Grand return for Marion’s Phillips

CEDAR RAPIDS - Yeah, Abby Phillips felt butterflies before Tuesday's match.

But that was nothing to the pit in her gut as she awaited a verdict at the doctor's office the previous day.

'I was scared,” she said. 'I wanted to play so bad.”

Phillips got the all-clear on Monday, then piloted the back row as third-rated Marion defeated No. 6 Charles City in four sets (27-25, 28-30, 25-21, 25-20) in a Class 4A quarterfinal at the state volleyball tournament at the U.S. Cellular Center.

A senior libero bound for Iowa State, Phillips broke the fourth metacarpal bone in her right hand diving for a ball in practice in mid-October. The wait seemed a lot longer than a month.

'It was really hard for me,” she said. 'I had so much support, though. My faith got me through it. I prayed a lot.”

Marion (34-7) earned a shot at Wamac Conference rival West Delaware in Thursday's semifinal. The second-ranked Hawks (44-2) swept No. 8 Indianola on Tuesday.

Throw in Clear Creek Amana (which plays Harlan in the other semifinal), and three of the final four in 4A are Wamac squads.

When Phillips was cleared by her doctor Monday, the reaction was predictable in the Marion camp.

'We were thrilled,” said setter Amanda Sahm. 'We knew we would be that much better. She brings so much energy and senior leadership.”

Roxanne Paulsen said, 'It was huge. She brings a lot of steadiness and morale. For three days, we worked with scenarios, whether she could fully play, couldn't play, couldn't serve.”

The teams traded comeback wins in the first two sets. Marion rallied from a 24-20 deficit in the opener, then Charles City (41-5) did likewise in Game 2.

Marion immediately flipped the momentum back in its favor, jumping to leads of 9-3, 12-4 and 14-5 in the third set.

'We weren't going to fold,” said Alyssa Thomas, her voice shot after a match full of screaming. 'We want this season to last as long as it can. I'm glad I get to practice with these girls tomorrow.”

'We're not anywhere near ready for it to be over,” Sahm said.

Charles City got within three points on three occasions late in Game 3 before Marion closed it out. Then, a four-point run in the fourth set gave the Indians breathing room at 18-10.

'We thought after the second game, we couldn't afford to get behind again,” said Charles City's Meagan Miller. 'Well, we did it.”

Thomas and Isabella Sade led the Indians' net attack with 16 and 14 kills, respectively. Caitlyn Smith collected 28 assists.

And Phillips recorded 16 digs in her return.

'It's great to be back,” she said. 'I just wanted my muscle memory to kick in.”

Charles City actually had a 63-53 advantage in kills. Hali Hillegas swatted 24, Miller 23.

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