Valley fends off Dowling to return to state volleyball semifinals

CEDAR RAPIDS - West Des Moines Valley saved its best for last.

The Tigers didn't have much of a choice against a pesky, upset-minded West Des Moines Dowling.

Valley claimed the last two sets and finished a 15-25, 25-15, 22-25, 25-19, 15-10 victory in a Class 5A state volleyball quarterfinal Tuesday at the U.S. Cellular Center.

The Tigers (40-7) took control of the final game, winning seven of eight points for a 13-8 lead, getting an ace from Olivia Curry, a kill from Madi Kubik and an ace from Payton Lombardi during the stretch. Kubik sealed the victory with her game-high 31st kill.

'I would say that was our best set,” Valley Coach Jeremy Mikesell said. 'When you can do that when it's on the line, to me that means this team isn't going to quit and that's a scary thing for opponents.

'That's why I love coaching these guys. They are so much fun. You just don't know what you're going to get, but at the end of the day they did their best.”

The final game was set up by a seesaw affair in the fourth. Both teams produced five-point runs. The Tigers managed to take five of the final six points, receiving a kill from Kubik and a block from Macy Schuette.

'We've played them several times,” said senior Ronni DiCarlo, who had nine assists and was a member off last year's semifinal team. 'We knew they were a tough team. It wasn't going to be easy, but obviously we're excited to be back in the semis. Hopefully, it goes better than last year.”

Dowling (34-10) controlled the opening game, building a 16-8 lead and coasting to take the opener. The Marrons used a fast start in the third, getting four kills and a block from Jacey Koethe on the way to an 11-3 lead. Koethe had 13 kills and teammate Sally Gaul led Dowling with 15. Ailena Shimon had 39 assists for Dowling.

'This is a huge win for us,” Kubik said. 'We knew this was going to be a tough match coming in.

'We knew we were going to have to keep our composure and play our game. That helped us win that match.”

Kubik provided key points whenever needed and powered the Tigers with at least a half-dozen kills in the second set. The Nebraska commit also had 10 digs, an ace and assisted on two blocks.

She has accepted a leadership role for second-seeded Valley. Last year, she was the second option.

'She's embraced that role, saying I want the ball in the back row, front row, I want those big swings when we need it,” Mikesell said. 'She understands the team aspect, too. That's one thing I appreciate about her is her mentality and composure. She's very mature for a volleyball player. She said we're going to have to continue to be aggressive at the pins. We're going to have to have other people be diverse and get good swings.

'At the end of the day, she got those few swings that mattered but they wouldn't have mattered if not for those other girls to step up and do what they did.”

Valley will face the winner between Ankeny Centennial and Dubuque Hempstead.

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