Defending-champ Bulldogs prevail

 CEDAR RAPIDS -- Hannah Matt saw the overpass coming right at her. She had a moment to size it up, and to think."You always want to be the one to put down the game-winning point," she said. "I just wanted to put it down."Matt's kill ended a thrilling Class 5A semifinal match that went the distance, and then some, Thursday morning at the U.S. Cellular Center. Second-ranked Bettendorf escaped No. 3 Ankeny Centennial, 25-23, 25-22, 17-25, 21-25, 16-14."The energy ... I'm just feeling it so much," said Bettendorf libero Olivia Drexler. "We want to repeat so bad."The Bulldogs (35-2) get the chance at 10 a.m. Friday, when they face No. 9 West Des Moines Dowling. The Maroons (32-8) also won in five, over Urbandale.Bettendorf didn't trail in the fifth game, but Centennial (33-9) rallied from a pair of five-point deficits to get even at 14-all.Anna Willey's kill got the Bulldogs to match point, then Matt took care of the free ball to send them back to the finals.Lost in the late drama was this: Bettendorf came back from a 17-7 deficit to win the opener, then rallied again for a two-set advantage."That was huge, just to get the momentum back," said Bettendorf Coach Diane Lichtenberg. "But then, we got a little tentative in Games 3 and 4."And Centennial got back in the match behind Jaali Winters, whose 30 kills was a match-high."We weren't going to go down without a fight," said Centennial Coach Jessica Rinehart. "This was just a great volleyball match, two teams competing hard."I'm super proud of this team. Six months ago, we didn't know each other."A first-year school born with the split of Ankeny High, Centennial was making its state-tournament debut.While the Jaguars were Winters-centric, Bettendorf displayed depth. Caitlin Wernentin led the Bulldogs with 17 kills, Willey and Devan Porter added 13 apiece.  Class 5A semifinal at the state volleyball tournament Thursday morning at the U.S. Cellular Center.