Sweep sends Starmont back to state volleyball

CENTER POINT — Granted, the Starmont Stars are a defense-first outfit.

To win at a high level, though, you still have to terminate. And despite any deficiency in size, the Stars can do it.

Fourth-ranked Starmont more than doubled the kill output of No. 9 Iowa Valley and swept the Tigers, 25-19, 25-18, 25-9, in a Class 1A volleyball regional final Tuesday night at Center Point-Urbana High School.

'Maybe we're not very big physically, but our heart and our heads are a huge thing,' Starmont setter Regan Janssen said. 'If you don't have that, you're not going to accomplish a lot, no matter how big you are.'

So here's what the Stars (30-5) have accomplished — a second consecutive state-tournament appearance. They'll face No. 5 Fort Madison Holy Trinity (37-5) in a first-round match at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the U.S. Cellular Center.

'Ever since we were little, we've stuck together,' Janssen said. 'We've got girls with athletic talent, and our parents and our coaches have pushed us to get better.'

Most of the Stars are in the 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-7 range. When the opponents attack, as often as not, they'll retreat to play floor defense rather than challenge at the net with a block.

'We're so short, the other teams just use our block against us when we get up there,' said Hayley Goedken, who plays middle at 5-5. 'It's more useful just to get back and cover the floor instead of blocking.'

Goedken led the Stars' attack with 15 kills. Macy Mommer added 13, Madilyn Vaske 10, Isabel Johanns nine. Starmont owned a 49-24 advantage in kills.

'We have a variety of hitters,' said Janssen, who posted 43 assists. 'We can show some different things.'

Starmont really only had one wobbly moment, when Iowa Valley (28-11) scored four straight points to slide within 18-15 in the second set.

'Dad (Stars Coach Robert Goedken) just said to regroup and refocus, get that next pass,' Hayley Goedken said. 'When we pass well, we play well.'

Four different players had at least one kill in a 5-0 answer, and the Stars regained momentum for good.

Starmont scored 12 of the first 15 points of the final set and poured it on from there.

Caleigh Smith led Iowa Valley — the champion of the South Iowa Cedar League — with 10 kills. Cherisse Ward added seven kills, 10 assists and five blocks.

STARMONT 3, IOWA VALLEY 0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-9)

Class 1A Regional Final, at Center Point

Serving — Iowa Valley 46-48 (.958), Starmont 71-73 (.973)

Aces — Iowa Valley 4 (four with 1), Starmont 2 (two with 1)

Kills — Iowa Valley 24 (Caleigh Smith 10), Starmont 49 (Hayley Goedken 15)

Assists — Iowa Valley 24 (Chelsie Rathjen 11), Starmont 47 (Regan Janssen 43)

Blocks — Iowa Valley 8 (Cherisse Ward 5), Starmont 2 (two with 1)

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