First encounter between Prairie, Jefferson is a biggie

Oddly enough, Cedar Rapids Prairie and Cedar Rapids Jefferson didn't bump into each other throughout the volleyball season.

Members of different divisions of the Mississippi Valley Conference, they didn't square off in MVC play. Nor in a Saturday tournament.

Two dangerous teams, they collide in a Class 5A regional semifinal Tuesday night at Prairie.

'We have followed them and paid attention to them,' Prairie Coach Lynnette Stecklein said. 'They're a much-improved team, and we aren't taking them lightly, that's for sure.'

Regional semis are at 7 p.m. Tuesday in 5A, 4A and 3A throughout the state. Winners play next Monday for state-tournament berths.

The match at Prairie should be the most competitive in the area. Neither the 14th-ranked Hawks (21-14) nor the J-Hawks (18-17) are wildly consistent, but both are capable of competing with anybody on a given day.

'That's a great assessment,' Stecklein said. 'Both teams have some great wins on their record this season.

'One of the biggest things in volleyball is consistency. You have to maintain your composure. You've got to play poised with confidence and determination.'

Both teams have a dynamic hitter: Prairie's Megan Oldenburger averages 3.69 kills per set; Jefferson's Maddie Slagle is at 3.63.

Everybody in the Metro is in action Tuesday. In other 5A matches, No. 4 Linn-Mar (31-8) hosts Davenport North (4-19), No. 6 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (26-10) hosts Marshalltown (13-16), and Cedar Rapids Washington (5-28) is at No. 10 Iowa City High (19-14).

In Class 4A, No. 3 Marion (32-9) hosts Grinnell (12-23), and No. 6 Cedar Rapids Xavier (29-9) entertains Fort Madison (22-9).

All of the area 3A heavyweights cruised in the first round last Wednesday and are back at it Tuesday. Top-ranked Union (36-4) hosts South Tama (3-26), No. 3 West Delaware (41-4) entertains North Fayette Valley (20-14), No. 5 Mount Vernon (31-7) hosts Williamsburg (17-18), and in the best 3A match of the night, No. 9 Dyersville Beckman (26-9) plays host to Center Point-Urbana (24-15).

CLASS 5A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 4

Marshalltown (13-16) at C.R. Kennedy (26-10)

Des Moines Roosevelt (31-19) at West Des Moines Dowling (25-15)

Region 5

Indianola (23-20) at West Des Moines Valley (38-4)

C.R. Jefferson (18-17) at C.R. Prairie (21-14)

Region 6

Muscatine (6-25) at Iowa City West (21-14)

Burlington (9-18) at Bettendorf (19-11)

Region 7

Waterloo West (5-26) at Dubuque Hempstead (21-10)

C.R. Washington (5-28) at Iowa City High (19-14)

Region 8

Davenport North (4-19) at Linn-Mar (31-8)

Davenport Central (9-15) at Pleasant Valley (18-12)

CLASS 4A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 6

Grinnell (12-23) at Marion (32-9)

Oskaloosa (15-22) at Mount Pleasant (17-14)

Region 7

Maquoketa (16-20) at Dubuque Wahlert (23-6)

Western Dubuque (19-13) at Independence (30-9)

Region 8

Fort Madison (22-9) at C.R. Xavier (29-9)

North Scott (11-19) at Clinton (21-13)

CLASS 3A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 5

South Tama (3-26) at Union (36-4)

Eddyville EBF (21-13) at Centerville (20-11)

Region 6

North Fayette Valley (20-14) at West Delaware (41-4)

New Hampton (28-10) at Osage (21-11)

Region 7

Northeast (9-23) at Davenport Assumption (26-8)

Center Point-Urbana at Dyersville Beckman (26-9)

Region 8

Williamsburg (17-18) at Mount Vernon (31-7)

Davis County (24-16) at Central Lee (9-19)

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