Ankeny Centennial handles Cedar Falls in state volleyball quarterfinals

CORALVILLE — The first set could not have started much better and the second set could not have started worse for Ankeny Centennial.

The No. 2 Jaguars bolted out to an 11-1 lead in the first set and fell behind 9-1 in the second in Monday’s Class 5A state quarterfinal match with No. 7 Cedar Falls at Xtream Arena.

The difference?

Centennial (32-4) was able to hold the lead in the first and overcome the deficit in the second en route to a 25-19, 25-22, 25-23 sweep over the Tigers (32-7).

“We just know it has to be point-by-point,” said senior hitter Jaeden Pratt. “We know that every point is not going to be our best but what we strive to do is always try our best and in the end get it done.”

Centennial Coach Jessica Rinehart was not surprised by her team throughout the match.

“We knew we could get it done in three,” she said. “We had that really slow start (in the second set) but piece by piece they fought their way back in. It was good to be in that situation because there is a good chance we could face that again.”

For Pratt, remaining focused on the ultimate goal has been a point of emphasis throughout the season.

“We've had some matches when we were way behind this season,” she said. “We just kept our focus on the little things. Cedar Falls was a very scrappy team and we had to work hard for every point.”

Pratt and fellow senior Delaney Miller proved to be too much in the end for the Tigers. Miller, who will play collegiately at Wayne State, had 24 kills. Pratt, an Illinois State basketball commit, had 10 kills and 17 digs.

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Photos: Ankeny Centennial vs. Cedar Falls in Class 5A state volleyball quarterfinals

Rinehart said the goal is to get the entire team involved, but added having two talented seniors makes a big difference.

“They are great, they are powerful,” she said. “We do talk about having a balanced offense, but sometimes you just have to feed the beast and they were great today.

"Both (Pratt and Miller) at different times during the season have been able to will us into some crazy comebacks. They are good leaders, they have the ability to do it and it is really cool to watch when they get it going."

Coach Matthew Johnson's Cedar Falls team could be back at state next year. Sophomore Kennedy Krecklow had nine kills and 13 digs while junior libero Anni Wedgbury was all over the floor, leading the defense with 20 digs.