Best season in Xavier history could get better

CEDAR RAPIDS -- They already created a sweet volleyball memory this season in the Cedar Rapids Washington gymnasium.Tuesday night, the Xavier Saints try to trump it.Sixth-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier attempts to prolong its best season in school history when it faces No. 2 Iowa City High in a Class 4A regional final. First serve is 7 p.m. at Washington.It's the fourth meeting of the season between the teams. City High (33-5) won two of the first three, but a five-set loss at City on Oct. 19 has the Saints (28-11) believing."We have a lot of seniors that are able to read the defense and read the blocking," said Xavier Coach Barb Brunow.The Xavier-City match is one of 10 involving area teams Tuesday.Elsewhere in 4A, No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy takes on Haley Eckerman and No. 7 Waterloo East at Vinton, No. 3 Iowa City West meets West Des Moines Valley at Newton and Linn-Mar faces No. 4 Bettendorf at Tipton.In Class 3A, top-rated Mount Vernon collides with No. 8 Solon at Tiffin, No. 3 West Delaware meets No. 6 Dubuque Wahlert at Dyersville, No. 11 Williamsburg tangles with Oskaloosa at Grinnell and No. 15 Union goes after its first state-tournament berth against No. 9 Webster City at Iowa Falls.Two area underdogs go after their first trips to state: West Branch meets No. 3 Mediapolis in a 2A match at Muscatine while Lisbon faces No. 6 Fort Madison Holy Trinity in a 1A battle at Mount Pleasant.Xavier has advanced to state twice -- most recently, last season. But that was a building year."It was a momentum-building year, a confidence-building year," said Brunow, 48-30 in two seasons.It was obvious from the start of this season that the momentum and confidence were in place. Xavier opened the season by winning the Warrior Invitational at Washington."That was amazing," Brunow said. "We got some success early, and I think that scared us a little bit."To beat City High, Brunow said the Saints "have to be on our toes (defensively) all night."Another match of high intrigue will play out at Dyersville, where West Delaware (37-3) goes after an old nemesis.Wahlert has eliminated the Hawks at this level several times, including last year. And the Golden Eagles bested the Hawks in the state finals in 2003 and 2004."I certainly think our biggest obstacle is to play the match we're capable of playing," said Hawks Coach Brett Mather. "We want to focus on what we do and not worry about past history."It will be a great atmosphere. The team that plays better will be the team that advances."All three of West Delaware's losses have come at the hands of mighty Mount Vernon (36-0), a team that is ranked 11th nationally by prepvolleyball.com and is heavily favored to beat its Highway 1 rival and advance to state for the fourth straight year. The Mustangs were 2A state champions last year before bouncing back up a class.Kennedy and West are seeking their third consecutive state trips in 4A.