4 Metro teams chase state-tournament berths

Teresa Kehe has spent three seasons changing a culture and raising volleyball IQs.

Now, she wants to see the reward. Not for herself.

'What I really want is for these girls to see what I've already seen,' said Kehe, the coach at Linn-Mar High School.

Namely, the inside of the U.S. Cellular Center, from the floor level.

Regional finals are Tuesday in classes 3A, 4A and 5A, Wednesday in 1A and 2A. The potential is there for a strong Metro flavor at the state tournament next week.

Kehe's Lions are one of four teams bidding for state berths Tuesday.

In 5A, 10th-ranked Linn-Mar (28-8) hosts No. 11 Iowa City West (26-11), No. 8 Cedar Rapids Prairie (31-7) hosts No. 12 Dubuque Hempstead (24-11) and No. 9 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (28-9) entertains No. 15 Ankeny (24-12).

Fourth-rated Marion (30-8) faces Fort Madison (18-16) in a 4A match at Washington, Iowa.

Kehe was a state-tournament fixture during her days at Tripoli, taking the Panthers to the U.S. Cellular Center eight times, winning six championships. It has taken time, but she's gradually building Linn-Mar into that image.

'The kids are starting to understand what it takes to be successful. We're not there yet, but we're getting there. They're becoming more analytical on how they're learning the game.'

This is the first year that 5A regional finals are played on home courts. The other four classes determine their state field on neutral floors.

Kehe is on the advisory committee and has mixed feelings.

'The thing I do like is that you earn that home court (based on ranking),' Kehe said.

Kennedy will try to stay unbeaten at home and end a three-year run of falling short in the regional finals.

'It's a big deal to be at home,' said Cougars Coach Michelle Goodall. 'We'll be happy to be here.

'Ankeny has some kids that can terminate. They're good. They're experienced, and they've been here before.'

Kennedy has four Division-I players on its roster.

'We can definitely do it,' said setter Anna Fluent. 'They've beaten us once, so we're kind of an underdog, but not really.'

In non-Metro 4A matches Tuesday, No. 1 West Delaware (45-2) faces Independence (22-14) at Delhi and No. 14 Western Dubuque (22-11) meets No. 9 Clinton (22-9) at Maquoketa.

In Class 3A, top-rated West Liberty (34-4) meets Centerville (28-6) at Donnellson, No. 5 Mount Vernon (25-12) faces No. 8 Davenport Assumption (23-12) at DeWitt and No. 6 Center Point-Urbana (30-7) tangles with Union (25-13) at Vinton.

Union is looking to extend its five-year state streak.

TUESDAY'S VOLLEYBALL REGIONAL FINALS

CLASS 5A REGION 5: No. 15 ANKENY (24-12) at No. 9 CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY (28-9)

When and where: 7 p.m., at Kennedy High School

Overview: Kennedy has been stopped short in the regional finals in each of the last three years, and tries to return to the state tournament for the first time since a four-year state run of 2008-11. Ankeny returns three starters from last year's state tournament team, and the Hawkettes defeated Kennedy on Sept. 5 at West Des Moines Valley. On the other hand, the Cougars are unbeaten at home (dropping only one set), and are dynamite in a one-match-per-day setting. Kennedy boasts four Division-I commitments — kills leader Macy Anderson, setter Anna Fluent, 6-foot-2 Brinley Milbrath and versatile junior Paige Franck. Ankeny is led by juniors Alyssa Ballenger (5.51 kills per set) and Kailey Hunt (3.17 kills per set, .436 kill efficiency).

CLASS 5A REGION 6: No. 12 DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD (24-11) at No. 8 CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE (31-7)

When and where: 7 p.m., at Prairie High School

Overview: Prairie and Hempstead are two of the three co-champions of the MVC Mississippi Division (Iowa City High is the other), and Tuesday's battle represents the fourth meeting this season between the clubs. Hempstead swept the Hawks in their divisional match, then Prairie came out on top in the Linn-Mar tournament and the MVC tournament. A Prairie win sends the Hawks to the state tournament for the first time since 2008, while Hempstead is seeking its 11th state trip since 2000. Three Prairie players are averaging more than 2 kills per set, led by UNI recruit Kate Busswitz (3.01, with a .389 kill efficiency). Kasey Davis paces Hempstead at 4.09 kills per set.

CLASS 5A REGION 7: No. 11 IOWA CITY WEST (26-11) at No. 10 LINN-MAR (28-8)

When and where: 7 p.m., at Linn-Mar High School

Overview: These teams tangle for the third time since Sept. 29, and the previous two meetings resulted in Linn-Mar sweeps. Lions Coach Teresa Kehe was a fixture at the U.S. Cellular Center while at Tripoli, taking the Panthers to state eight consecutive years (winning six titles). She's in her third year at Linn-Mar, hoping to guide the Lions to state for the first time since back-to-back trips in 2009 and 2010. Amanda Ollinger, an Iowa basketball recruit, is the only senior in the regular rotation for the Lions and averages 3.97 kills per set. Setter Ellie Anderson posts 8.20 assists and 2.28 digs per set. West is similarly young, with juniors Emma Norris and Ali Tauchen both netting more than 2 kills per set. Two more juniors — Maddie Fay and Aubrey Sowers — handle the setting duties for West, which seeks its sixth state trip in an eight-year span.

