State-semifinal stunner: Humboldt shocks No. 1 Western Christian in 3A

CORALVILLE — Holy ‘Cats!

In one of the most shocking developments in the 56-year history of Iowa high school volleyball, fifth-ranked Humboldt knocked off No. 1 Western Christian in a Class 3A semifinal at the state tournament Wednesday afternoon at Xtream Arena.

It went five sets: 16-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-19, 15-13.

“I don’t know more if my heart can take much more,” Humboldt Coach Kara Waldorf said.

This was truly a case of an upstart taking down The Establishment. Humboldt (33-6) was making only its second state-tournament trip, and had never won a match at state until Tuesday.

Mighty Western Christian? This was its 43rd appearance, its 25th consecutive appearance in the semifinals.

None of that mattered. Wednesday’s stunning outcome kept the Wolfpack (38-10) out of the championship match for only the third time in the last quarter-century.

“We came in with nothing to lose,” Humboldt’s Addie Waldorf said. “But we wanted it so, so bad.”

Adelyn Goodell echoed the nothing-to-lose statement, and added, “Upsets happen all of the time, right?”

Not like this.

The Wildcats went to Hull last year for a regional final and were swept. This is a different, more experienced team that didn’t blink after a lopsided first-set loss Wednesday.

“We had to play out game,” Waldorf said. “Tipping isn’t going to win anything.”

Facing a 2-1 set disadvantage, Humboldt trailed only once in Game 4 (1-0), and didn’t face a deficit throughout Game 5.

“Give all the credit to Humboldt,” Western Coach Tammi Veerbeek said. “I was hopeful that their youth would eventually show up, but it didn’t.”

Not even after Western scored four straight points to even the final set at 13-all.

Mia Schulter’s kill got Humboldt to match point, then Kendall Works’ block sent the Wildcats into euphoria.

Goodell led Humboldt with 21 kills; Waldorf distributed 42 assists.

Morgan Kooiman paced Western with 20 kills.

As the statistics would indicate, this was no fluke. Humboldt had more kills (52-48), more aces (9-8) and more blocks (11-10). The Wildcats also had more attack errors (30-26).

Like Waldorf said, tipping wasn’t going to win.

Veerbeek graciously finished the post-match round of interviews and walked out of the press room. Before departing, she gathered Waldorf and Goodell.

Most of what she said couldn’t be overheard.

This could: “Go win it.”

The Wildcats will be underdogs again in Thursday’s 3A title match with No. 2 Davenport Assumption (27-7); first serve is at 2:30 p.m.

“It will be interesting to see how we come back,” Coach Waldorf said. “We’ll take care of ourselves and get ready ... these kids are so dialed in.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com