Ankeny Christian breezes to its third consecutive 1A state volleyball title

CORALVILLE — It would be a bit condescending to dismiss Ankeny Christian as “a good little volleyball team.”

Consider the list of giants that the Eagles have left in their wake this season:

Dike-New Hartford. West Des Moines Valley. Norwalk. Waukee. Ankeny. West Des Moines Dowling.

This small-school squad is big-time.

Led by Drake recruit Katie Quick, top-ranked Ankeny Christian put a bow on its third consecutive Class 1A state championship Thursday night at Xtream Arena, sweeping No. 6 Conrad BCLUW, 25-15, 25-13, 25-13.

“It’s such a great feeling,” Quick said. “We came out guns a’blazing, and we finished the job.

“We stayed hungry, going to the third set. We didn’t want to settle. We were going to go for it. We were hammering away.”

The Eagles (40-5) swept all three of their opponents this week.

Quick (10 kills, 36 assists) was the all-tournament captain, one of four Eagles to make the seven-player squad.

Carley Craighead, Anna Weathers and Macey Nehring joined her. All four are seniors.

The rest of the team consisted of BCLUW’s Cassie Nason and Grace Farnsworth, along with North Tama’s Kruiz Ewoldt.

Ankeny Christian posted a 50-26 kill advantage. Nehring led all attackers with 17 terminations.

Farnsworth had 12 kills for BCLUW (33-11).

Ankeny Christian 3, Conrad BCLUW 0

(25-15, 25-13, 25-13)

Class 1A State Final, at Coralville

Serving: BCLUW 41-42 (.976), ACA 70-74 (.946)

Aces: BCLUW 1 (Cassie Nason), ACA 5 (Morgan Fincham 2)

Kills: BCLUW 26 (Grace Farnsworh 12), ACA 50 (Macey Nehring 17)

Assists: BCLUW 25 (Nason 22), ACA 48 (Quick 36)

Blocks: BCLUW 4 (Goldie Kaisand 2.5), ACA 4 (Fincham 1.5)

Digs: BCLUW 43 (Klayre Gallentine 14), ACA 53 (Anna Weathers 15)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com