Calamus-Wheatland rallies, tops Springville in a 5-set Class 1A volleyball regional semifinal

SPRINGVILLE — There was a Will. Erica Will, to be precise.

And for Calamus-Wheatland, there was a way.

Cal-Wheat escaped three match points in Game 4, Will made three critical blocks on Springville star Rowan Jacobi in the finale, and the Warriors prevailed in a Class 1A volleyball regional semifinal Monday night at Machovec Gymnasium.

Set scores were 16-25, 25-21, 17-25, 28-26, 15-10.

“We knew Rowan was a big hitter,” Will said. “We kept trying to get her. We finally did a little bit in the last set. It was either that, or we were done.”

Instead, Cal-Wheat (26-9) advances to face No. 3 Fort Madison Holy Trinity (28-12) in a regional final Wednesday at West Liberty. Win that, and the Warriors will make their first state appearance in school history.

Springville retired at 26-9. Coach Michelle Jacobi gave the Warriors as meaningful of a compliment as you can give a team.

“They don’t quit,” she said. “They play to the end, all the time.

“A few times as the end, we weren’t as aggressive playing the ball as we needed to be. Rowan was probably a little tired; she took a lot of swings.”

A 6-foot-2 junior middle hitter, Rowan Jacobi (yes, she is Michelle’s daughter) finished with 37 kills.

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Her 36th gave the Orioles a 5-4 advantage in the final set, but Calamus-Wheatland scored eight of the next nine points and ultimately advanced.

“It was a fantastic match,” Coach Jacobi said.

The Warriors exhibited fantastic resolve. Down a set and tied 21-21 in the second, they scored the final four points.

Springville stormed through Game 3, thanks to an early 10-point run, and was poised to win it in the fourth, leading 24-23, 25-24 and 26-25.

Haley Green’s kill tied it at 26-26, then consecutive kills by Will extended the match to a Game 5.

Will blocked Jacobi for a 3-1 lead, again for a 6-5 advantage, once more for a 9-6 lead.

“We do a lot of practicing pressure situations,” Will said.

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Photos: Calamus-Wheatland at Springville Class 1A regional semifinals

Springville concluded a season of great progress. The Orioles were 11-22 last season. Six of their seven starters return for next season, including Jacobi and setter Kalleigh Greene, who posted 54 assists.

“Our growth this season was tenfold,” Coach Jacobi said. “I never dreamed this group would get where we got. We didn’t set big goals, but if you do the little things, it leads to big things.”

Calamus-Wheatland 3, Springville 2

(16-25, 25-21, 17-25, 28-26, 15-10)

Class 1A Regional Semifinal, at Springville

Serving: Cal-Wheat 95-100 (.950), Springville 104-109 (.954)

Aces: Cal-Wheat 8 (Brooklynn Biddle 3), Springville 11 (Rowan Jacobi 5)

Kills: Cal-Wheat 52 (Erica Will 15), Springville 67 (Jacobi 37)

Assists: Cal-Wheat 43 (Delaney Engler 22), Springville 62 (Kalleigh Greene 54)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com