Seniors help Johnston outlast Ankeny

CEDAR RAPIDS – After state quarterfinal losses in each of the past two seasons, Johnston leaned on its seniors to ensure it advanced this year.

Senior Hayley Dotseth came up with a pair of crucial kills late in the pivotal fourth game as No. 4 Johnston outlasted fifth-ranked Ankeny, 25-20, 25-17, 17-25, 26-24, in a Class 5A volleyball state quarterfinal Tuesday at the U.S. Cellular Center.

'I think we came out with a lot of energy the first two sets,” said Dotseth, who finished with 19 kills. 'They definitely came back really strong in the third set. We did a good job of not giving them all of the momentum.”

Johnston, which lost in the 5A quarterfinals to Ankeny Centennial last season and to Ankeny in 2012, will play top-ranked and two-time defending 5A state champion Bettendorf (37-0), winners of 46 straight, in Thursday's semifinal at 10 a.m.

The momentum was clearly on the side of the Dragons in Games 1 and 2, as they jumped on Ankeny with its size and experience. Senior setter Kristen Stucker, an Austin Peay commit who ranks fourth in the state in assists, remembered being up on West Des Moines Dowling two games to none on Johnston's senior night before losing in five games.

'I think that really hit home with us,” said Stucker, who tallied a team-high 40 assists. 'This game, when we knew we had the same situation, we knew that we had to adjust that and keep pushing hard even though they would come back hard.”

Ankeny (35-8) staved off elimination with a 25-17 win in Game 3 behind sisters Megan and Alyssa Ballenger. Megan had 19 kills, Alyssa 8.

'It was an adverse situation we created in the first two games,” Ankeny Coach Dave Whims said. 'They came out very focused.”

A key element of Johnston's focus is the emotional boost received from junior Denise Ssozi. Ssozi, third in the state in aces, served up a big one midway through the fourth game to push the Johnston lead to 16-12. Ssozi finished with three aces and 15 kills.

'When she's up, it's great to have her jumping around,” Dotseth said.

Ssozi and Megan Ballenger exchanged a pair of kills to keep the margin at two with Johnston up, 21-19. A late flurry from Ankeny tied it at 24-24 before Johnston brought it to match point, then Dotseth sealed it with a kill.

'I think being our senior year it's really pushing us,” Dotseth said. 'Stay strong until the end of the match, and believe in yourself and your teammates.”