Lisbon’s up a class, competition grows with it

Lance Kamaus meant no disrespect to Class 1A volleyball teams. His Lisbon Lions used to be one.

However ...

'The thing we've noticed right away is that there is so much balance in 2A,” Kamaus said on the heels of the Lions' regional first-round win over Wilton. 'In 2A, you don't get a weak opponent in the first round. You get a challenging match right away.”

The Lions get another one in Round 2.

Lisbon (26-9) faces border rival North Cedar (28-11) in a regional quarterfinal at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Clarence.

'I'm not disparaging anyone at 1A; there are really good teams in that class,” said Kamaus, the Lions' coach. 'But in 2A, the quality and the depth are so good. Wilton was the last-place team (in the River Valley Conference South Division), and they had good players.

'Look at North Cedar. We beat them easily last year and they had a lot of seniors. Now they have a lot of good young kids, and we're going to have to play really well to beat them.”

The Knights are rated 15th and claimed the RVC North Division title behind a team that features no seniors in the regular rotation. Sisters Darby Hawtrey (freshman) and Madison Hawtrey (junior) are the top two hitters.

Lisbon, which has matched a school record for wins in a season, is senior-laden behind hitter Danielle Heiken (3.44 kills per match).

West Branch is the area's top team playing Tuesday. The Bears (31-5) are ranked No. 8 in 2A and captured both the RVC South regular-season title and the RVC tournament crown. They'll host Pekin (15-7).

In 1A, 14th-rated Springville (25-13) begins pursuit of a second straight state berth; the Orioles entertain North Tama (14-17).

No. 10 Turkey Valley (25-9) hosts Lansing Kee. And in a pair of all-SICL matches, No. 13 Keota (17-6) hosts Montezuma (9-13) and No. 15 Iowa Valley (22-7) hosts Lynnville-Sully (13-9).

TUESDAY'S CLASS 2A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 6

Conrad BCLUW (22-7) at Dike-New Hartford (34-3)

Saint Ansgar (14-10) at North Butler (8-22)

Jesup (20-11) at Wapsie Valley (27-6)

BGM (15-9) at Iowa City Regina (15-14)

Region 7

Postville (5-17) at Sumner-Fredericksburg (27-2)

Clayton Ridge (16-13) at South Winneshiek (17-15)

Starmont (26-9) at Cascade (16-19)

North Linn (14-12) at Denver (27-12)

Region 8

Lisbon (26-9) at North Cedar (28-11)

Pekin (15-7) at West Branch (31-5)

Wapello (18-13) at Durant (26-6)

Danville (9-17) at West Burlington (23-13)

TUESDAY'S CLASS 1A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 5

Lansing Kee (12-16) at Turkey Valley (25-9)

Nashua-Plainfield (25-7) at Dunkerton (17-8)

Latimer CAL (9-11) at Tripoli (23-13)

Northwood-Kensett (15-12) at Mason City Newman (1-19)

Region 6

North Tama (14-17) at Springville (25-13)

Gladbrook-Reinbeck (17-18) vs. Don Bosco (10-15), at Garwin

Calamus-Wheatland (11-17) at Bellevue Marquette (29-3)

Central City (4-20) at Midland (16-14)

Region 7

Montezuma (9-13) at Keota (17-6)

Lynnville-Sully (13-9) at Iowa Valley (22-7)

Iowa Mennonite (8-25) at Lone Tree (9-17)

Burlington Notre Dame (18-16) at New London (31-7)

Region 8

Melcher-Dallas (7-14) at Southeast Warren (11-10)

Moravia (16-8) at Wayne (4-17)

Harmony (1-29) at Fort Madison Holy Trinity (42-4)

Sigourney (12-11) at Winfield-Mount Union (23-9)

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