Nevada takes another step forward with sweep of Kuemper

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Nevada Cubs knocked off No. 2, and now they get a crack at No. 1.

Seniors Erin Francis and Kati Cassabaum led the way with 13 kills each as the fourth-ranked Cubs swept second-ranked Carroll Kuemper, 25-20, 25-15, 26-24, in a Class 3A volleyball state semifinal Thursday at the U.S. Cellular Center.

'We did a lot of scouting on them, watched film and had a walk-through this morning,” said Cassabaum, who will play for Northern Iowa next season. 'That definitely helped to prepare mentally for the game. We were just on in many different positions. We meshed well today.”

Second-year Nevada Coach Will Baumann won five 1A state titles with Tripoli and will lead the Cubs into their first championship final Friday at 2:30 p.m. against top-ranked West Liberty (37-4).

'I've always said, high-level volleyball is high-level volleyball,” Baumann said. 'It doesn't matter where it's happening. To watch these kids embrace maybe something that was out of what they were used to doing, in two years, I'm really happy with how they're doing.”

A kill and a block by Francis helped turn a 4-2 deficit into a seven-point lead in Game 2 for the Cubs. Kuemper got no closer than four points before Nevada closed with the game's final six points for a 25-15 win. Kuemper trailed all of Game 3 but rallied to tie it at 23-23 – even reaching game point on two occasions – before Nevada slammed the door, 26-24.

Led by Cassabaum – Nevada's all-time leader in kills and blocks – and Francis, this is a big program step for Nevada (32-9), which was a semifinalist last season after being bounced in the quarterfinals in 2013.

'It's exciting,” Francis said. 'I'm glad that everything is coming together at the end of the season when we need it to. We're all working together and getting our jobs done and good things are happening.””

Freshman Aimee Adams led Carroll Kuemper (29-4) with 11 kills.

'We just fell short,” Kuemper Coach Keith Stickrod said. 'Hitting wasn't as consistent and it's the nerves of the game, kind of got to us today.”

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com