Foecke, Crusaders start with a sweep

CEDAR RAPIDS - Mike Meyer resides in the other corner of the state. But he knows talent and determination.

'(Fort Madison Holy Trinity), no doubt, has the top player in the state,” said Meyer, the coach at LeMars Gehlen. 'But the team is made up of much more than just her.

'I know they feel it's their year.”

Hard to argue with that.

Mikaela Foecke swatted 21 kills as top-ranked Holy Trinity swept No. 8 Gehlen, 25-15, 25-13, 25-17, in a Class 1A quarterfinal at the state volleyball tournament Wednesday afternoon at the U.S. Cellular Center.

'We just took care of business,” said Kristen Shaffer, a competent member of Foecke's supporting cast. 'Hopefully we can play better next time.”

The runner-up last year, Holy Trinity (46-4) is the favorite to go all the way in the small-school class this year. The Crusaders have eight seniors on the roster, including Foecke, the 2013 state player of the year.

Holy Trinity changed up its state routine last year, opting to go back and forth from Fort Madison each day instead of staying in a hotel here.

'I think that works better,” Foecke said. 'Now it feels like just another match.

'It was really important to spread out our offense. It was an overall team effort. There's not a single player that didn't play great.”

Holy Trinity will play No. 4 Tripoli or No. 5 New London in a semifinal at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Foecke's 21 kills came on 36 swings as she posted a kill efficiency of .528. She upped her career total to 2,609. Madlyn Orton added 11 kills, and Shaffer collected five blocks.

Morgan Whitehead posted 10 kills for Gehlen (23-15).

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