West Delaware returns to the state volleyball tournament after 2 years away

MANCHESTER — For a program like this, two years away from the state volleyball tournament seems like a long, long time.

A three-year hiatus? It hasn’t happened in more than two decades.

And it’s not happening now.

Third-ranked West Delaware surgically spread the wealth and swept Union Community (25-19, 25-17, 25-17) in a Class 3A regional final Tuesday night at Seedorff Gymnasium.

“A great team effort, great team effort,” West Delaware Coach Brett Mather said. “Nobody really stood out (statistically), and that’s the way I like it. Great balance.”

West Delaware (38-6) advanced to the state tournament for the 15th time — and to Xtream Arena in Coralville for the first. The Hawks will face No. 6 Davenport Assumption (25-8) in the first round Tuesday at 12:25 p.m.

“I’m so glad to be back,” said senior Brooke Krogmann, who was a key component in the Hawks’ state-championship run in 2021, as a freshman. “We’ve been talking about this for a long time.”

Since West Delaware made its first state tournament in 2003, its only two multi-year droughts came after their titles in 2015 and 2021. The Hawks lost to Union in last year’s regional final, then turned the tables emphatically Tuesday.

The turning point came late in Game 1. Union (37-12) had rallied from a four-point deficit to take an 18-17 lead.

Lauren LeClere hit back-to-back kills to ignite a seven-point surge to get the Hawks to set point, then scored the 25th point with her fifth kill of the set.

LeClere finished with 10 kills, as did Krogmann. Vedah Langel and Hannah Cantwell added eight apiece, Kate Wenger seven.

Natalie Mensen and Kirstyn Kolbet combined for 38 assists.

“This is a really close team,” Mensen said. “In the locker room, we said we needed to keep our confidence up.”

Playing from ahead will help, and for the most part, West Delaware did that throughout the last two sets.

The Hawks scored the first five points of Game 2 and rocketed to an 11-3 lead. Their only deficits in the finale was at 11-10 and 12-11. Back-to-back kills from Krogmann capped a four-point run for a 15-12 advantage, then they went on a late 8-1 surge to put it away.

LeClere ended it with a kill, then it was the typical banner pictures and TikTok dances.

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Bianca Grimm led Union with 10 kills. Of the Knights’ 36 kills, 31 came from non-seniors.

The Knights’ fine senior setter, Avery Knoop dished out 29 assists.

West Delaware 3, Union Community 0

(25-19, 25-17, 25-17)

Class 3A Regional Final, at Manchester

Serving: Union 52-55 (.945), West Delaware 69-72 (.958)

Aces: Union 4 (Bianca Grimm 2), West Delaware 4 (Natalie Mensen, Kirstyn Kolbet 2)

Kills: Union 36 (Grimm 10), West Delaware 44 (Lauren LeClere, Brooke Krogmann 10)

Assists: Union 35 (Avery Knoop 29), West Delaware 41 (Mensen 20)

Blocks: Union 0, West Delaware 7 (LeClere 3)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com