Western makes it a sweet 16-year semi streak

CEDAR RAPIDS — Some of Western Christian's best volleyball matches occur behind close doors.

Score is kept, with consequences for the losing team.

It happens at practice.

'We focus so hard to be the best we can be,' said senior Karsyn Winterfeld. 'The JV girls, we call them pushers. They push us to be our best. Those scrimmages make us better.'

It makes the Wolfpack a regular at the state tournament. And when they get here, they're absolute money in the first round.

Top-ranked in Class 2A, Western advanced to the semifinals for the 16th consecutive year with a 25-11, 25-17, 25-16 sweep of Grundy Center on Wednesday at the U.S. Cellular Center.

Sixteen years in a row. Let that sink in.

And it doesn't stop there. If Western (39-6) advances to the championship match — it faces No. 7 Council Bluffs St. Albert (27-4) in the semis at 4 p.m. Thursday — that will be the Wolfpack's 15th final in that 16-year span, one that includes nine championships.

'This is what the girls work for all year,' Western Coach Tammi Veerbeek said. 'This is the pinnacle, the biggest stage. The girls don't know any different than to be here, but they sure don't take it for granted. Who wants to be the one to break that streak?'

Folks in this part of the state don't see the Wolfpack until the state tournament. Western faces a difficult schedule against some of the best teams in Nebraska and South Dakota long before the postseason begins. And there's those unseen intrasquad scrimmages on a daily basis.

Each year, another link in that semifinal chain. Sixteen years in a row. Imagine that.

'Our youth program is very big,' Veerbeek said. 'It costs time, money and commitment. The depth of what it provides is unparalleled.'

It probably won't end this year. The JV team was unbeaten — again — not dropping so much as a set.

Winterfeld led the Wolfpack with 11 kills.