Fluent in limbo as Cougars open tourney trail

It's a bit ironic.

Anna Fluent was thrust into the role of varsity setter during regionals as a freshman, because of the injury of a teammate.

Now, with a potentially promising postseason ahead, Fluent will be limited, if not questionable, Thursday due to an ankle sprain.

'It's still pretty swollen,' Kennedy Coach Michelle Goodall said. 'We're hoping she can go (Thursday). If not, we have a plan in place.'

The ninth-ranked, talent-laden Cougars (27-9) host Cedar Rapids Jefferson (16-20) in a Class 5A regional semifinal, First serve is 7 p.m.

Kennedy has fallen in the regional finals three straight years. Fluent, a senior bound for Loyola University in Chicago, is one of four Division-I volleyball commitments on the roster, hoping to kick that door down and get to state.

'It's time to shine,' Goodall said. 'It doesn't just happen. We have to make it happen.'

Regional semifinals are scheduled for Thursday throughout the state in classes 3A, 4A and 5A. Winners play for state berths Tuesday. In 1A and 2A, regional semifinals are Friday, regional finals next Wednesday.

Fluent was injured last week in the Cougars' win over Cedar Rapids Washington, going for a loose ball and colliding with a teammate. If she can't go Thursday, Goodall probably will install a 6-2 offense with Paige Franck and Madi Palmer sharing the setting duties.

With or without Fluent, Jefferson isn't an automatic gimme. The J-Hawks are a team on the rise with good, young talent.

'They're young and scrappy,' Goodall said. 'A team like that, you never know.'

The champion of the MVC Valley Division, Kennedy is one of three ranked Metro teams in 5A that kick off their regional road Thursday. No. 8 Cedar Rapids Prairie (30-7) hosts Waterloo West (14-23), and No. 10 Linn-Mar (27-8) entertains Davenport Central (9-16).

In Iowa City, 11th-rated West (25-11) hosts City High (16-14) in an earlier-than-usual battle between the archrivals.

'It's been an up-and-down season,' said City Coach Craig Pitcher. 'We've had injuries and some other things that have hit us hard. But what are you going to do? You go with what you've got.'

West defeated City in both regular-season matches, including a five-setter in the Battle for the Spike on Sept. 8.

'That kind of started our trend of having leads and letting them slip away,' Pitcher said. 'Both teams will have to eliminate the big runs — you can't fall behind by five or six points, because you won't be able to dig out.'

Among Class 4A matches, No. 1 West Delaware (44-2) hosts Cedar Rapids Xavier (14-21), No. 4 Marion (29-8) hosts Clear Creek Amana (24-16) and No. 14 Western Dubuque (21-11) travels to No. 5 Dubuque Wahlert (20-14)

Top 3A contests in the area include Mediapolis (27-10) at No. 1 West Liberty (33-4), Cascade (19-14) at No. 5 Mount Vernon (24-12) and North Fayette Valley (14-15) at No. 6 Center Point-Urbana (29-7).

THURSDAY'S CLASS 5A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 5

Cedar Rapids Jefferson (16-20) at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (27-9)

Des Moines Lincoln (20-25) at Ankeny (23-12)

Region 6

Waterloo West (14-23) at Cedar Rapids Prairie (30-7)

Dubuque Senior (8-24) at Dubuque Hempstead (23-11)

Region 7

Davenport Central (9-16) at Linn-Mar (27-8)

Iowa City High (16-14) at Iowa City West (25-11)

THURSDAY'S CLASS 4A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 6

Cedar Rapids Xavier (14-21) at West Delaware (44-2)

Waterloo East (12-21) at Independence (21-14)

Region 7

DeWitt Central (10-15) at Clinton (21-9)

Western Dubuque (21-11) at Dubuque Wahlert (20-14)

Region 8

Clear Creek Amana (24-16) at Marion (29-8)

Mount Pleasant (12-20) at Fort Madison (17-16)

THURSDAY'S CLASS 3A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 6

North Fayette Valley (14-15) at Center Point-Urbana (29-7)

Benton Community (12-24) at Union (24-13)

Region 7

Cascade (19-14) at Mount Vernon (24-12)

Northeast (10-18) at Davenport Assumption (22-12)

Region 8

Mediapolis (27-10) at West Liberty (33-4)

Davis County (22-20) at Centerville (27-6)

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com