West Delaware ends Solon’s title run

MOUNT VERNON - It seems impossible. Seven years had passed since West Delaware's last Wamac Conference tournament title.

That's HAD passed. Past tense. The Hawks' drought is over.

The Class 4A second-rated Hawks proved themselves as the best team in arguably the state's best conference Tuesday night, sweeping their way to the championship at Mount Vernon High School. They capped their run by dethroning three-time defending champion Solon, 25-17, 31-29, in the finals.

'We wanted this so bad,” said setter Carlee Ketchum. 'We played with our hearts. We played confident. And we played together, as a team.”

West Delaware (41-2) shook off five set points in Game 2, scoring the final three points. Fittingly, the final kill came from Addison Brooks, who had a monster championship match.

'It's our tempo,” Brooks said. 'It's been working for all of us.

'This is such a tough conference. Our goal was to come out and win. It feels really good to come out on top.”

A perennial Wamac heavyweight, West Delaware last won the conference tournament in 2007. Then came a three-year run by Mount Vernon, then three straight for Solon.

The 3A second-rated Spartans (27-8) returned to the finals in nearly miraculous fashion, rallying from a 14-11 deficit in the final set to outlast 4A No. 5 Clear Creek Amana, 26-24, 21-25, 17-15.

'All season long, it seems, we're used to being behind,” said Solon Coach Peter Gustin. 'The girls keep fighting. I don't think we've peaked yet.”

The Spartans were without middle hitter Courtney Smyth (torn ACL), and lost Josey Hajek (back injury) midway through the second set. Still, they pushed the Hawks to the finish line.

Three straight points gave Solon its first set point at 24-23, then the Spartans had four more opportunities to force Game 3. A kill by Kristen Wegmann erased the last one and tied the set at 29-29. Brooks' final kill sent the Hawks home champions.

West Delaware won its three pool matches Thursday, then got past 3A No. 1 Mount Vernon, 25-22, 25-22 in the quarterfinals and 3A No. 6 Independence, 25-16, 25-15 in the semis.

Seven of the eight teams in the championship bracket are ranked - three in 4A, four in 3A.

'Top to bottom, this is the best the Wamac has ever been,” Hawks Coach Brett Mather said. 'The field here tonight, there were so many teams that had a shot at it. To win this thing, it's a great accomplishment.”

WAMAC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

At Mount Vernon

CONSOLATION QUARTERFINALS (scores NA)

Western Dubuque def. Vinton-Shellsburg

DeWitt Central def. South Tama

Maquoketa def. Anamosa

Dyersville Beckman def. Benton Community

EXTRA CONSOLATION MATCHES (scores NA)

Vinton-Shellsburg def. Benton Community

South Tama def. Anamosa

CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS (scores NA)

Western Dubuque def. DeWitt Central

Dyersville Beckman def. Maquoketa

CONSOLATION FINAL (score NA)

Dyersville Beckman def. Western Dubuque

QUARTERFINALS

West Delaware def. Mount Vernon, 25-22, 25-22

Independence def. Williamsburg, 25-18, 25-17

Solon def. Center Point-Urbana, 25-19, 25-14

Clear Creek Amana def. Marion, 31-29, 25-18

CONSOLATION MATCHES

Mount Vernon def. Marion, 25-18, 17-25, 15-8

Williamsburg def. Center Point-Urbana, 25-21, 25-19

SEMIFINALS

West Delaware def. Independence, 25-16, 25-15

Solon def. Clear Creek Amana, 26-24, 21-25, 17-15

CHAMPIONSHIP

West Delaware def. Solon, 25-17, 31-29

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com