Volleyball coach Geary nears the end at Prairie

 Kevin Geary will be stepping away from volleyball after this season.

For now. Not necessarily for good.

Geary, who has coached the last 14 seasons at Cedar Rapids Prairie, has announced that he will step down at the end of the season. The Hawks (16-18) open Class 5A regional play Monday night at Iowa City High (17-13).

"It's just time for a change for me," Geary said. "How long I stay out, I don't know. I might get back into it after a year. I've got a daughter that will be a freshman next year, and after 29 years, this will be a nice change of pace."

Geary coached at New London before taking the Prairie job. He guided the Hawks to state in 2006 and 2008.

"I'm really proud of the efforts of a lot of people here -- the community, the coaches, the kids. It's definitely been a good place to coach," he said.

Regionals open Monday in 5A, 4A and 3A.The most balanced 5A bracket is Region 7, which kicks off with a quarterfinal between Cedar Rapids Jefferson (17-21) and Linn-Mar (23-14). Both teams are led by first-year coaches who have moved their programs forward. Jefferson has increased its victory total by 13, Linn-Mar by eight.

"It's two programs that are trying to make some positive changes," said Lions Coach Teresa Kehe. "I think it will be a good battle. We're similar in some ways, not so much in others."

Jefferson has one of the Metro's best hitters in sophomore Amanda Ollinger.

"She's a great player," Kehe said. "We're probably a little more balanced."

Tonight's other area 5A match has Cedar Rapids Kennedy (18-14) hosting Waterloo East (0-30).

In 5A and 4A, the majority of the best teams have first-round byes and begin their tournament road Thursday.

Everybody in 3A is in action Monday. Among area regions, No. 4 Union (24-7) is the favorite in Region 6, No. 8 Mount Vernon (22-10) in Region 8, and No. 10 Independence (32-8) and No. 15 Center Point-Urbana (31-9) are the teams to beat in Region 7. 

MONDAY'S CLASS 5A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 4

Cedar Rapids Prairie (16-18) at Iowa City High (17-13)

Region 6

Waterloo East (0-30) at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (18-14)

Region 7

Cedar Rapids Jefferson (17-21) at Linn-Mar (23-14)

MONDAY'S CLASS 4A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Region 5

Perry (7-29) at Boone (22-18)

Decorah (9-26) at Charles City (36-6)

Region 6

Dubuque Wahlert (12-21) at Western Dubuque (17-17)

Maquoketa (14-21) at DeWitt Central (9-23)

Region 7

North Scott (4-23) at Davenport North (9-14)Washington (5-23) at Fort Madison (17-20)

Region 8

Oskaloosa (4-30) at Fairfield (18-14)Keokuk (4-20) at Mount Pleasant (28-4)

CLASS 3A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

Region 5

(All matches, 7 p.m.)

Mid-Prairie (6-23) at Williamsburg (14-22)

Monroe PCM (5-23) at Bondurant-Farrar (24-13)

Benton Community (8-24) at South Tama (16-12)

East Marshall (6-18) at Nevada (29-11)

Region 6

Crestwood (11-21) at New Hampton (25-10)

Osage (20-18) at Iowa Falls-Alden (25-6)

Waukon (9-24) at North Fayette Valley (16-10)

Oelwein (13-19) at Union (24-7)

Region 7

Anamosa (1-23) at Dyersville Beckman (18-17)

Waterloo Columbus (19-13) at Independence (32-8)

Monticello (4-18) at Northeast (10-17)

Vinton-Shellsburg (8-21) at Center Point-Urbana (31-9)

Region 8

Central Lee (14-15) at Davis County (28-13)

Louisa-Muscatine (3-18) at Mediapolis (32-8)

Camanche (17-11) at Tipton (18-12)

West Liberty (19-12) at Mount Vernon (22-10)