As the Wamac volleyball tournament goes longer, Clear Creek Amana gets stronger

MARION — That’s not the way it’s supposed to go.

The further you advance, the tougher it’s supposed to get, right?

Not for Clear Creek Amana. But this is an uncommon team.

Uncommon, and still unbeaten.

The Class 4A top-ranked Clippers dropped their first set of bracket play at the Wamac Conference volleyball tournament Thursday night at Marion High School, then proceeded to win six straight.

That included a convincing sweep (25-14, 25-17) over 4A No. 7 Marion in the championship match, giving the Clippers their first Wamac tourney title.

“We did start slow, and we do that sometimes,” CCA libero Meg Berkland said. “But we got out of that, and that’s something we’ve done pretty consistently.”

The Clippers (43-0) shook off a shaky start in their quarterfinal match before outlasting 3A No. 10 West Delaware, 25-27, 25-13, 15-12. Then it was a straight-set win over 3A No. 9 Center Point-Urbana, 26-24, 25-17.

“We never seem to have school on (the day of the Wamac tournament finals), so we usually have trouble here,” said senior Bliss Beck, a Drake University recruit.

“So we went to breakfast together today, then we went to school and worked on homework, then had a run-through at 2 (p.m.).”

It was a challenging three-match sequence, to be sure. The Clippers came equipped with a wagon full of treats. One of the players grabbed a handful of gummy bears and stuffed them into her mouth before the final set of the night.

“The coaches kept telling us to fuel up,” Beck said.

Marion (24-12) reached the final by outlasting 3A No. 2 Mount Vernon (30-4) in a rugged three-set semifinal, 15-25, 25-22, 16-14.

“That match took a lot of emotion,” Wolves Coach Roxanne Paulsen said. “It was hard to come back (for the finals). Then we didn’t get off to a good start in either set.

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“But beating Mount Vernon and getting to the final ... that’s something to celebrate.”

CCA scored the first five points in both sets and didn’t face a deficit in either.

Paulsen was asked what makes the Clippers a special team this season.

“They don’t make a lot of mistakes, and they are able to get good swings even when they’re out of system,” she said.

All of the Wamac teams begin postseason tournament action next week.

Wamac Conference volleyball tournament

At Marion

QUARTERFINALS

Mount Vernon def. Grinnell, 25-14, 25-16

Marion def. Benton Community, 25-7, 25-18

Clear Creek Amana def. West Delaware, 25-27, 25-13, 15-12

Center Point-Urbana def. Vinton-Shellsburg, 25-9, 25-16

CONSOLATION MATCHES

Benton Community def. Grinnell, 25-12, 25-19

West Delaware def. Vinton-Shellsburg, 25-12, 26-24

Solon def. Williamsburg, 25-13, 25-15

Independence def. South Tama, 25-22, 22-25, 17-15

South Tama def. Williamsburg, 25-20, 28-26

Solon def. Independence, 26-24, 25-13

SEMIFINALS

Marion def. Mount Vernon, 15-25, 25-22, 16-14

Clear Creek Amana def. Center Point-Urbana, 26-24, 25-17

CHAMPIONSHIP

Clear Creek Amana def. Marion, 25-14, 25-17

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com