Unity makes the final run, outlasts EBF

CEDAR RAPIDS - In the final, frantic points, Anna Kiel was in the front row. Karlie Taylor wasn't.

Advantage, Unity Christian. Big advantage.

The fourth-rated Knights scored the final five points and outlasted No. 5 Eddyville EBF in a five-set thriller (25-19, 24-26, 27-25, 19-25, 15-11) in Tuesday's Class 2A state volleyball quarterfinal at the U.S. Cellular Center.

'I thought that might be an advantage,” said Kiel, who knocked down 28 kills as the Knights improved to 32-5. 'But every one of our hitters can put it down.”

The Knights advance to Thursday's semifinal opposite No. 1 Dike-New Hartford. First serve is 4 p.m.

DNH (38-3) is the three-time defending champion. The Wolverines swept No. 8 West Branch on Wednesday.

'The first thing we wanted to do was get past the first round,” said Unity Coach Patty Timmermans. 'We hadn't been here in a while (2008 was the Knights' last appearance), and the court feels different than a high school floor.”

Kiel and Taylor are a pair of 6-foot juniors that ignite their respective teams. EBF (35-3) scored four straight points for an 11-10 lead in the deciding set before an epidemic of hitting mistakes infected the Rockets.

The first one tied the set at 11 and also brought Kiel to the front row. Kiel's final kill gave the Knights a 13-11 advantage, then Unity scored the final two points on EBF attacks sent long.

Taylor collected 27 kills and 34 digs for the Rockets.

The match was the first five-setter for both teams this season.

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