Marion a point away from the finals at the Linn-Mar Invitational volleyball tournament

MARION — The Marion Wolves positioned themselves for a spot in the finals.

They had two match points, but the last domino didn’t fall.

“We just didn’t finish,” Coach Roxanne Paulsen said. “(Davenport Assumption) started playing a small game, tipping and dinking.”

And blocking. Definitely blocking.

The reigning Class 3A state champion, Assumption put up a couple of big blocks down the stretch and stopped the 4A eighth-ranked Wolves’ run in the semifinals, 15-21, 21-18, 16-14, at the Linn-Mar Invitational volleyball tournament Saturday at Linn-Mar High School.

“We still have a tendency to hit into (the block) instead of placing the ball smartly,” Paulsen said.

In an all-Mississippi Athletic Conference final, 5A No. 7 Pleasant Valley topped 3A No. 7 Assumption, 15-21, 22-20, 15-12.

Marion (12-4) and Center Point-Urbana (10-4) were the longest-surviving area teams, advancing to the semifinals.

The Wolves swept their three pool matches, then got past 2A No. 4 Sumner-Fredericksburg in the quarterfinals, 21-17, 21-15.

They breezed in the first set against Assumption before it got rocky late.

Carlee Webber had four kills and a block in a surge as the Wolves reached match point. But Assumption’s Ellah Derrer, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, made the plays at the very end.

Marion is a member of the always-rugged Wamac Conference East Division, and the addition of 3A No. 6 Center Point-Urbana (10-4) — moved from West to East upon the entry of Grinnell into the conference — just adds to that depth.

The Stormin’ Pointers won two of three pool matches, swept Dubuque Hempstead in the quarterfinals, then bowed to Pleasant Valley in the semis, 21-19, 21-15.

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Host Linn-Mar was playing its first matches under new coach Nikki Rowland. The former assistant was elevated Thursday after the resignation of head coach Alyssa Thomas.

“It was her choice, and I respect her decision,” Linn-Mar Athletics Director Tonya Moe said of Thomas’ departure. “She made a decision that was best for her professionally and personally.”

The Lions (9-5) won two of three pool matches and lost a three-set quarterfinal to Assumption.

“I don’t think (the coaching change) is going to affect us,” junior Kate Passmore said. “We have a strong coach (in Rowland); I know she can do it.

“We have a lot of strong, versatile players. And we have a big goal in mind.”

Linn-Mar Invitational

At Linn-Mar

POOL A

Teams — 1. Davenport Assumption 3-0, Center Point-Urbana 2-1, 3. Sumner-Fredericksburg 1-2, 4. C.R. Kennedy 0-3.

Davenport Assumption def. Center Point-Urbana, 9-21, 21-13, 15-11

Sumner-Fredericksburg def. C.R. Kennedy, 21-18, 21-17

Davenport Assumption def. C.R. Kennedy, 21-19, 21-19

Center Point-Urbana def. Sumner-Fredericksburg, 21-10, 18-21, 15-11

Davenport Assumption def. Sumner-Fredericksburg, 21-19, 15-21, 16-14

Center Point-Urbana def. C.R. Kennedy, 21-17, 21-9

POOL B

Teams — 1. Marion 3-0, 2. Linn-Mar 2-1, 3. Tipton 1-2, 4. Anamosa 0-3.

Linn-Mar def. Anamosa, 21-18, 12-21, 15-10

Marion def. Tipton, 21-14, 21-14

Marion def. Linn-Mar, 21-18, 21-16

Tipton def. Anamosa, 21-8, 17-21, 15-12

Linn-Mar def. Tipton, 21-23, 21-10, 15-6

Marion def. Anamosa, 21-16, 21-11

POOL C

Teams — 1. Pleasant Valley 3-0, 2. Dubuque Hempstead 2-1, 3. Solon 1-2, 4. North Tama 0-3.

Solon def. North Tama, 21-10, 23-21

Pleasant Valley def. Dubuque Hempstead, 21-11, 21-16

Dubuque Hempstead def. Solon, 21-14, 23-21

Pleasant Valley def. North Tama, 21-16, 21-15

Pleasant Valley def. Solon, 21-11, 23-21

Dubuque Hempstead def. North Tama, 27-25, 21-13

CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS

Solon def. North Tama, 21-13, 22-20

C.R. Kennedy def. Anamosa, 21-19, 13-21, 15-11

CONSOLATION FINAL

Solon def. C.R. Kennedy, 23-21, 21-15

QUARTERFINALS

Pleasant Valley def. Tipton, 21-16, 21-5

Center Point-Urbana def. Dubuque Hempstead 21-11, 22-20

Marion def. Sumner-Fredericksburg, 21-17, 21-15

Davenport Assumption def. Linn-Mar, 21-19, 16-21, 15-10

SEMIFINALS

Pleasant Valley def. Center Point-Urbana, 21-19, 21-15

Davenport Assumption def. Marion, 15-21, 21-18, 16-14

CHAMPIONSHIP

Pleasant Valley def. Davenport Assumption, 15-21, 22-20, 15-12

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com