Hoegh sisters help Boyden-Hull get past St. Albert in a 1A state volleyball quarterfinal

CORALVILLE — Elsie Hoegh didn’t know what role she would play in her freshman volleyball season.

Or if there would be any role at all.

“I wasn’t sure if I’d even be on the varsity team,” she said.

She is. Wise call.

Hoegh co-led Boyden-Hull in kills Tuesday, and the second-ranked Comets defeated Council Bluffs St. Albert, 23-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-20, in a Class 1A quarterfinal at the state volleyball tournament Tuesday night at Xtream Arena.

Four players finished between 10 and 12 kills for Boyden-Hull (22-11), which recovered from an opening-set loss.

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“New arena, we had some jitters, but we got them out and executed,” said junior Clara Hoegh, the Comets’ setter and Elsie’s older sister.

Boyden-Hull will face No. 3 Fort Madison Holy Trinity (32-10) in a 1A semifinal at 6:25 Wednesday night.

The younger Hoegh has made an immediate impact for the Comets, leading the team in kills this season with 244.

“I love how my teammates welcomed me in as a freshman,” she said. “I really like playing with this team. We’ve had an amazing year; it’s so fun.”

And she has a built-in supporter in Clara.

“I like our connection on the court,” Clara said. “Our squabbles stay at home.”

St. Albert (23-15) was ranked 11th, but gave the Comets everything they wanted early. The Saintes scored the last three points to win Game 1.

And then, “we limited our mistakes and played as a team,” Elsie Hoegh said.

Elsie joined Elly Moret with 12 kills. Raina Nibbelink and Clara Hoegh had 10 apiece, with Clara dishing out 44 assists and collecting 21 digs.

Georgie Bohnet and Katelynn Hendricks had 11 kills each for St. Albert.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com