‘Blue-collar’ Springville marches on

SPRINGVILLE — The Springville Orioles don't waste a lot of energy on post-point celebrations.

There's more substance here than style.

'We're kind of a blue-collar team,' Coach Claude Howard said. 'These kids just go to work, then get ready for the next point.'

There weren't any big scoring surges in Monday's Class 1A regional-final match with Cedar Valley Christian. Just a steady stream of superiority. And a sweep — 25-13, 25-11, 25-16.

'We just do what we do,' Alyssa Jaeger said. 'We work really hard and support each other.'

The third-ranked Orioles (26-7) advance to the regional-semifinal round; they'll host Belle Plaine (18-10) at Machovec Gymnasium on Thursday. The Plainsmen ousted Lone Tree in four sets Monday.

'They're a really, really good team,' Cedar Valley Coach Jeff Pospisil said of the Orioles. 'They have so many weapons. They cover the floor well. I was hoping we could make them use a timeout.'

Cedar Valley (14-15) concluded its best season in six years of IGHSAU-sanctioned ball. The Huskies battled the Orioles to a 15-all stalemate in the final set before Springville made its most dominant run of the night.

Mikayla Nachazel ignited it with three kills and a block, the Huskies made a couple errors, and the Orioles were home free.

Jaeger and Nachazel led the winners with 13 kills apiece.

Most of Jaeger's hits were pinpoint. Most, but not all.

One of her jump serves was off line and hit Rylee Menster square in the backside.

'I don't even know what happened there,' Jaeger said. 'It was really embarrassing, but it lightened the mood, I think.'

The Orioles pulled away steadily in each of the first two sets with a barrage of two- and three-point mini-runs.

Madi Wagaman distributed 21 assists, served three aces and collected four blocks.

Freshman Abby Pospisil led Cedar Valley with 10 kills.

SPRINGVILLE 3, CEDAR VALLEY CHRISTIAN 0 (25-13, 25-11, 25-16)

At Springville

Serving — Cedar Valley 38-42 (.905), Springville 67-73 (.918)

Aces — Cedar Valley 2 (Maggie Cach, Jaalah Schmidt), Springville 10 (Madi Wagaman 3)

Kills — Cedar Valley 18 (Abby Pospisil 10), Springville 43 (Alyssa Jaeger, Mikayla Nachazel 13)

Assists — Cedar Valley 16 (Cach 10), Springville 40 (Wagaman 21)

Blocks — Cedar Valley 0, Springville 10 (Wagaman 4)

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