Cougars' setter spot unsettled

CEDAR RAPIDS -- This is no time to tinker. But an untimely injury left Michelle Goodall no choice.When setter Bre Boote showed up for a film session last week in a boot (the result of tendonitis in her ankle), Goodall was forced to scramble for Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Class 5A regional volleyball semifinal Thursday at Waterloo West.Freshmen Rylee Mitchell and Anna Fluent shared setting duties, accumulating 19 assists apiece as the Cougars advanced. Mitchell had been a varsity contributor all season; Fluent was making her varsity debut after spending the regular season setting for the sophomore team."They both were fabulous," Goodall said. "Anna might have the best set of hands I've ever coached, and Rylee plays great floor defense in addition to setting."Boote has since been cleared to play, leaving Goodall with several options as the ninth-ranked Cougars (24-12) prepare for their biggest match of the season -- Tuesday's regional final against No. 3 Dubuque Hempstead (28-6).First serve is 7 p.m. at Monticello High School."Bre is still hobbling a little and working her way back in," Goodall said. "We'll see what happens. We'll probably use all three of the setters at some point in some kind of combo offense."The Kennedy-Hempstead matchup is one of 10 regional finals Tuesday involving area teams. Elsewhere in 5A, Cedar Rapids Washington (27-13) tackles No. 2 Pleasant Valley (36-1) at West Branch and No. 4 Iowa City High (28-8) encounters Burlington (5-19) at Iowa City West.In 4A, No. 9 Cedar Rapids Xavier (25-11) meets Fairfield (26-7) at Washington, Iowa, No. 6 Solon (30-4) faces No. 15 Oskaloosa (19-16) at Victor, No. 8 West Delaware (30-11) battles No. 13 Dubuque Wahlert (17-17) at Delhi and No. 7 Maquoketa (30-6) takes on No. 5 North Scott (26-5) at DeWitt.Class 3A matches include No. 7 Union (32-7) against Osage (23-16) at Clarksville, Cascade (23-10) against No. 2 Davenport Assumption (27-7) at Clarence and No. 8 West Liberty (28-9) against No. 10 Mount Vernon (26-10) at Cedar Rapids Jefferson.Tuesday's winners advance to the state tournament Nov. 7-10 at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.Hempstead handled the Cougars in three straight games Sept. 4."They're a very, very good team," Goodall said. "But we're a good team, too. Last time we played them, we averaged 13 errors per set."While Kennedy is trying to extend its streak of four straight state appearances, Washington attempts to end a 18-year state-tournament drought."We like being the underdog," said Washington Coach Kari Lombardi. "We'll be prepared. This is a unique group of girls that is extremely close. Teams like this don't come around very often."Pleasant Valley has won 32 straight matches."We saw them at a scrimmage in August, and they're a very good team," Lombardi said. "We want to keep it close, so at the end, it's anybody's game."City High is heavily favored to return to the Ice Arena after reaching the state final last season. Xavier is seeking its third state appearance in four years, Mount Vernon is chasing its fifth berth in six years, West Delaware is pursuing its seventh trip in 10 years.Regional finals are Wednesday in 1A and 2A.