'Interesting dynamic' when Xavier hosts Clinton

Austin Filer understands the kind of problems Grace Tubbs can present.

He helped her get to this level, after all.

'At 6-foot-5, she definitely has an impact,' said Filer, who coached Tubbs on the club scene and now will try to defeat her in Monday's Class 4A regional-final volleyball match at Ron Thillen Gymnasium, in which sixth-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier (30-9) hosts No. 8 Clinton (22-13).

'It's always an interesting dynamic,' Filer said. 'I know how she plays, and she knows how I coach. It will be fun to compete against her.'

The Clinton-Xavier match is one of the best of the 12 regional-final matches (five in 5A, three in 4A, four in 3A) that involve area teams.

All begin at 7 p.m., with winners advancing to the state tournament next week at the U.S. Cellular Center.

The Saints will be facing a team they have beaten twice this season, a team that will try to get to state for the first time in 22 years.

'They'll be motivated, so we'll have to match their motivation,' Filer said. 'I believe in our girls so much.'

In 4A and 5A, the higher-ranked team earns home-court advantage for the regional finals. In the other three classes, they're at neutral sites.

Xavier is one of five Metro/Iowa City schools to play at home Monday. In 5A, No. 4 Linn-Mar (32-8) hosts Pleasant Valley (19-12), No. 6 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (27-10) entertains No. 11 West Des Moines Dowling (26-15), and No. 8 Iowa City West (22-14) hosts No. 9 Bettendorf.

In 4A third-rated Marion (33-9) is a heavy favorite to advance against Oskaloosa (16-22).

Cedar Rapids Prairie (22-14) is on the other side of the coin. The 14th-ranked Hawks hit the road for a 5A meeting with No. 3 West Des Moines Valley (39-4).

'We're the underdogs. We don't have any pressure on us,' Prairie's Megan Oldenburger said after the Hawks' regional-semifinal win over Cedar Rapids Jefferson. 'All the pressure, it's off our backs.'

In the other 5A regional final of area significance, No. 10 Iowa City High (20-14) is at No. 7 Dubuque Hempstead (22-10).

Western Dubuque (20-13) is at No. 2 Dubuque Wahlert (24-6) in a 4A battle. In 3A, top-ranked Union (37-4) meets Eddyville EBF (22-13) at Montezuma, No. 3 West Delaware (42-4) — last year's 4A state champion — faces No. 14 Osage (22-11) at West Union, No. 5 Mount Vernon (32-7) tangles with Davis County (25-16) at Washington, Iowa, and No. 9 Dyersville Beckman (27-9) plays No. 7 Davenport Assumption (27-8) at Goose Lake.

Regional finals are Tuesday in 1A and 2A. 

5A-4: No. 11 WEST DES MOINES DOWLING (26-15) at No. 6 CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY (27-10)

Time & site — 7 p.m., at Kennedy

Overview — Kennedy has a pair of wins this year against the Maroons, and if the Cougars can claim a third, they'll head to state for the second straight year. Four starters return from last year's team, led by University of Iowa recruit Paige Franck (3.18 kills per set). Dowling is on a streak of four consecutive state berths. The Maroons finished last year ranked No. 1, but were upset by Dubuque Hempstead in the state quarterfinals. Dowling doesn't have a dominant hitter, relying more on a balanced attack led by Sally Gaul (2.49 kills per set).

5A-5: No. 14 CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE (22-14) at No. 3 WEST DES MOINES VALLEY (39-4)

Time & site — 7 p.m., at Valley

Overview — It has been eight years since Prairie last played downtown, but the Hawks were extremely impressive in a sweep of Cedar Rapids Jefferson in the regional semifinals. Megan Oldenburger counted 20 kills and posted a .438 kill efficiency Tuesday, and leads the Hawks at 3.79 kills per set. Valley carries a 12-match winning streak; the Tigers are carried by a pair of outside hitters — senior Hannah Lockin (4.48 kills per set) and sophomore Madi Kubik (3.83). Valley's last state appearance came in 2009.

5A-6: No. 9 BETTENDORF (20-11) at No. 8 IOWA CITY WEST (22-14)

Time & site — 7 p.m., at West

Overview — Probably the most evenly matched 5A battle of the night. Bettendorf won the last time these teams met, but that was way back in the MVC-MAC Challenge in late August. Bettendorf won the Mississippi Athletic Conference title again this year, and has advanced deep into the state tournament each of the last four years — the Bulldogs were 5A runners-up last year. West was beset earlier in the season by injuries and illness, but is full of Division-I-level talent and experience, with a balanced attack that features Emma Norris, Colby Greene, Ali Tauchen and Emily Halverson.

5A-7: No. 10 IOWA CITY HIGH (20-14) at No. 7 DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD (22-10)

Time & site — 7 p.m., at Hempstead

Overview — The Little Hawks and the Mustangs split their first two encounters this season. Hempstead won a five-setter in MVC play, then City answered with a 2-1 win at the Dubuque tournament. Hempstead seeks its eighth state trip in 10 years, and brings back five starters from last year's state-semifinalist squad. Two freshmen — Aliyah Carter and Jada Wills — play key roles. City High last qualified in 2014. Alexa Aldrich-Ingram (3.27 kills, 3.25 assists per set) has been a staple in the Little Hawks' lineup throughout her career.

