Davenport Assumption stays steady in sweep of Marion, on to state

 TIPTON – The story headed into the Class 4A regional final between No. 7 Davenport Assumption and No. 10 Marion was experience (Assumption) versus youth (Marion).

Last night in the Tipton Middle School gym, experience won out, as the Knights swept the Indians (25-22, 25-23, 25-21) and earned a trip to the state tournament.

But if you think said sweep was anywhere close to easy, Assumption Coach Kyle Condon will be the first to tell you that couldn't have been further from the truth.

'By far (the toughest sweep we've had). By far,' Condon said. '(Marion was) a tough defensive team, they didn't give up on anything. They made it really tough on us.

'We were down at one point in every game and we found a way to come back. We battled just as hard.'

Marion pushed Assumption to the brink in every set, holding leads of at least three points – and as many as five in two of the three – in all three sets.

But the Knights' even-keel demeanor kept the veteran group focused and ready to withstand the Indians' defensive pressure.

'We knew they were an emotional team coming in,' Condon said. 'We had to be level-headed and stay consistent.

'We never backed down, even when we got down in points. We stayed aggressive and we kept pushing.'

Marion's response to that aggression came up short, but not for lack of effort.

Indians Coach Roxanne Paulsen didn't use her team's youth as an excuse, but said a lack of execution late in the match and that been-there-before knowledge Assumption owned was the final nail.

'They came at us. They pushed and persevered at the end of (tough points) and came back at us. When we did put some things down, they answered every one of our hits,' Paulsen said. 'With their group of seniors having been a part of that team last year from Assumption that went (to state), I think there's just a little extra edge there sometimes.

'If you haven't experienced that, it's hard to really know what's there and what it's going to take and that extra little piece.'

Assumption once again relied heavily on the strong-swinging outside hitter Danielle Cabel, whose thunderous kills tested the limits of the Marion defense.Cabel said the steadiness her team showed in such a tight match was something the Knights learned from last year, when emotions may have played a much bigger role.

After making a run to state in Class 3A last year, Cabel said this team is equipped to do more than just make an appearance inside the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids.

'We didn't have (steadiness) a lot last year,' Cabel said. 'Last year, I think it was just kind of good to make it there, and we got a little nervous when we were there. But this year, since we've been there once, we kind of know what it feels like.'