Western Christian answers CPU’s surge, reaches its 24th straight state volleyball semifinal

CORALVILLE — Somewhere late in the third set, Center Point-Urbana found itself.

And for about 30 minutes, it discovered something else. Volleyball bliss.

“For that 30 minutes, that’s the team we are,” CPU Coach Michelle Halac said.

The Stormin’ Pointers were Western Christian’s equal during that stretch, rallying to win Game 3 and putting themselves in position to send the match to an unlikely fifth set.

But third-ranked Western — as is always the case in the first round — was money when it counted.

The third-ranked Wolfpack regained their groove and held off No. 7 CPU, 25-13, 25-19, 22-25, 25-22, in a Class 3A quarterfinal Tuesday afternoon at Xtream Arena.

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State volleyball photos: Center Point-Urbana vs. Western Christian

Western (30-13) advances to the state semifinals for the 24th consecutive year.

“I reminded the girls that we really had to grit it out last year (in a 2A first-round win over) Sumner-Fredericksburg,” Western Coach Tammi Veerbeek said.

“(CPU) has a balanced attack and plays a tough schedule. Teams like that can be deadly, and it alerted me that they were playing high-level volleyball.”

Western sprinted through the first two sets and led 20-15 in the third. Then, out of nowhere, came a CPU surge.

“We’re always a second-half team,” CPU’s Paige Foltz said. “I think we took them by surprise.”

The Stormin’ Pointers tallied nine points in a row. Foltz’s play — a dig from the back corner found the floor on the other side of the net — put CPU in front 21-20 and evoked the loudest roar of the tournament to date.

“I’ll remember the exciting points. I’ll remember the whole experience,” said CPU’s Addy Tupa, who led her team with 13 kills.

CPU led 16-12 in Game 4 before the Wolfpack regained control for good. A 9-2 run put Western in front, 21-18. CPU got even at 21-21 before the Wolfpack closed it out.

Western Christian will face No. 8 Union Community (39-11) — a straight-set winner over No. 2 Cherokee — in a semifinal at 2:25 p.m. Wednesday.

Shayna Van Dyken led the winners with 18 kills.

Arkansas recruit Sydney Maue added 11 kills for the Stormin’ Pointers. Logan Keller collected 22 assists; Gracie Hoskins counted 21 digs.

“It was a good experience,” Hoskins said. “I don’t think (Western) was expecting us to get back in it as far as we did.”

Five starters will return for CPU next season.

“We’re dearly going to miss our seniors,” Halax said. “But we have a lot of great pieces coming back.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com