Foecke sets record with 37 kills in Holy Trinity sweep

CEDAR RAPIDS - Pick a superlative, any superlative. Make new ones up, if you have to.

Whatever you come up with, it'll probably be an accurate reflection of just how good Holy Trinity's Mikaela Foecke is on the volleyball court. A record 37 kills (breaking her own of 35) from the 6-foot-3 future Nebraska Cornhusker powered the Class 1A No. 1 Crusaders to a 3-0 sweep (25-20, 25-23, 25-17) of No. 4 Tripoli.

'She was amazing tonight. I asked her on the last three points, ‘Do you have three more in you?' She's like, ‘Oh yeah,'” said HTC Coach Melissa Freesmeier. 'She was just lights out tonight. We know she has that capability. Our team kept her in it; they went to her and they know she's the kid.

'I've seen teams with great players and they can't get her the ball. Our team can. We can make that happen, and that says something for the team's ability.”

Foecke hit at a 0.523 clip in the semifinal victory, and her 37 kills moves her to 2,646 for her career. But it wasn't just the kills. She went 14 of 15 from the service line and had 11 digs - just two behind Libero Lauren Pothitakis, who led with 13.

Freesmeier lauded Foecke's self-motivation to train and get better in all areas away from just the team's practice time, saying as sad as she'll be to see Foecke go after Friday's title match, she can't wait to see the senior play at Nebraska.

For her teammates, it would be reasonable to assume they tire of answering questions about her, but it's the opposite. They seem to be just as in awe of what she's able to do as anyone else watching.

Not only that, but she's their friend, too. And her ability in the huddle to rally the team in anxious or negative moments is just as big as any kill.

'It's extraordinary to play with such an amazing athlete,” said setter Ali Randolph, who had a match-high 32 assists. 'I know every time I set her or pass to her, I can count on her executing well.

'She executes the plays, but she can always bring us up if we're down. She always has an awesome positive attitude, and it really helps the team.”

Foecke, though, wasn't about to take all - or any, really - of the credit. Staying humble, she said she wasn't even aware she passed 30 kills until someone told her after the match.

She heaped praise on Randolph, Pothitakis and Kristin Brinck (eight digs, 8 of 8 on serves) for helping her have a record-breaking match. The group effort to rebound - the Crusaders trailed at one point in every set - at different points was all she cared about.

'Honestly, I didn't even know I was having that kind of game until they told me at the end,” Foecke said. 'You really don't know how you're playing yourself, you only know how your team is playing. I think tonight, as a team, we really executed. Even when we got behind, we showed that we could come back and finish a set off.”

The focus now shifts to the state championship against Central Lyon. HTC lost to Janesville a year ago in the final, and appeared to be headed for a rematch before Central Lyon won the final three sets against Janesville.

For anyone in blue, it didn't matter who the opponent would be - though they admitted it would've been extra sweet for another crack at Janesville - just that they want another chance to hoist the championship trophy.

'We've had some losses (that stung) before tonight, so these kids have the want in their eyes,” Freesmeier said. 'They've got the mission. In fact, one of (the girls) said to me (after the match), ‘Can we play now?'

'I know there's going to be tears either way (Friday) because eight of these kids are going to play their last high school game.”

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