5A-8: PLEASANT VALLEY (19-12) at No. 4 LINN-MAR (32-8)

Time & site — 7 p.m., at Linn-Mar

Overview — After taking eight teams to state at Tripoli (winning six championships), Teresa Bair has Linn-Mar on the verge of its first state berth since 2010. It has already been a historic season, with the Lions capturing their first MVC divisional title and claiming their first MVC tournament crown. They take an eight-match winning streak into Monday, and swept Pleasant Valley at the Linn-Mar Invitational in early September. Carly Spies (2.34 kills per set) paces a balanced attack. Elissa Moylan (2.86 kills per set) leads MAC runner-up Pleasant Valley.

4A-6: OSKALOOSA (16-22) at No. 3 MARION (33-9)

Time & site — 7 p.m., at Marion

Overview — Marion shoots for its third straight state berth, and in a year of parity in 4A, the Indians certainly are a championship hopeful. They're riding high with an 11-match winning streak that included a run to the Wamac Conference tournament title. Nebraska-Omaha recruit Isabella Sade averages 4.36 kills per match and owns a .359 kill efficiency while Caitlyn Smith pilots the attack with 9.36 assists per match. Oskaloosa has won eight of its last 11 matches, including an upset win over Mount Pleasant in the regional semifinals.

4A-7: WESTERN DUBUQUE (20-13) at No. 2 DUBUQUE WAHLERT (24-6)

Time & site — 7 p.m., at Wahlert

Overview — After a sweep at Clear Creek Amana and a stirring comeback at No. 14 Independence, Western Dubuque tries to complete an unlikely trip to state with a big upset. Wahlert defeated the Bobcats in a Saturday tournament in September, 2-1. Wahlert outside hitter Mackenzie May is arguably the best player in the state. The UCLA recruit averages 6.58 kills per set and owns a .355 kill efficiency.

4A-8: No. 8 CLINTON (22-13) at No. 6 CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER (30-9)

Time & site — 7 p.m., at Xavier

Overview — Xavier rocketed to an 18-0 start under first-year coach Austin Filer (including two wins over Clinton on Sept. 10), then played about .500 ball through the remainder of the regular season. The Saints pursue their first state traip since 2012. Juniors Charlotte Richards and Ellie McDermott are the primary attackers, averaging 4.19 and 2.45 kills per set. Clinton's last state appearance came in 1994, when the River Queens were state runners-up. Like Xavier, Clinton competes in a 5A-heavy conference (the MAC). At 6-foot-5, sophomore Grace Tubbs creates some matchup issues.

3A-5: No. 1 UNION (37-4) vs. EDDYVILLE EBF (22-13)

Time & site — 7 p.m., at Montezuma

Overview — Union's streak of four straight state appearances ended last year, but the Knights are a good bet to return. The champion of a loaded NICL East Division, Union carries a 15-match winning streak. Seniors Megan Hudson and Peyton Parker give the Knights one of the best 1-2 punches in any class, with 5.37 and 4.33 kills per set, respectively. Maggie Driscol posts 10.44 assists per set. EBF outlasted Centerville in a five-set regional semifinal. The Rockets were 2A qualifiers each of the last three years.

3A-6: No. 3 WEST DELAWARE (42-4) vs. No. 14 OSAGE (22-11)

Time & site — 7 p.m., at West Union

Overview — The defending 4A state champion and a 10-time qualifier since 2003, West Delaware has retooled itself nicely after suffering heavy graduation losses. The Hawks repeated as Wamac Conference East Division champions. Senior Haley Lyness and Claire Demmer are the top hitters, and freshman setter Macey Kleitsch is the new orchestrator, averaging 9.68 assists per set. Osage's last state trip came in 2000. The Green Devils are led by a cast of juniors and sophomores.

3A-7: No. 9 DYERSVILLE BECKMAN (27-9) vs. No. 7 DAVENPORT ASSUMPTION (27-8)

Time & site — 7 p.m., at Goose Lake

Overview — Beckman endured a five-set marathon with Center Point-Urbana in the regional semifinals to advance. One more win would put the Blazers in the state field for the first time since 2006. Kylie Bildstein (3.74 kills per game, .392 efficiency) is a strong hitter. Six of Assumption's eight losses have come against 5A competition, and all of them have come against teams playing Monday. Julia Huiskamp and Lindsay Stratman both average more than 3 kills apiece.

3A-8: No. 5 MOUNT VERNON (32-7) vs. DAVIS COUNTY (25-16)

Time & site — 7 p.m., at Washington, Iowa

Overview — Mount Vernon is heavily favored to get to state for the fifth straight year, and the ninth time in 10 years. The Mustangs possess one of the area's best all-around athletes in Libby Ryan, who anchors the back row with 5.77 digs per set. A balanced, veteran front line is led by Wynne Vandersall and Kaitlyn Volesky. It took five sets for Davis County to get past a nine-win Central Lee team in the regional semifinals. Davis County's last state appearance came in 2001.

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