Waterloo Columbus sweeps top-ranked Sioux Center for first state volleyball title

CEDAR RAPIDS - Hanna Nuss sensed it on the first day of practice. The Waterloo Columbus volleyball coach noticed it again Friday when she called timeout in the first set, her team down 11-5 in the Class 3A championship match.

'That laser focus,” Nuss said. 'I know that last year, a lot of our leaders, coming back off of that loss and that second-place finish, I know that was in the back of their minds when they were going after that (deficit).”

Top-ranked Sioux Center's lead grew to 13-5, but the Sailors, as they were wont to do this week, fought back.

'We wanted those pink shirts,” libero Kate Shannon said.

Last year's 2A runner-up, the third-ranked Sailors (36-8) got those coveted shirts and a trophy to go with them by winning their first state title, 25-21, 25-20, 25-21 Friday at the U.S. Cellular Center.

Shannon notched a match-high 13 digs and was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Olivia Fain and Anna Sinnott. Fain tallied 36 assists in the final, while Sinnott had 24 kills and was named captain.

It would not have felt right had there not been at least a minor comeback for Columbus Friday. It was down to its final point in the third set of Thursday's semifinal against No. 2 Carroll Kuemper before rallying for a stunning win in five.

Following Friday's set 1 comeback, the Sailors pulled away after ties at 11-11 in the second and 15-all in the third.

'I would just say, for all of my parents, thank goodness we didn't (need another two-set comeback),” Nuss said. 'We all kind of started to realize that just being who we are doesn't mean we're going to win.”

Sioux Center (34-6) fought off three straight match points to get within 24-21 in the third before Sydney Schultz's block ended it, setting off a rousing rendition of the school song from the student section that easily drowned out the PA.

'It really makes a statement for our school and for our program,” Sinnott said. 'It's just an unbelievable feeling being able do do that for our school.”

Sioux Center's Jordyn Van Maanen, Osage's Kelsey Havel and Aimee Adams of Kuemper were also named to the all-tournament team.

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