Friendly foes collide in 1A regional quarterfinal

Jeff Pospisil said his Cedar Valley Christian volleyball team "has a really good relationship" with the Springville Orioles.

"We worked out with them some this summer," Pospisil said. "Their coaches helped us a lot."

Whatever assistance was provided, it elevated the Huskies to their best season in the six years they have spent as an IGHSAU-sanctioned program. Cedar Valley has posted its best record (14-14) and has advanced through the first round of the Class 1A regional tournament for the first time.

Now, wouldn't you know it, the Huskies' second hurdle is a tall one — against No. 3 Springville (25-7). First serve is 7 p.m. Monday at Springville.

Postseason play marches on with regional quarterfinals Monday in 1A and 2A. Pospisil is realistic as the Huskies prepare for a toughie.

'We played them in the (Tri-Rivers Conference) tournament, as we showed we can play with them,' he said. 'But they're definitely the more talented team.'

For an extremely small school, Cedar Valley has surprisingly good volleyball participation, with 21 girls out in grades 9-12. One of them is Abby Pospisil, Jeff's freshman daughter who leads the team in kills at 3.05 per set.

'It's been a lot of fun coaching her,' Coach Pospisil said. 'She loves the game.

'This team really works together well. We worked hard to get everybody in the right positions.'

Springville is junior-dominated with plenty of familiar names, including Madi Wagaman, Rylee Menster, Alyssa Jaeger and Mikayla Nachazel, who have played in the last two 1A state basketball finals and reached the state volleyball tournament last year.

Upper Iowa Conference powers Edgewood-Colesburg and Starmont are a match away from a regional-semifinal showdown. No. 14 Ed-Co (27-11) hosts Elkader Central (16-14) Monday; No. 15 Starmont (29-8) entertains East Buchanan (12-19).

North Cedar is the area's best hope to reach the state tournament in 2A. The eighth-rated Knights (32-5) tangle with Highland (22-11) at Clarence.

In other top area 2A matches, Iowa City Regina (22-13) is at West Branch (19-15), and Tipton (24-9) hosts Wapello (22-8).

MONDAY'S CLASS 2A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 6

Saint Ansgar (14-10) at Lake Mills (39-0)

MFL MarMac (6-18) at South Winneshiek (15-22)

Denver (21-19) at Wapsie Valley (18-14)

Waterloo Columbus (24-12) at Jesup (21-13)

Region 7

Maquoketa Valley (14-12) at Sumner-Fredericksburg (30-5)

Clayton Ridge (14-17) at Bellevue (15-10)

Durant (13-16) vs. Wilton (31-5), at Wheatland

Iowa City Regina (22-13) at West Branch (19-15)

Region 8

Highland (22-11) at North Cedar (32-5)

Wapello (22-8) at Tipton (24-9)

Danville (6-17) at Mediapolis (30-7)

Pekin (11-17) at Sigourney (7-19)

MONDAY'S CLASS 1A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 4

BGM (9-20) at Hudson (30-4)

Gladbrook-Reinbeck (8-26) at Garwin GMG (15-9)

Mormon Trail (15-9) at Lamoni (21-7)

Ankeny Christian (13-15) at Southeast Warren (18-10)

Region 6

Turkey Valley (9-21) at Tripoli (14-18)

Don Bosco (14-13) at Dunkerton (15-7)

Elkader Central (16-14) at Edgewood-Colesburg (27-11)

East Buchanan (12-19) at Starmont (29-8)

Region 7

Cedar Valley Christian (14-14) at Springville (25-7)

Lone Tree (13-13) at Belle Plaine (17-10)

Bellevue Marquette (18-13) at Easton Valley (17-10)

Morningstar Academy (19-2) at Clinton Prince of Peace (1-21)

Region 8

Winfield-Mount Union (14-17) at Fort Madison Holy Trinity (32-3)

English Valleys (2-21) at New London (27-9)

Tri-County (7-20) at Iowa Valley (19-14)

Wayne (12-12) at Seymour (16-5)

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