Kennedy volleyball educates Wash

CEDAR RAPIDS - With the book closed on the regular season, Cedar Rapids Kennedy Coach Michelle Goodall handed the Cougars homework heading into Regional action.

The Cougars aced the first test, defeating Cedar Rapids Washington 25-19, 25-7, 25-9.

'We had what we call volleyball homework,” said Kennedy's Brinley Milbrath, who finished the game with 14 kills. 'We watched film on ourselves as well as the other team.”

Milbrath said that watching game film on herself was a little weird, but the junior hitter found a way to improve her game. Coming into the Regional match-up with the Warriors, she averaged 2.75 kills per set. She blasted nearly 5 per set against Washington.

'You think you're really quick, like that ball you hit was just fine,” Milbrath said. 'But then you watch yourself on film and it looks a little interesting. You really find your flaws.”

The game started with a thud for the Cougars, as the first Warrior serve died off the hands of a Kennedy player. Washington and Kennedy traded points until the Cougars Gabbie Meyer drove the ball over the net to tie the game.

Anna Fluent's ace serve gave Kennedy a 6-5 lead.

'I had a feeling that things were just going to go ok,” Goodall said. 'So we talked about just staying smart.”

Kennedy held a 15-10 advantage later in the first set, but the Warriors (5-31) responded. A kill by Alanna Arrington and an ace serve from Caitlan Peterson pulled Washington to within 15-12.

A Kennedy return landed out and the Cougar lead was cut to 15-13.

'That first set, we came out ready to play,” Warriors Coach Amy Faulkner said. 'We gave them a run for their money in the first set, and that's all I could have asked for at this point in the season.”

The ninth-ranked Cougars (27-11) will play Linn-Mar (27-11) in the Regional semifinal 7 p.m. Thursday at Kennedy.