Lisbon takes aim, again, at its first state volleyball bid

The Lisbon Lions weren’t yet tucked in bed Monday night when their email alerts buzzed.

Heck, they might not have been home from the gym.

The content: A detailed scouting report on North Tama.

“Our assistant coach does a nice job putting scouting reports together,” Lisbon volleyball coach Lance Kamaus said. “North Tama was kind of the team that jumped out at us when the (regional) brackets came out.

“Safe to say, we’re prepared. Now, can we execute?”

Fourth-ranked Lisbon (36-6) takes aim, again, at its first state-tournament bid in school history when it faces the No. 12 Redhawks (29-10) in a Class 1A regional final.

First serve is 7 p.m. at Benton Community High School, Van Horne.

In the other area 1A regional final Wednesday, No. 4 Springville (32-4) pursues its seventh state bid in the last nine years; the Orioles meet Saint Ansgar (19-9) at Waterloo West.

No. 7 Dyersville Beckman (32-11) faces No. 8 Wapsie Valley (25-11) in a 2A dandy at Independence.

This is Lisbon’s fourth regional final under Kamaus.

“We were big underdogs in the first two (against West Point Marquette and Tripoli),” Kamaus said. “The goal against Tripoli, we wanted to force them to take a timeout because they were uncomfortable, and we did that.”

In 2019, the Lions were favored, but fell short against Springville.

“That one was a disappointment,” Kamaus said. “But it was part of the process.

“The last three years, we’ve made a concerted effort to make more of an effort on how we do things, doing a better job of building a relationship with the kids.”

That, and talent, has pushed the Lions to a 98-19 record the past three years.

“When we’re right, our defense and our serve receive are money, and they have to be (Wednesday),” Kamaus said. “We always hope to have one more option than the other team can defend.

“With this group, I don’t think there was any other goal than to get to state. This match is where we want to be.”

Springville appears to be a significant favorite in its regional final, while Dyersville Beckman will be involved in a coinflip match.

The Orioles shook off a slow start Monday, avenging a late-season loss to Edgewood-Colesburg.

“It was as bad of a start as we could have had,” Coach Claude Howard said. “But the kids fought through it and got their offense going.”

Saint Ansgar has won 13 straight matches after a 6-9 start.

Wednesday’s Class 2A regional finals

No. 7 Dyersville Beckman (32-11) vs. No. 8 Wapsie Valley (25-11), 7 p.m. at Independence

Probably the best of Wednesday’s 16 regional finals. Beckman looks to return to state after falling in the regional semifinals last year; the Blazers had qualified the previous three years. A co-champion of the rugged Wamac Conference East Division, Beckman sports one of the state’s top players in Iowa State recruit Kiersten Schmitt (5.38 kills per set, .347 efficiency). Wapsie Valley is up a class after qualifying in 1A in 2019 and 2020. The Warriors were one of the favorites to win the small-school title last year but were unable to compete due to a COVID outbreak between regionals and state. Six starters are back from that squad, led by Lydia Imbrogno (3.69 kills per set).

STATE

No. 1 Dike-New Hartford (50-1) vs. Van Meter (20-10), 8 p.m. at Marshalltown

No. 2 Wilton (35-2) vs. Mediapolis (14-23), 8 p.m. at Muscatine

No. 3 Western Christian (37-5) vs. No. 12 Treynor (28-7), 6 p.m. at Sioux City Heelan

No. 4 Boyden-Hull (27-5) vs. No. 13 Ridge View (29-7), 7 p.m., site TBA

No. 5 Sumner-Fredericksburg (34-6) vs. No. 9 Osage (27-9), 7 p.m. at Charles City

No. 6 Denver (35-7) vs. No. 11 Carroll Kuemper (26-10), 7 p.m. at Webster City

No. 10 South Hardin (35-5) vs. Guthrie Center ACGC (23-12), 7 p.m. at Alleman

Wednesday’s Class 1A regional finals

No. 3 Springville (32-4) vs. Saint Ansgar (19-9), 7 p.m. at Waterloo West

Springville is accustomed to November volleyball, and a win Wednesday would land the Orioles at the state tournament for the seventh time in nine years. They’re favored to advance behind a veteran crew; six starters are back from last year’s team, led by Tri-Rivers West Division player of the year Nia Howard (8.89 assists per set), who also is one of six players with more than 100 kills this season. Lauren Wilson leads the team with 2.57 kills per set. Springville avenged a late-season loss to Edgewood-Colesburg, sweeping the Vikings in Monday’s regional semifinal. Saint Ansgar carries a 13-match winning streak, and only one of the Saints’ losses have come against 1A competition. Four hitters average more than 1 kill per set, none more than 2.

No. 4 Lisbon (36-6) vs. No. 12 North Tama (29-10), 7 p.m. at Van Horne

Lisbon’s catchphrase is #BreakTheRock, and a regional-final victory would be a breakthrough, indeed. The Lions are 0-3 in regional finals, including an upset loss to Springville in 2019. But this is Lance Kamaus’ best team yet, led by junior Peyton Robinson, the Tri-Rivers Conference East Division player of the year. Robinson averages 3.28 kills per set, but is even more valuable in the back row, where she posts 4.51 digs per set. Ava Czarnecki adds 3.26 kills per set, Kali Nelson 9.51 assists per set. The Lions are 20-2 against 1A competition, with both losses coming to Springville. North Tama earned state trips in 2017 and 2019, and looks to get back behind a new nucleus piloted by junior setter Jadyn Rausch, who averaged 6.56 assists per set and is second on the team in kills.

STATE

No. 1 Burlington Notre Dame (34-8) vs. Easton Valley (21-8), 6 p.m. at Muscatine

No. 2 Le Mars Gehlen (24-5) vs. Akron-Westfield (18-7), 8 p.m. at Sioux City Heelan

No. 5 Fort Madison Holy Trinity (31-10) vs. Lamoni (29-4), 7 p.m. at Ottumwa

No. 6 Ankeny Christian (33-3) vs. No. 11 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (28-13), 6 p.m. at Marshalltown

No. 7 Newell-Fonda (28-3) vs. No. 10 Janesville (24-15), 7 p.m. at Clarion

No. 14 Tri-Center (26-10) vs. Sidney (24-15), 7 p.m. at Lewis Central

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com