Harlan sweeps Clear Creek-Amana in 4A semis

CEDAR RAPIDS - It may have been through tears, but the Clear Creek-Amana volleyball team was able smile on Thursday despite a 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-13) loss to Class 4A No. 1 Harlan in the state volleyball semifinals.

The Clippers could be satisfied with a loss to the best team in the state that features one of the best players in the state in Jess Schaben.

There were no heads hung low after the match. Instead the players and their coach, Jackie Clubb, were grateful.

'I think we had a great run. Clear Creek(-Amana) has only been to state three times, I believe, so to say I was part of the team that made it to the semifinals is amazing,” said senior Natalie Brimeyer. 'You're sad the season is over, but looking back, you had such a great time with your team, such great runs.

'You can't help but be satisfied, not just looking at this game, but at the whole season. We played great as a team.”

Clear Creek-Amana went in with a game plan of having quick tempo and to try to draw blocks on the hard-hitting Schaben and Taylor Frederick. Clubb also said they wanted to try to create one-on-one chances on the outside, away from those tall middle-hitters for the Cyclones.

Try as they might, there was no escaping Schaben, who finished with 18 of her team's 34 total kills and went 13 of 14 at the service line. The future Iowa State Cyclone was actually one of only two Harlan players to miss on a serve, as the team went 72 of 74 with six aces at the line.

'I'm pleased with everyone's efforts. We had some great senior leadership,” Clubb said. 'Obviously not everyone can end their season on a win, but they still did a great job.

'We struggled a little bit on serve receive. They gave the ball to us pretty tough. (Schaben) did an excellent job terminating the ball and blocking the ball. She's a great player, she deserves a lot of credit.”

As memorable as it was for the Clippers to tie the school's best result with a trip to the semifinals (CCA also went in 1999), obviously it was as much or more for the Cyclones.

Playing with a teal streak dyed in their hair to raise awareness for Ovarian cancer and to honor friend of the program Nadine Kenkel, who died of the disease, Harlan seeks a second straight Class 4A title.

Coach Angie Spangenberg said once her team gets rolling, it's hard to stop. Getting off to a fast start will be the plan once again when Harlan faces West Delaware on Friday at noon in the final.

'Once we got rolling with our hitters and ran some tempo, I think you saw true Harlan out there,” Spangenberg said. 'We've played like this. I'm not saying we haven't been (up and down) at times, but we've pretty much have had quality play (all year). They don't get rattled when things don't go their way, they just keep battling.”

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