West Delaware gets another shot

CEDAR RAPIDS - The West Delaware Hawks have reached the doorstep once again.

Carlee Ketchum directed an efficient, balanced attack that sent top-rated West Delaware past No. 6 Lewis Central, 25-17, 25-8, 25-22, in a Class 4A semifinal at the state volleyball tournament Thursday afternoon at the U.S. Cellular Center.

'We track in-play efficiency all year long, and West Delaware is so good at that,” said Lewis Central Coach Mike Bond. 'They don't make mistakes, and their pace keeps you out of system.”

The Hawks (48-2) advance to the championship match for the sixth time, and the second year in a row. They'll seek their first title at 12:15 Friday afternoon against two-time defending champion Harlan (37-5).

They expect to sleep soundly tonight.

'Oh, yeah,” said Ketchum, who distributed 24 assists and led the Hawks with 11 kills. 'I'll go home, relax, spend some time with my family, get to bed early.”

West Delaware was turned away in the finals in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2014. This year's team 'is the strongest mentally I've had,” said Coach Brett Mather. 'And we have such nice balance.”

That balance was on display Thursday. Kristen Wegmann and Haley Lyness added 10 kills apiece, Bridget Hoffmann seven.

'We have a bunch of good hitters, and I like to get them all involved,” Ketchum said. 'It keeps the other team on their heels.”

The Hawks counted 40 kills, to 25 by Lewis Central (33-6). The Titans committed 19 attack errors; the Hawks just 10.

And that spelled mismatch.

Lewis Central's only lead through the first two sets was 2-1 in the opener. A 6-1 run put West Delaware up 11-6, and the Hawks were off and running.

Game 2 was a rout, with the Hawks jumping in front 16-4, then eventually scoring the final seven points of the set.

The finale was a challenge.

Lewis Central had one-point leads at 12-11 and 20-19 before the Hawks put it away. Lyness' kill put West Delaware ahead for good, 22-21.

'It feels awesome to be back in this position again,” Hoffmann said. 'Our mental state is strong. We hardly ever get down, and when we do, our minds are just fine.”

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