Carlie Willis’ 28 kills help Grundy Center move along in Class 2A state volleyball tournament

CORALVILLE — Carlie Willis was hoping for one more opportunity.

One more kill. One last statement.

“They were digging a lot of them up at the end,” Willis said. “I’m like, ‘You’re going to dig that one, I’ve got a better one.’”

Instead, the match ended in anticlimactic fashion. With a missed serve.

Willis counted 28 kills as third-ranked Grundy Center defeated No. 6 Carroll Kuemper in a four-set Class 2A quarterfinal (25-19, 20-25, 25-19, 25-22) at the state volleyball tournament Tuesday night at Xtream Arena.

The senior outside hitter, committed to St. Cloud State University, took 82 swings.

“I’ll probably go home and take an ice bath,” she said.

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The Spartans (38-7) will face No. 2 Hinton (31-1) in a 2A semifinal at 4:25 Wednesday afternoon.

They are one of four North Iowa Cedar League teams still standing, joining fellow 2A combatants Dike-New Hartford and Denver, along with Union Community in 3A.

“These matches are fun,” Willis said. “Playing teams we haven’t seen all year, it allows both teams to just go out and play their game.”

Grundy Center played its game a bit better than did Kuemper, which retires at 34-7.

The turning point came late in Game 3, shortly after the Knights cut a 16-9 deficit to 17-15.

The Spartans answered with five points in a row. Then, in Game 4, a run of three points (two on Willis kills) broke a 12-12 tie.

Ellery Luhring posted 38 assists for the Spartans.

Aubrey Heuton led Kuemper with 15 kills. Kaci Peter added 11.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com