Kennedy is surging into the postseason

A little more consistency. A little more continuity.

It's added up to a lot more success lately for Cedar Rapids Kennedy volleyball squad.

'We're just a little more consistent right now in our play,” said Cougars Coach Michelle Goodall. 'The tight matches are going our way right now.”

Ninth-ranked Kennedy (26-11) takes an extended hot streak - 15 wins in its last 17 matches - into the postseason; the Cougars host Cedar Rapids Washington (5-30) in a Class 5A regional quarterfinal at 7 p.m. Monday.

The road to the U.S. Cellular Center begins in 5A, 4A and 3A on Monday, with a long list of state hopefuls in 4A and 3A. It's a full slate Monday in 3A, with top-ranked Mount Vernon (28-7), No. 2 Solon (27-8) and No. 4 Independence (32-7) opening with home matches against Benton Community, Tipton and North Fayette Valley, respectively.

In 4A and 5A, most of the top-flight teams don't get cracking until Thursday.

Kennedy is an exception.

Youth and inconsistency slowed the Cougars in an 11-9 start. Now, they've hit their groove. Kennedy was the Mississippi Valley Conference tournament runner-up Oct. 18.

'The kids have started to jell emotionally and on the court,” Goodall said. 'Sometimes I forget that we're still pretty young, with three juniors and three sophomores on the court sometimes.

'We're confident, but we're certainly not overlooking Washington. They have a crafty setter and a couple good hitters.”

The same can be said for the Cougars, only on a higher level. Juniors Brinley Milbrath (2.75 kills per set, .310 kill efficiency) and Macy Anderson (2.41, .314) lead the net attack, with junior setter Anna Fluent (7.87 assists per set) running the show.

In the only other 5A match involving an area team, Iowa City West (25-11) hosts Muscatine (3-23).

MONDAY'S CLASS 5A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 4

Cedar Rapids Washington (5-30) at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (26-11)

Region 5

Muscatine (3-23) at Iowa City West (25-11)

MONDAY'S CLASS 4A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 6

Maquoketa (20-18) at North Scott (9-20)

Western Dubuque (13-18) at Decorah (15-18)

Region 7

Davenport North (2-20) at Washington (6-22)

Davenport Assumption (18-13) at Vinton-Shellsburg (15-17)

MONDAY'S CLASS 3A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 5

New Hampton (22-14) at Union (21-11)

Oelwein (8-23) at Osage (24-14)

North Fayette Valley (5-25) at Independence (32-7)

Crestwood (11-22) at Waukon (15-21)

Region 6

Monroe PCM (9-24) at North Polk (20-11)

Williamsburg (14-18) at Bondurant-Farrar (20-22)

Benton Community (4-31) at Mount Vernon (28-7)

South Tama (5-24) at East Marshall (9-15)

Region 7

Monticello (5-20) at Dyersville Beckman (20-15)

Anamosa (1-23) at Center Point-Urbana (22-14)

Tipton (14-17) at Solon (27-8)

Northeast (15-14) at Camanche (6-20)

Region 8

Louisa-Muscatine (3-19) at West Liberty (33-5)

Albia (5-20) at Mid-Prairie (13-16)

Central Lee (9-21) at Mediapolis (33-6)

Centerville (10-15) at Davis County (25-15)

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