Spartans repeat as Wamac champs

MOUNT VERNON -- First, they started communicating.Then, they started clicking.The Class 4A sixth-ranked Solon Spartans overcame a quiet, tired first set and surged past No. 8 Maquoketa, 17-25, 25-15, 15-10, to win their second straight Wamac Conference volleyball tournament Thursday night at Mount Vernon High School."We finally started talking more after that first game," said Solon's Jordan Runge, who had half of her team-high 10 kills in the deciding set. "Communication was a big issue in the first game, but we came together."Solon (29-4) scored six of the last seven points after the teams were tied, 9-all, in the final game. Runge slammed a pair of kills and Kelsey Cave posted a pair of blocks during the final surge."Everything the girls have worked for, all the goals they've set, we're on target to be where we want to be," said Solon Coach Peter Gustin.The Spartans never trailed in the third set, but Maquoketa (29-6) forged six ties before Solon ran away.Both teams swept their way to the championship match. Solon handled Clear Creek Amana in the quarterfinals before holding off Mount Vernon, 26-24, 25-22, in the semifinals.The first set was tied, 24-24, before a kill by Cave and another by Kelsey Hinrichs gave Solon the game.Maquoketa advanced by defeating West Delaware and Dyersville Beckman in the first two rounds.The final four teams all hail from the East Division.Maquoketa scored nine straight points late in the first game of the championship match, putting the Spartans in a hole."(The semifinal against Mount Vernon) was a tough match, and we were fatigued after it was over," Gustin said. "After the first set, we realized what was on the line and what we had to give."A 7-1 run gave the Spartans a 12-5 lead in Game 2, and it never got closer than three points again.Hinrichs and Cave added seven kills apiece for the champs. Emma Rickels dished out 29 assists.Allison Vandemore paced Maquoketa with 10 kills. Devon O'Connell added nine, and Marlee Lindstrom posted 23 assists.

WAMAC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

At Mount Vernon

Consolation QuarterfinalsWestern Dubuque def. Benton Community, 25-16, 25-11Williamsburg def. DeWitt Central, 25-21, 25-23Center Point-Urbana def. Vinton-Shellsburg, 25-18, 25-14Independence def. Anamosa, 25-10, 25-16

Extra Consolation MatchesDeWitt Central def. Benton Community, 25-19, 25-5Vinton-Shellsburg def. Anamosa, 25-21, 25-20

Consolation SemifinalsWilliamsburg def. Western Dubuque, 25-21, 25-20Center Point-Urbana def. Independence, 25-17, 26-24

Consolation FinalWilliamsburg def. Center Point-Urbana, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13

QuarterfinalsSolon def. Clear Creek Amana, 25-21, 25-17Mount Vernon def. Marion, 25-18, 15-25, 15-5Maquoketa def. West Delaware, 25-22, 25-21Dyersville Beckman def. Waterloo Columbus, 25-23, 25-20

Consolation MatchesMarion def. Clear Creek Amana, 19-25, 25-23, 15-13West Delaware def. Waterloo Columbus, 26-24, 25-18

SemifinalsSolon def. Mount Vernon, 26-24, 25-22Maquoketa def. Dyersville Beckman, 25-16, 25-20

ChampionshipSolon def. Maquoketa, 17-25, 25-15, 15-10