Easy regional volleyball analysis: Keep an eye on Hansel, Van Etten in Ed-Co vs. North Linn showdown

Eileen Bergan’s analysis is straightforward and simple:

Slow the star.

“For both teams, it’s going to come down to who can manage the big hitter on the other side of the net,” said Bergan, volleyball coach at Edgewood-Colesburg. “You have to serve aggressively, keep them out of system and keep the big hitter from getting a lot of opportunities.”

Ed-Co (20-12) has a power hitter in Kelsey Hansel. North Linn (21-8) has one in Chloe Van Etten. Both will be in the spotlight when their teams collide in a Class 1A regional quarterfinal Wednesday night at Troy Mills.

First serve is 7 p.m.

It’s one of three very appealing area matchups Wednesday as the postseason continues.

Monticello (19-8) is at 15th-ranked Independence (29-12) in a Class 3A regional semifinal; Cascade (21-11) welcomes West Branch (20-13) in a 2A regional quarterfinal.

North Linn and Ed-Co went to the wire — and then some — in their regular-season meeting. The Lynx rallied from a two-set deficit to win, claiming Game 5, 19-17.

Both teams missed out on bracket play of the Tri-Rivers tournament Saturday, and both won their first-round matches Monday. North Linn (which is enjoying it winningest season in school history) handled Elkader Central in straight sets; Ed-Co outlasted Waterloo Christian in five.

“I’m glad we had the match we had,” Bergan said. “Playing sharper competition, I think that helped us. Mentally, I think we’re in the best place we’ve been all year.”

Hansel is averaging 3.80 kills per set and owns a .284 kill efficiency; Van Etten is at 3.67 and .293.

Monticello captured the River Valley Conference North Division title and enters its match with Independence with seven wins in its last eight matches.

“This team continues to surprise me, in a good way,” Panthers Coach Stacie Breitbach said. “Matches you’d think we might drop a set or two, we’ve been winning in three.”

That includes a straight-set victory over Dubuque Wahlert in the first round.

“We get down a bit, and it doesn’t seem to faze us,” she said. “Our middles have really set the tone for us, and our outsides ... they’re not really big, but they jump really well.”

Monticello’s top weapon is freshman Jayden Kuper (2.92 kills per set).

Cascade and West Branch will meet for the third time in the last three weeks. The Cougars won 2-0 at the Western Dubuque tournament; the Bears prevailed 2-1 at the River Valley Conference tournament.

Wednesday’s Class 3A regional volleyball semifinals

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 5

West Marshall (18-16) at Mount Vernon (32-12)

Chariton (14-14) at Eddyville EBF (30-4)

Region 6

Mid-Prairie (16-13) at West Liberty (35-4)

Davis County (31-10) at West Burlington (29-3)

Region 7

Northeast (10-28) at Davenport Assumption (32-4)

Monticello (19-8) at Independence (28-12)

Region 8

Waukon (15-19) at West Delaware (38-5)

Vinton-Shellsburg (18-17) vs. New Hampton (24-10), at La Porte City

Wednesday’s Class 2A regional volleyball quarterfinals

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 6

Clayton Ridge (12-13) at Sumner-Fredericksburg (32-6)

MFL MarMac (13-11) at Starmont (18-9)

South Winneshiek (11-19) at Osage (25-9)

Central Springs (19-12) at Lake Mills (29-4)

Region 7

North Cedar (18-15) at Dyersville Beckman (30-11)

West Branch (20-13) at Cascade (21-11)

Waterloo Columbus (21-20) at Wapsie Valley (23-11)

Jesup (20-13) at Grundy Center (27-15)

Region 8

Durant (11-24) at Wilton (33-2)

Louisa-Muscatine (5-14) at Iowa City Regina (19-11)

Van Buren County (12-17) at Mediapolis (12-23)

Pekin (6-15) at Danville (8-16)

Wednesday’s Class 1A regional volleyball quarterfinals

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 5

Don Bosco (13-17) at Springville (30-4)

Edgewood-Colesburg (20-12) at North Linn (21-8)

Turkey Valley (17-15) at Saint Ansgar (17-9)

Tripoli (10-20) at Nashua-Plainfield (12-14)

Region 6

HLV (12-17) at Lisbon (34-6)

Iowa Valley (13-25) at Sigourney (16-13)

Belle Plaine (11-20) at North Tama (27-10)

North Mahaska (18-13) at Montezuma (21-9)

Region 7

Lone Tree (7-20) at Burlington Notre Dame (32-8)

Winfield-Mount Union (21-10) at Wapello (26-10)

Cedar Valley Christian (11-13) at Easton Valley (19-8)

Clinton Prince of Peace (14-20) at Central City (19-13)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com