie Teeple had 18 assists and Sauer had 14 digs for Centennial.

Jada Wills had nine kills to lead Hempstead. Alana Cooksley had 10 assists for the Mustangs.

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