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“Pep talk” from Sorensen propels Janesville past Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Janesville head coach Shelly Sorensen gave a “pep talk” between the second and third set that pushed the Wildcats into the semifinals in the Iowa High School Volleyball State Tournament
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CORALVILLE - Hayden Anderson said it was a little "pep talk" between the second and third set that made the difference.
The Janesville junior said her coach, Shelly Sorensen, got the team together after losing the second set of Tuesday night's Class 1A state quarterfinal with Gladbrook-Reinbeck.
"That's what she told you," Sorensen said with a laugh. "(The coaching staff) all talked. It was a great match with two teams trying to battle it out."
Whatever Sorensen and her staff said to the players worked as No. 2 Janesville came away with a hard-fought 25-23, 23-25, 25-19, 25-18 win at Xtream Arena.
In the state tournament for the 14th time, the Wildcats (32-11) moved one step closer to the school's seventh state title. They will play in the semifinals on Wednesday at 6:25 p.m.
"They were a little tight at times," Sorensen said of her team's play in the first two sets. "We were trying to work on ball control trying to get a good first touch because G-R did a really good job keeping us out of system."
Anderson said the Rebels were a formidable foe, but said the win on Tuesday was part of work done long before the match.
"We all worked very hard in the offseason," she said. "It was definitely the work of the entire team to push each other so we could get here."
Back to the pep talk.
"The coaches just told us we had to go get this win," Anderson said. "We really felt the energy from our student section and our fans. Their energy really helped to bring our energy up. It got us all talking on the court."
Sorensen felt her team looked a little more relaxed over the final two sets.
"I think our passing improved and we found some confidence," she said. "We got some of the hitters going who may have been struggling early on and that just opened it up for everyone."
Keke Smith led the winners with 11 kills. Anderson added 10 kills to go along with 25 digs and two ace serves.
No. 9 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (27-14) got nine kills each from Elly Sieh and Kennedy Brandt.
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