Solon sweeps, returns to 4A final

CEDAR RAPIDS -- She calls it her "tuck jump," the happy dance that Jordan Smith performs after each Solon point.

It's a knees-to-the-chin display; the bigger the point, the more frequent the jump.

There was plenty of joy for second-ranked Solon (and a high jump count for Smith) in a 25-21, 25-22, 25-18 sweep of No. 7 Davenport Assumption in a Class 4A semifinal at the state volleyball tournament Thursday afternoon at the U.S. Cellular Center.

State runners-up last year, the Spartans (33-2) return to the final match Friday at noon, against No. 1 Harlan (36-4), a five-set victor over 2012 champion Charles City.

"It's so important for us to come back here and take home the gold," said senior Maegan Bruene.

The last two years have been a bonanza under Peter Gustin, who owns a sterling 66-7 mark since taking the reins last fall.

"We've just got a good group of girls," Gustin said. "Early on, they probably had a little struggle with my coaching style. But they've picked it up, and our defense has picked up my leaps and bounds."

The captain of that group is libero Rylee Smith, who plucked up 23 digs and slowed Assumption's attack. Danielle Cabel led the Knights (32-7) with a match-high 13 kills, but also committed nine hitting errors.

As sweeps go, this wasn't of the easy variety. The Spartans emerged from a 15-15 tie in the opener, scoring four straight points to take control.

In the second game, the Spartans were forced to come from behind. The Knights had five-point leads on three occasion, and owned a 21-19 advantage on Jamie White's block.

But the Spartans scored four straight, capped by a block by Jordan Runge, to take a 23-21 lead. After the teams traded points, Vik Meade's kill put a bow on the second set.

"Sometimes we try to do too much, and that happened some today," Jordan Smith said. "We just need to chill out. We knew we could do it."

The two Jordans -- Smith and Runge -- popped 10 kills apiece. It was Bruene, though, who made the plays when the finish line was in sight.

Bruene had back-to-back blocks and a kill while the Spartans were gaining separation late in Game 3.

"I just gave what I've got," Bruene said. "I really wanted to get back to that championship."

Taylor Nearad collected 32 assists.