Veerbeek, Wolfpack switch tactics

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Tammi Veerbeek has changed her approach."A hundred and eighty degrees," she said. "Dike who? I don't know who you're talking about."Veerbeek was kidding about the last part. She knows all about Dike-New Hartford, who has beaten her Western Christian outfit in two straight Class 2A finals. But she was sincere about the first part."We've really taken a different stance on things," she said. "They knocked us off two years ago, and I knew we were going to be good last year."(Dike-New Hartford) became too much of an obsession with me."The collision course continued for No. 1 Dike-New Hartford (43-1) and No. 2 Western Christian (44-2) Wednesday. Both teams motored through their Class 2A state quarterfinals.They're both heavily favored in Thursday's semifinals and figure to meet in another championship match Friday."We won't talk about them until we're blessed to have a chance to play them," said Western's Summer Jansen.Said Haley Moss, "I can honestly say Coach hasn't said 'Dike' one time. We're just focusing on working as a team."Dike-New Hartford is ranked No. 4 in the country by prepvolleyball.com."If it happens (that we meet), it happens," Veerbeek said. "This team, this season will be a success no matter what the end is. I just wanted these kids to enjoy the journey."

MEET THE CHALLENGERSThis year, Eddyville EBF and Sumner-Fredericksburg step in as the challengers , eager to face DNH and Western.“The girls keep talking that we can beat any team,” EBF Coach Gladys Genskow said. “If we can get everybody playing on their A-game, obviously -- and that's with any team -- as long as we're on our game, we have the talent and we're ready to challenge anybody.“We're not going to be fearful of anybody.”EBF sophomore Karlie Taylor invoked the NCAA tournament when assessing the chances for an upset of the state's top two teams.“Like in March Madness, they always have a Cinderella story,” Taylor said. “We are hoping to take Dike-New Hartford to five games because in that fifth game, anything can happen.“For the past two years, they've been in the final, so it would be a dream come true to beat them.”For Sumner-Fredericksburg, which gets Western in the semifinals, there won't be any worrying about the outcome.The Cougars know what they're up against, and won't hide from it.“We'll go in there and keep playing our game,” said Sumner-Fredericksburg senior Kally Frisch. “They're a great team. We know that. We'll give everything we've got, take it one point at a time, and whatever happens, happens.”Both Class 2A semifinal matches will be at 4 p.m. on Thursday.