Hawks’ ‘fun’ season could become much more so

By Jeff Linder, The Gazette

Lynnette Stecklein's first year as a head volleyball coach as been a blast.

'It's been a lot of fun,” she said. 'The team has shown a lot of growth, both as players and as people. Their character, their confidence, their tenacity ... it's been a huge part of what we're trying to build.”

Cedar Rapids Prairie has an opportunity to place a big cornerstone in that foundation Tuesday night. They face No. 8 Iowa City High in a Class 5A regional final volleyball match at 7 p.m. at Linn-Mar High School.

It's part of an extremely heavy night of important volleyball in the area in 5A, 4A and 3A. Eleven regional finals involve area teams.

Eighty teams will be carved into the 40-team state field by the end of Wednesday. Four power conferences have emerged this postseason, and the Wamac Conference is the most powerful of all. Nine Wamac teams are still alive, including Class 4A top-five squads West Delaware (No. 2), Marion (No. 3) and Clear Creek Amana (No. 5), as well as 3A elites Mount Vernon (No. 1), Solon (No. 2) and Independence (No. 4).

Eight teams from the Mississippi Valley Conference are still kicking, including both of the combatants at Linn-Mar.

Prairie (23-13) has improved greatly after finishing 16-19 last year.

'We didn't make huge changes since last year (the final year Stecklein assisted former coach Kevin Geary), but we did tweak and add some things,” she said. 'Most of the changes revolved around defense.”

City High (23-10) won the MVC Valley Division title, then claimed the MVC tournament crown. The Little Hawks' top three hitters are sophomores.

'They have a very nice team,” Stecklein said. 'They do a good job keeping the ball alive; it's really tough to get the ball down on them.

'The team that's in system more is the team that's going to be successful.”

Newton will host a 5A double-header - Iowa City West (27-11) meets No. 6 West Des Moines Valley (37-11) at 6 p.m., then No. 9 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (28-11) faces No. 3 West Des Moines Dowling (38-6) at 7:30.

Kennedy reached the regional-final round for the 12th straight year, rallying from a 2-0 set deficit (and a 22-18 hole in Game 3) to fight past Linn-Mar last Thursday.

'If we play like we did here, we definitely have a chance to beat (Dowling),” said Kennedy setter Anna Fluent.

Dowling is led by 6-1 middle hitter Mykal Sadler.

'They have huge blocks,” Kennedy Coach Michelle Goodall said. 'We know they're big, se we have to play smart. That's it.”

Elsewhere in Class 5A, Cedar Rapids Jefferson (16-21) meets No. 2 Ankeny Centennial (40-3).

Area 3A and 4A action in headlined by the Wamac. Three matches are Wamac-vs.-Wamac battles - Marion against DeWitt Central (at Maquoketa) in 4A, and Mount Vernon against Williamsburg (at Van Horne) and Solon vs. Dyersville Beckman (at Center Point) in 3A.

TUESDAY'S REGIONAL-FINAL VOLLEYBALL MATCHES

CLASS 5A REGION 3: CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON (16-21) vs. No. 2 ANKENY CENTENNIAL (40-3)

Time and place: 6 p.m., at Huxley

Overview: Two of the top hitters in Class 5A will be on display. Jefferson junior Amanda Ollinger (an Iowa basketball recruit) leads the class in kills per game at 5.27 while Centennial's Jaali Winters ranks No. 4 at 4.25. Centennial is in its second year of existence and is seeking its second straight trip to state; the Jaguars reached the 5A semifinals last year before dropping a heartbreaker to eventual champion Bettendorf. Jefferson is in the regional finals for the second consecutive year. The J-Hawks are seeking their first state trip since 1997.

CLASS 5A REGION 4: No. 9 CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY (28-11) vs. No. 3 WEST DES MOINES DOWLING (38-6)

Time and place: 7:30 p.m., at Newton

Overview: A stirring comeback victory over Linn-Mar allowed Kennedy to reach the regional-final round for the 12th consecutive year. The Cougars can stamp their first state ticket since 2011 with a victory. Kennedy was down 2-0 in sets and 22-18 in Game 3 before mounting its comeback. Brinley Milbrath collected 25 kills in that match and leads the Cougars at 2.75 kills per set. Mykal Sadler leads Dowling at 2.78 kills per set. She is one of five returning starters from last year's state runner-up team. Dowling beat Kennedy in the Westside Invitational quarterfinals, 25-21, 25-20.

CLASS 5A REGION 5: IOWA CITY WEST (27-11) vs. No. 6 WEST DES MOINES VALLEY (37-11)

Time and place: 6 p.m., at Newton

Overview: West is seeking its first trip to state since its back-to-back titles of 2010 and 2011. The Women of Troy tackled one ranked CIML foe (No. 10 Southeast Polk) in the regional semifinals and go after another one. Formerly a hitter/setter combo player, West's Laynie Whitehead is now concentrating on her hitting and leads West at 2.39 kills per set. Valley is chasing its first state trip since 2009. Hannah Lockin and Lexie Jensen average 2.56 and 2.38 kills per game for the Tigers. A West win would send Coach Randy Dolson to state for their fourth straight year. The piloted Dubuque Hempstead to state in 2009-11.

CLASS 5A REGION 7: No. 8 IOWA CITY HIGH (23-10) vs. CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE (23-13)

Time and place: 7 p.m., at Linn-Mar

Overview: City High won in a four-set divisional match Sept. 30, and if the Little Hawks can repeat the feat, they'll head to state for the first time since back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2011 and 2012. City High is young, but its youth is talented. The top three hitters (Alexa Aldrich-Ingram, Kendra Cave and Shannon James) all are sophomores, as is setter Cyan Vanderhoef. Prairie has made a giant leap this year behind first-year coach Lynnette Stecklein. The Hawks were 16-19 last year and have increased their win total by seven. Tuesday, they'll play for their first state trip since 2008. Junior Kate Busswitz, a UNI commitment, averages 2.71 kills per set, and Megan Sprengeler adds 2.55.

