Conference call is under way

Center Point-Urbana is playing fast, playing extremely well and has full attention of Brett Mather.

'They're one of the hottest teams around,” said Mather, volleyball coach at West Delaware. 'Looking at their scores and who they've beaten lately, they must be playing some great ball.”

Conference-tournament week has arrived throughout the area. On Thursday, tournaments begin with pool play for the Wamac and Tri-Rivers conferences at multiple sites, and bracket play will conclude the River Valley Conference tournament Thursday at Clarence.

Dubuque Senior will host the Mississippi Valley Conference tournament Saturday, and the Tri-Rivers tournament concludes Saturday at Lisbon.

The Wamac tournament ends Tuesday at Marion. Class 4A top-ranked West Delaware (38-2) is the favorite to repeat, but figures to be challenged by a number of teams, including a CPU outfit that has won 15 of its last 16 matches.

CPU (25-5) downed 5A power Cedar Falls twice at the Hudson tournament on Saturday.

'The girls are really clicking right now,” said Stormin' Pointers Coach Cathy Husmann. 'We've been working all season on speeding up our offense, and the girls have picked up on that. It's an athletic bunch of girls that know the game very well.”

Sophomore Abigail Weideman leads the CPU attack with 3.3 kills per set. Setter Haley Weideman orchestrates the attack at 8.5 assists per set.

The Stormin' Pointers are one of several threats. West Division champion Marion (23-7), Western Dubuque (17-11) and Mount Vernon (19-11) are others. But the Hawks - champions of the East Division - are the team to beat.

'I really like where we're at right now, and I feel like we're getting better,” Mather said. 'Our blocking has gotten better. We just need a little more consistency. We've got to make out opponents earn their points.”

'Wide-open” doesn't begin to describe the MVC free-for-all.

'Oh my gosh, yes,” Linn-Mar Coach Teresa Kehe said. 'I definitely think there are a lot of teams capable of putting together a run to win it. Maybe six, seven, eight ... '

Cedar Rapids Kennedy (22-8) emerged from a stacked Valley Division to win it with a 6-0 record. Other Valley contenders include Cedar Falls (27-4), Linn-Mar (23-6), Iowa City West (21-10) and Dubuque Wahlert (18-11).

Dubuque Hempstead (20-9) and Iowa City High (13-12) share the Mississippi Division crown at 5-1, and Cedar Rapids Prairie (24-5) can join them with a win Thursday at Waterloo East.

'I think the passing game has to be on for someone to make a run at it,” Kehe said. 'Whoever has good ball control and serve reception consistently throughout the day will be successful.”

West Branch (30-4) is the favorite in the River Valley Conference; Springville (23-7) is the team to beat in the Tri-Rivers.

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MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

Saturday, at Dubuque Senior & Dubuque Hempstead

Schedule: Pools start at 9 a.m. at Senior, 10 a.m. at Hempstead. Bracket play is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. at both sites (championship bracket at Senior, consolation bracket at Hempstead).

Projected pools (will be official after Thursday's match between Cedar Rapids Prairie and Waterloo East. Teams presently designated by M-1, M-2 and M-3 will be filled by a combination of Prairie, Dubuque Hempstead and Iowa City High).

Pool A (at Senior): M-1, Iowa City West, Waterloo East, Dubuque Senior.

Pool B (at Senior): Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Dubuque Wahlert, Cedar Rapids Washington.

Pool C (at Hempstead): M-2, Linn-Mar, Waterloo West.

Pool D (at Hempstead): Cedar Falls, M-3, Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

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WAMAC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

Thursday, pool play at Mount Vernon and Van Horne, 4 p.m. both sites

Tuesday, bracket play at Marion, 4 p.m.

Pool 1 (at Mount Vernon): West Delaware, Clear Creek Amana, DeWitt Central, South Tama.

Pool 2 (at Van Horne): Marion, Dyersville Beckman, Williamsburg, Anamosa.

Pool 3 (at Van Horne): Western Dubuque, Independence, Solon, Benton Community.

Pool 4 (at Mount Vernon): Center Point-Urbana, Mount Vernon, Vinton-Shellsburg, Maquoketa.

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RIVER VALLEY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

Thursday, at Clarence

Quarterfinals

West Branch vs. Tipton, 5 p.m.

Wilton vs. Cascade, 5 p.m.

West Liberty vs. Mid-Prairie, 6 p.m.

North Cedar vs. Monticello, 6 p.m.

Semifinals: 7 p.m.

Championship: 8 p.m.

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TRI-RIVERS CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

Thursday, pool play at four sites

Saturday, championship bracket play at Lisbon, 10 a.m.

East pool 1 (at Bellevue Marquette): Marquette, Midland, Cedar Valley Christian.

East pool 2 (at Wheatland): Calamus-Wheatland, Easton Valley, Clinton Prince of Peace.

West pool 1 (at Springville): Springville, Maquoketa Valley, Lisbon.

West pool 2 (at Alburnett): Alburnett, North-Linn, East Buchanan, Central City.

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