Sidney ends Springville’s winningest season

CEDAR RAPIDS — Through the bitter postmatch tears, Chrissy Hoogland found perspective.

'It's hard to beat a team that doesn't make mistakes,' she said.

Fourth-ranked Sidney played clean, No. 5 Springville played cluttered, and the result was a Cowgirls sweep (25-22, 25-22, 25-17) in a Class 1A quarterfinal at the state volleyball tournament Wednesday night at the U.S. Cellular Center.

The Cowgirls (33-1) looked nothing like a team playing their first match on the big stage, winning their 29th consecutive match. They'll face No. 1 Central Lyon (33-5) in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Thursday.

'It's amazing just to be here, and to win against a fantastic team, it's an incredible feeling,' said Sidney's Lexy Larsen, whose 14 kills led all attackers. 'Being a team on the east side of the state, we knew Springville would mean business. Tonight, it came out our way.'

Sidney played from ahead virtually the entire match. Springville (31-8) made 24 attacking errors, missed nine serves and couldn't maintain momentum.

'Typically we're able to miss a few swings, and we're still OK,' said Orioles Coach Claude Howard, whose team fell for just the second time in the last 27 matches. 'And Sidney, they just didn't let the ball hit the floor very often.'

The Orioles did make late pushes in each of the first two sets, but came up short.

Down 22-17 in the opener, Springville got within 23-22 on a pair of kills by Alyssa Jaeger. But Jaeger was just long in an attempt to tie it, then Camryn McClintock closed the set with an ace.

Sidney led the middle set, 22-14, before the Orioles came all the way back to tie it with eight straight points. But the errors cropped up again down the stretch, and the Cowgirls slipped away.

There was no comeback in Game 3.

'They were one of the toughest teams we've played all year,' said Springville's Megan Wagaman. 'Long rallies really aren't our game, and they forced us into some long points.'

Wagaman led the Orioles with nine kills and 16 digs. Mikayla Nachazel posted seven kills; Olivia Dlouhy dished out 17 assists.

Springville finished with the most wins in school history.

'It was the most unforgettable season ever,' Dlouhy said. 'Not just because of the volleyball. Just to be part of this team.'

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