CLASS 4A REGION 6: No. 2 WEST DELAWARE (42-2) vs. DUBUQUE WAHLERT (15-20)

Time and place: 7 p.m., at Cascade

Overview: West Delaware won the Wamac Conference East Division championship and the Wamac tournament. Now, the Hawks go after their ninth state berth in a 12-year span. West Delaware won its first 31 matches before absorbing a couple losses at the Westside Invitational to 5A opponents. Now, the Hawks have won eight in a row. Carlee Ketchum ranks third in 4A in assists at 8.80, and libero Emily Thole ranks in the top 10 in digs. Wahlert used to be the state's most feared volleyball program, but has declined steadily since its last state title in 2005. Mackenzie May leads the Golden Eagles' attack with 4.07 kills per set.

CLASS 4A REGION 7: No. 3 MARION (32-7) vs. DeWITT CENTRAL (18-18)

Time and place: 7 p.m., at Maquoketa

Overview: This is one of three Wamac-vs.-Wamac regional finals on Tuesday's docket. These teams did not meet in the regular season. Marion has been without injured libero Abby Phillips, and hopes to extend its season long enough so that she might return next week at state. The Indians had a rough Wamac tournament, but bounced back with a win over 5A top-10 Iowa City High, then rolled past No. 12 Davenport Assumption in the regional semifinals. Alyssa Thomas ranks ninth in 4A in kills at 3.38 per set. Marion's Amanda Sahm and Central's Mackenzie Kuehn both tally more than 7 assists per set. Marion's last state trip was in 2009.

CLASS 4A REGION 8: CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER (18-18) vs. No. 5 CLEAR CREEK AMANA (25-9)

Time and place: 7 p.m., at Marengo

Overview: CCA is favored to reach the U.S. Cellular Center for the first time since 1999. The Clippers will need to neutralize Xavier's Kayla Torson (3.67 kills per set, .329 kill efficiency), one of the best hitters in the Metro. Xavier has hovered around the .500 mark most of the season under first-year coach Katie Bailey, but a big effort Tuesday could get them to state for the fourth time in six years. Madsy Richards adds 2.20 kills per set. Clear Creek Amana's Lauren Stopko ranks No. 2 in 4A in digs (5.68). CCA has won 14 of its last 17 matches.

CLASS 3A REGION 5: No. 4 INDEPENDENCE (34-7) vs. No. 11 UNION (23-11)

Time and place: 7 p.m., at Waterloo West

Overview: Union had never been to the state tournament until 2010, and now the Knights are going for their fifth consecutive appearance. Independence made its first state foray last season and seeks another. Union displays the best 1-2 hitting punch in 3A with Maria Wrage (4.71 kills per set, .423 kill efficiency) and Megan Hudson (3.93, .265). Independence setter Alyssa Hawkins ranks No. 1 in 3A with 9.78 assists per set. Her top hitters are Kaitlin Niedert (2.88 kills per set) and Shelby Lehman (2.64).

CLASS 3A REGION 6: No. 1 MOUNT VERNON (30-7) vs. WILLIAMSBURG (16-18)

Time and place: 7 p.m., at Van Horne

Overview: Williamsburg pulled a pair of minor surprises in the first two rounds, and now pursues a monster shocker in this all-Wamac battle. Mount Vernon swept the Raiders in the season-opener for both teams Aug. 28, but two of the three sets were decided by just two points. A victory would put the Mustangs in the state field for the seventh time in eight years. They have a balanced attack, anchored by setter Morgan Melchert (who ranked third in 3A in assists, with 9.56) and libero Libby Ryan (fourth in digs at 5.38). Williamsburg's Kelsa Berkland is the 3A leader in digs, at 6.03 per set. The Raiders' last state trip was in 2010.

CLASS 3A REGION 7: No. 2 SOLON (29-8) vs. DYERSVILLE BECKMAN (20-15)

Time and place: 7 p.m., at Center Point

Overview: The Class 4A state runner-up in 2012 and 2013, Solon is on the cusp on its fourth consecutive state voyage. These Wamac East rivals met Sept. 23 at Dyersville, with the Blazers taking Game 1 before the Spartans capturing the next three. Jordan Smith (4.12) and Jordan Runge (3.32) rank third and 13th among 3A kill leaders, and Taylor Nearad ranks fourth in assists at 9.07 per set. Beckman is led by senior twins Brooke and Blaire Klostermann, with 2.26 and 2.19 kills per set, respectively. Always a competitive program, Beckman's last state trip came in 2006.

CLASS 3A REGION 8: No. 7 WEST LIBERTY (35-5) vs. No. 9 MEDIAPOLIS (35-6)

Time and place: 7 p.m., at Muscatine

Overview: In terms of records and rankings, this figures to be as good as any match in the state Tuesday. West Liberty will be at a size disadvantage, but have one of the state's premier back-row players in senior Molly Kelly, who averages 5.86 digs per set and has committed to play at the University of Iowa. The rest of the team is junior-oriented, led by hitter Hailey Daufeldt (3.92 kills per set) and setter Cassedi Simon (8.77 assists per set). Mediapolis, which started the season 21-0, is led by hitter Heidi Hillyard (3.23 kills per set, .391 kill efficiency). Mediapolis last reached state in 2012, West Liberty in 2011.

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