Heelan starts fast, finishes strong over Wahlert

By Mike Condon, Correspondent

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Top-ranked Dubuque Wahlert had trouble getting started.

No. 4 Sioux City Heelan didn't.

The Crusaders jumped to big leads in each of the first two games and went on to a 25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 25-20 win in a Class 3A semifinal Friday afternoon at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

Wahlert, which closes at 30-9, was able to make charges in all four games, but the slow starts were too much to overcome.

Heelan (46-11) has a date with Waverly-Shell Rock in Saturday's 1 p.m. title match. The Go-Hawks advanced to the final with a three-game sweep over Union.

"Our problem wasn't the finishes, it was the starts," said Wahlert Coach Jan Thyne. "We were down 8-1 in the first game and 10-2 in the second. Heelan is a very good team and you can't give them leads like that.

Heelan went early and often to its star hitter, Natalie Vondrak, who finished with a match-high 21 kills. The senior said trust was the key for the Crusaders.

"I just relied on my teammates," she said. "We just trusted each other to get the job done. It feels great to take down the No. 1 team, but we knew we could do it."

To their credit, the Golden Eagles didn't quit. Despite struggling with their passing at times, Wahlert continued to battle.

"We kept playing, trying to win," Thyne said. "We didn't pass the ball well, but we never gave up."

Thyne made some changes for Game 3, inserting senior Claire Till, a University of Iowa basketball recruit who had missed most of the season with knee problems, into the starting line-up. The move paid off as Wahlert jumped ahead 6-1. Heelan fought back to take the lead at 21-20 only to see the Golden Eagles close it out with five straight points.

"We had some trouble with their changes," said Heelan Coach Mary Miller. "Till is obviously an outstanding athlete and we had to adjust."

Adjust they did, jumping to a 5-0 lead in Game 4. Wahlert tied the game at 10-10, but with Vondrak taking control at the net and from the service line, Heelan gradually pulled away earning a return trip to the finals. They lost to Mount Vernon in the 2010 title match.

"We know we still have work to do," Vondrak said. "This has been our goal since the beginning of the year."

Amy Ihm led Wahlert with 20 kills. Till added 10 to go with five blocks. Megan McCarthy added nine kills and Lauren Brobst had eight for Heelan.

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