CLASS 4A REGION 6: No. 1 WEST DELAWARE (45-2) vs. INDEPENDENCE (22-14)

When and where: 7 p.m., at Delhi (Maquoketa Valley H.S.)

Overview: West Delaware swept Independence at both teams' invitational tournaments early this season, and goes for the hat trick against the Mustangs on a neutral court. The Hawks have been ranked No. 1 all season after last year's state runner-up finish, and a win would put the Hawks in the state tournament for the 10th time in 13 years. Both of their losses have come against 5A competition (Linn-Mar and Ankeny Centennial). Carlee Ketchum is one of the state's premier setters at 8.23 assists and 2.70 digs per set. Kristen Wegmann (3.00 kills per set, .281 kill efficiency) and Bridget Hoffmann (1.83, .367) are her top targets. Independence made its only state appearance in 2013 and is led by Kaitlin Niedert at 3.13 kills per set.

CLASS 4A REGION 7: No. 14 WESTERN DUBUQUE (22-11) vs. No. 9 CLINTON (22-9)

When and where: 7 p.m., at Maquoketa H.S.

Overview: Western Dubuque is fresh off a mini-upset in the regional semifinals, outlasting No. 5 Dubuque Wahlert in a five-set thriller, and one more win puts the Bobcats in the state tournament for the second time (the first was in 2006). Megan Maahs is a UNI basketball recruit, and isn't shabby in volleyball either — she averages a team-best 3.76 kills per set to go with a .290 kill efficiency. Jessica Cartee adds 2.02 kills per set, and Morgan Pitz counts 8.20 assists and 2.93 digs per set. Clinton finished fourth in the Mississippi Athletic Conference and goes after its first state appearance since 1994. Elle Tubbs averages 3.29 kills per set for the River Queens.

CLASS 4A REGION 8: No. 4 MARION (30-8) vs. FORT MADISON (18-16)

When and where: 7 p.m., at Washington (Iowa) H.S.

Overview: Four Metro teams play for state berths Tuesday, and Marion is the most firm of the four. The Wamac Conference West Division champion goes after its second straight state appearance; the Indians were 4A semifinalists last year. Junior Isabella Sade has committed to Nebraska-Omaha and leads a balanced hitting attack with 2.99 kills per set and a .380 kill efficiency. Alyssa Thomas (Minnesota-Crookston) and Olivia Frazier add more than 2 kills per set apiece, and Caitlyn Smith makes it all work with 9.34 assists per set, which ranks second in 4A. Fort Madison was second to Fairfield in the Southeast Conference. Sophomore Amber Dilsaver averages 3.07 kills per set.

CLASS 3A REGION 6: No. 6 CENTER POINT-URBANA (30-7) vs. UNION (25-13)

When and where: 7 p.m., at Vinton (Vinton-Shellsburg H.S.)

Overview: Union pursues its sixth consecutive state appearance while CPU hopes to get downtown for the first time since Kim Kester led them there in 1998. Union boasts one of the most prolific hitters in the state — junior Megan Hudson ranks 12th in all classes with 4.55 kills per set. CPU counters with a squad led by the Weideman sisters; sophomore Abigail leads the team in hitting at 3.29 kills per set while senior Haley contributes 8.66 assists per set. Arika Wooldridge, a Winona State basketball recruit, adds 2.41 kills per set along with a .309 kill efficiency.

CLASS 3A REGION 7: No. 5 MOUNT VERNON (25-12) vs. No. 8 DAVENPORT ASSUMPTION (23-12)

When and where: 7 p.m., at DeWitt (Central H.S.)

Overview: Last year's 3A state runner-up, Mount Vernon faces a stern test in an attempt to advance to the state tournament for the eighth time in nine years. The Mustangs are a junior-centric hitting outfit led by Wynne Vandersall (2.73 kills per set), Kaitlyn Volesky (2.45) and Katie Wycoff (2.13). Another junior, Libby Ryan, is one of the best back-row players around at 5.03 digs per set. Assumption made state appearances in 2012 and 2013, and finished third in the 5A-dominant Missisippi Athletic Conference. Mary Rolf and Julia Huiskamp both average more than 3 kills per game for the Knights.

CLASS 3A REGION 8: No. 1 WEST LIBERTY (34-4) vs. CENTERVILLE (28-6)

When and where: 7 p.m, at Donnellson (Central Lee H.S.)

Overview: West Liberty is a small but mighty squad with nobody standing taller than 5-foot-9. The Comets have found a groove with eight straight wins (including a River Valley Conference tournament championship), all via sweep. Seniors Cassedi Simon (9.10 assists per set) and Maddie Simon (5.34 digs per set) have committed to Boise State University. Hailey Daufeldt and Audra Bridenstine lead the front row at 3.12 and 2.98 kills per set, respectively. Alyssa Barger paces Centerville at 4.91 kills per set. The Big Reds finished second to Eddyville EBF in the South Central Conference.

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