Goodall, Brunow won't celebrate together this year

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Michelle Goodall and Barb Brunow have developed a nice little tradition the last two years.

After the regional volleyball finals, the friends gather to celebrate their victories and discuss the state tournament.

It's not happening this year.

Goodall's squad from Cedar Rapids Kennedy hosts Brunow's Xavier Saints in a Class 4A regional semifinal at 7 p.m. Thursday.

"We already talked about that," Goodall said. "We can't go celebrate together."

Seventh-ranked Kennedy (27-9) is favored to win the match and reach the state tournament for the fourth consecutive year -- the Cougars advanced to the semifinals in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

It's a program that has developed into a power.

"We've developed a lot of kids and we have great coaches in place," Goodall said. "We've had to move some kids around this year, and I don't think we've peaked yet."

Kennedy has a gem in Allie Hutcheson, a diverse 6-foot-1 left-hander that hits and sets with equal effectiveness. Hutcheson has committed to play at the University of Northern Colorado.

Brunow was an assistant for Goodall before moving west along 42nd Street and moving the Saints' program forward.

Xavier (19-16) suffered heavy graduation losses after advancing to state two straight years (the Saints were semifinalists last season). Kelly Biermann is back, though, and averages 3.2 kills per game.

Regional semis are statewide Thursday in 4A and 3A, Friday in 2A and 1A.

Class 4A No. 1 Iowa City West (34-6), the defending state champion, hosts Des Moines Roosevelt (20-10) while No. 2 Iowa City High (36-3) entertains Ottumwa. West and City both are the lone ranked teams in their respective regions.

After surviving a five-set match with Williamsburg in a 3A first-rounder, second-rated Solon (30-1) faces Knoxville (17-19) at Williamsburg.

CLASS 4A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS (all Thursday, 7 p.m.)

Region 5

Des Moines Roosevelt (20-10) at No. 1 Iowa City West (34-6)

Waterloo West (21-17) at Cedar Rapids Washington (19-17)

Region 6

Bettendorf (14-14) at North Scott (17-12)

Cedar Rapids Xavier (19-16) at No. 7 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (27-9)

Region 7

Dubuque Senior (12-19) at No. 9 Pleasant Valley (24-7)

Linn-Mar (10-25) at No. 4 Dubuque Hempstead (23-8)

Region 8

Davenport North (7-17) at Muscatine (25-8)

Ottumwa (25-11) at No. 2 Iowa City High (36-3)

CLASS 3A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS (all Thursday, 7 p.m.)

Region 3

Perry (18-11) at No. 8 Bondurant-Farrar (31-6)

Dallas Center-Grimes (15-14) vs. No. 9 Union (30-7), at Grinnell

Region 5

Waukon (18-20) vs. No. 4 West Delaware (36-6), at Oelwein

New Hampton (20-16) at No. 3 Waverly-Shell Rock (43-3)

Region 6

No. 1 Dubuque Wahlert (27-8) vs. Center Point-Urbana (17-23), at Anamosa

South Tama (15-14) at Marion (30-14)

Region 7

Knoxville (17-19) vs. No. 2 Solon (30-1), at Williamsburg

Centerville (20-12) at Fairfield (27-9)

Region 8

Washington (13-16) vs. No. 7 Maquoketa (30-5), at Tiffin

Keokuk (8-15) at No. 13 Davenport Assumption (24-8)

CLASS 2A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS (all Friday, 7 p.m.)

Region 5

Ackley AGWSR (11-15) at No. 4 Grundy Center (39-1)

Mount Vernon (16-19) vs. Gladbrook-Reinbeck (20-11), at Marengo

Region 7

No. 3 Dike-New Hartford (39-3) vs. North Cedar (16-23)

Dyersville Beckman (19-13) vs. Bellevue (11-17), at Monticello

Region 8

Wapello (27-7) at No. 10 West Liberty (25-10)

No. 6 Mediapolis (39-2) vs. Davis County (27-12), at Eldon

CLASS 1A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS (all Friday, 7 p.m.)

Region 6

North Butler (18-13) at Mason City Newman (13-16)

Turkey Valley (13-10) vs. No. 1 Tripoli (35-3), at Elkader

Region 7

No. 6 Janesville (27-10) vs. No. 11 Lisbon (26-8), at Central City

Preston (23-11) at No. 7 Bellevue Marquette (30-4)

Region 8

HLV (13-7) at BGM (13-15)

New London (28-12) at No. 3 Fort Madison Holy Trinity (44-2)