Kuemper overcomes nerves and Warriors to advance

CEDAR RAPIDS — Neither butterflies, nor Warriors were enough to stop Carroll Kuemper.

The Knights remained composed and returned to the state semifinals after a year hiatus.

Second-ranked Kuemper topped No. 11 Sergeant Bluff-Luton, 25-15, 23-25, 25-15, 25-23, in the Class 3A state quarterfinals Wednesday at the U.S. Cellular Center. The Knights will face Nevada in Thursday's semifinals.

'It was a little shaky at times,' Kuemper Coach Keith Stickrod said. 'I know we were a little more capable than that. Overall, it was a pretty good performance.'

The Knights (29-3) earned each point, receiving a stiff test from Sergeant Bluff-Luton. Kuemper led 13-5 in the fourth set before the Warriors stormed back to force a 16-16 tie. The teams alternated points for seven more ties before Kuemper recorded consecutive kills from senior Abby Derner and freshman Aimee Adams to end it.

'When you come to the state tournament, nothing is going to be given to you,' Kuemper senior Paige Overmohle said. 'Everybody is going to have jitters, like coach said, but eventually they are going to come out and play their best volleyball.'

The Knights were able to produce some long rallies that led to 12-4 and 23-13 advantages in the first. The third set was similar with Kuemper getting out to 13-4 and 24-11 leads. They receive a boost from teammates on the court.

'That's how we get going,' Overmohle said. 'We feed off each other's energy and the student section's energy. When we can do that and get big runs, it really helps.'

Derner led the Knights with 16 kills. Overmohle added 13. Adams had three solo blocks and assisted on three more. Abby Lohrmann had 44 assists, which powers the offense.

'It really just starts the pass,' said Overmohle, who praised Lohrmann said. 'If you can get a pass to one of our hitters we have confidence in putting it down.'

Brittni Olson and Kylee Christensen led Sergeant Bluff-Luton with 12 and 10 kills, respectively, for Sergeant Bluff Luton (35-12). Morgan Skinner had three aces for the Warriors, making their first state appearance since 1985.

'In the end, they battled, fought and gave it everything they got,' first-year Warriors head coach Renee Winkel said. 'I couldn't ask for more than that.'

Kuemper has been focused on another finals appearance. The Knights were second in 2013.

'I think we have the talent,' said Stickrod, noting they've worked on trying to avoid mental hiccups. 'It's one step at a time. This is one step into it.'

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