Janesville repeats spoiler role, knocks out Holy Trinity

CEDAR RAPIDS - A year later and the glass slipper still fits.

A surprising state finalist last year in its first state appearance in school history, Janesville started another Cinderella experience.

The sixth-ranked Wildcats ended the dance for third-ranked Holy Trinity, claiming a 25-23, 24-26, 25-19, 25-21 victory in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Class 1A state quarterfinals Thursday at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

“It was a great battle back and forth,” Janesville Coach Shelly Sorensen said. “It could have gone either way.”

It went Janesville's way similar to last year's quarterfinal when the Wildcats dropped Alta in five games ago. Sorensen said last year's achievement wasn't used as motivation due to the contrast in the two teams. Freshman Kendyl Sorge watched her sister Talere, a senior on that team, and wanted to emulate last year's success.

“They just looked like they had so much fun out there,” Sorge said. “I really wanted to do that again this year, and it happened so it's great.”

She received some words of wisdom from her older sibling, who had already been in her shoes.

“She just told me to just have fun and act like it was a normal game,” Sorge said. “It was good advice.”

Sorge powered a balanced offensive attack and strong defense, tallying a team-highs with 25 kills and 18 digs. Game 4 was tied at 21-21 when two Sorge kills sandwiched a pair of Holy Trinity errors to end the match. She seemed to provide a key shot whenever it was needed for the Wildcats (30-10).

“It was great,” Sorge said. “It felt awesome to get all the kills. It was just a blast out there.”

Holy Trinity Coach Melissa Freesmeier said the Wildcats avoided their blocks well at the net. Natalie Brace had 18 kills and Shelby Schurstein added 11 as Janesville mixed up its sets for an effective 28.6 kill percentage. Brace also had 12 digs and two aces. This is her first year as a starter.

“She was behind that senior group for a long time waiting her turn,” Sorensen said. “She really came through tonight. Her first chance down here to lead our team and she came up with some huge hits and defense, too.”

The two teams alternated points throughout an intense battle from the first serve. They exchanged two-point wins, but the Wildcats managed a couple runs to pull away in their sets. Janesville trailed 20-19 when it scored five of the next six points on the way to claiming the first set.

Janesville opened with a 14-5 lead in the third and closed on a 9-4 run.

“We tried to trade back and forth,” Sorensen said. “Trade the points and hopefully you can slow them down every now and then to try to get a run going, but those runs kept going back and forth.”

The Crusaders (46-3) had a powerful lineup of hitters led by Mikaela Froecke. She engaged Sorge in a battle of freshmen, recording 27 kills and tying Tripoli's Megan Gilbert for most in the opening round of 1A. The Wildcats defense reduced their effectiveness with 64 digs.

Froecke was a force in the fourth set, contributing to seven straight points to put the Crusaders up, 17-15. The Wildcats responded and had an answer like most of the game.

“They were tenacious on defense, and we know they would be," Freesmeier said. "They're a very, very quick, aggressive team, and they never let up.”

Sorensen said anyone who has watched volleyball knows the importance of keeping points alive.

“That is what gets you momentum,” Sorensen said. “If you can stay in the point long enough so we can put it away or force the other team to make a mistake.”

The Wildcats needed a five-set win just to reach state. They appear to be peaking at the most important time of the year, again. They face LeMars Gehlen (33-1) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

“You try to use the whole season to prepare for postseason,” Sorensen said. “It's good to see them picking up their game, even today.”

[gallery columns="2"]