Dike-New Hartford rolls into state semifinal

CEDAR RAPIDS - The faces and game plans may have changed but the results remained the same.

Dike-New Hartford has reloaded and moved closer to making the idea of a fifth straight state title a reality.

The sixth-ranked Wolverines made quick work of No. 3 Eddyville EBF, posting a 25-21, 25-20, 25-16 sweep in the Class 2A quarterfinals of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state volleyball tournament Wednesday at the U.S. Cellular Center. Dike-New Hartford (38-9) advances to Thursday's semifinal against Sumner-Fredericksburg (31-3).

The current Wolverines have competed with the previous champions in practice, so they know what it takes, even if they aren't cut from the same cloth.

'We're a different type of team than we were because our personnel is different but they play really well together,” Dike-New Hartford Coach Diane Harms said. 'They work well together and find ways to keep the ball in play to give us the chance for an opportunity to score a point.”

The lofty expectations are accompanied with some stress. The subject is directly addressed. Everyone is aware, but the focus is on the immediate task.

'There is pressure, but we try not to think about it,” Wolverine senior Katie Nielsen said. 'We just go out there and we try to play one game at a time and give it our all.”

Baylee Petersen led the Wolverines with 14 kills. Nielsen added 10, while Taylor Hedges had 28 assists and Amber Rickert served four aces.

The state tournament experience couldn't have started better, rolling into the semifinals. Dike-New Hartford controlled most of the match, building a 10-point lead in the second set by taking 13 of 16 points in one stretch. They also closed the match winning eight of the last 10.

'It's a great feeling,” Nielsen said. 'it's good to know we're talking good as a team and we're moving on to the next round.

Familiar foe Sumner-Fredericksburg awaits with a finals berth on the line.

'I think it will be a very good game,” Nielsen said. 'it will all come down to execution and energy. I'm really excited.”

The Rockets (35-3) needed to be at their best. Coach Gladys Genskow said nerves contributed to slow starts in each set and it was hard to overcome those deficits.

'The rallies didn't come when they needed,” Genskow said. 'We just didn't get that good start every single set like we needed.”

Karlie Taylor led the Rockets with 10 kills and two aces, while and Emma Bunnell had 25 assists. All but four players return for the Rockets, who made their third straight trip to state.

'It was a very successful season for us,” Genskow said. 'Our program is strong. We have good athletes.”

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