Schaben leads Harlan into semifinals

CEDAR RAPIDS – Harlan senior Jess Schaben knows her team has a target on its back, and she prefers it that way.

The 6-foot-2 star middle setter pounded the U.S. Cellular Center floor with 21 kills as top-ranked and defending Class 4A state champion began its charge for a repeat with a 25-22, 25-12, 25-16 dispatching of conference-rival Lewis Central in a state quarterfinal Tuesday.

'It looked a little shaky at first,” Schaben said. 'But once we got past the pregame jitters, we really started playing together and we really started finishing. Just playing our game.”

While there wasn't much evidence of pregame jitters outside the bench, Lewis Central did push the Cyclones in Game 1 with a 21-19 lead before Harlan finished with six of the next seven points. The Cyclones scored the first six points in Game 2 and led by as many as 13 in a 25-12 advantage. Lewis Central mustered a last-gasp surge in Game 3 with a 12-10 lead, but Harlan overpowered the Titans with a 15-4 burst to advance to the 4A semifinal.

'Two good conference schools,” Harlan Coach Angie Spangenberg said. 'Both schools know each other very well. It's about being able to game plan. I thought we struggled in the first set, put it together in set two.”

Senior Kenzie Swanson had 33 assists for Harlan, while Asia Kloewer tallied 13 digs. Iowa commit Reghan Coyle was limited to five kills and eight digs for Lewis Central, which ends its season at 23-15.

'They came out wanting to play,” Lewis Central Coach Dennis South said. 'They wanted to show that they could play with them. They (Harlan) have a lot of ability.”

A veteran group comprised of five seniors in its starting lineup and nine players with state championships in either volleyball or girls' basketball, Harlan (39-2) will play Clear Creek Amana (27-9) Thursday at noon.

'That's the ultimate goal obviously to finish out like we did last year,” Harlan senior Taylor Wagner said. 'We've got to stay in the present, got to keep focusing, just keep doing what we've done all year long and keep playing with heart. Hopefully it will get to the end.”

Schaben, who is fifth in the state in kills, has committed to Iowa State to continue her volleyball career. But before she suits up for the University Cyclones, she's looking to close strong with two more victories and another state championship for the prep version. She knows as defending champion, the rest of the 4A field is gunning for them.

'It's a blast,” Schaben said. 'Yeah, we're going to get their best shot, but I think it's great. It's just fun to play against great competition.”