Lisbon one step away from state volleyball — again

LISBON — Ava Czarnecki was too focused to even notice.

As the Lisbon junior was expending large amounts of energy helping the Lions rally in the first two games of Monday's night's Class 2A Region 6 semifinal match with Hudson, the student section was chanting "AC, AC!"

When asked after the Lions' 25-21, 25-20, 25-15 win over the Pirates if she heard her classmates, the soft-spoken Czarnecki simply said, “no, I never heard it.”

Czarnecki may not have heard her classmates, but her effort and determination came through loud and clear, leaving the Lions once again one step away from that elusive first trip to the state tournament.

No. 6 Lisbon (38-2) will meet Sumner-Fredricksburg (30-10) in the regional final on Wednesday at Center Point-Urbana High School. That match will start at 7 p.m. Sumner-Fredricksburg advanced with a straight set win over West Branch.

Hudson retires at 22-15.

In Monday's match, the visiting Pirates had control in each of the first two games only to see the Lions feed off Czarnecki's energy.

“Hey, we knew Hudson was really good,” said Lisbon Coach Lance Kamaus said. “I told our kids they would not be intimidated coming in here based on the schedule they play. In the end, I thought our outsides (Czarnecki and senior Peyton Robinson) hit really well tonight.”

Kamaus said Czarnecki's play on Wednesday was a continuation of a roll she has been on over the past couple weeks.

“She has played so well as of late,” he said. “We played Springville in the (Tri-Rivers) Conference tournament and she had 13 kills in two sets and last Wednesday she wasn't feeling well and had eight kills in just one set. We rested her to try and get her healthy.”

Czarnecki's role has increased this year. As a sophomore, she only played in the front row. This season, she is in there all the time, with one exception.

“We don't have her serve,” Kamaus said. “We get Kaitlynn (Hasselbusch) in there to serve for Ava just to give her a little break just because she plays so hard.”

The first set was tied at 20-20 when Czarnecki pounded home a kill that sparked a 5-1 run to close the set. In Set 2, it was again tied at 20-20 and Czarnecki had two kills in the final five points to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.

Lisbon finally broke the Pirates’ spirit in the third game, closing it out on a 10-2 run.

Czarnecki knows what is on the line Wednesday for the Lions. They were favored in last year's regional final against North Tama, but were denied.

“We remember that feeling,” she said. “This team plays so well together. I know we will be ready.”