Efficient middle hitters lift Janesville in 1A state volleyball sweep of Saint Ansgar

CORALVILLE — Janesville’s middles were money.

Zoey Barnes and Dani Hughes both hit in excess of .400, and the seventh-ranked Wildcats swept No. 2 Saint Ansgar in three tight sets (25-23, 27-25, 25-22) in a Class 1A quarterfinal at the state volleyball tournament Tuesday night at Xtream Arena.

“We’ve been working hard in finding that hitter/setter connection,” Barnes said. “(Saint Ansgar) had a pretty good block, but we were able to hit the corners.”

Barnes collected 17 kills, Hughes 10. Both suffered only a single error.

“Dani had a really good match tonight,” Barnes said.

Leading by a set, Janesville (25-17) fought back from a 24-23 deficit in Game 2. At 25-all, Hayden Anderson notched back-to-back kills.

The final set was tied at 16-16 before a 7-3 surge put the Wildcats in control for good.

Janesville will face No. 6 Conrad BCLUW (32-10) in the semifinals at 6:25 Wednesday night. The Wildcats won five 1A titles between 2013 and 2018.

Jacey Johnston and Ava Falk collected 10 kills apiece for Saint Ansgar (27-7).

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Photos: Saint Ansgar vs. Janesville in Class 1A state volleyball quarterfinals

Janesville 3, Saint Ansgar 0

(25-23, 27-25, 25-22)

Class 1A State Quarterfinal, at Coralville

Serving: Janesville 68-75 (.907), Saint Ansgar 67-72 (.931)

Aces: Janesville 2 (Liz Hovenga, Tayah Pollock), Saint Ansgar 5 (Lindsay Kruse 3)

Kills: Janesville 51 (Zoey Barnes 17), Saint Ansgar 37 (Jacey Johnston, Ava Falk 10)

Assists: Janesville 47 (Pollock 40), Saint Ansgar 34 (Sophia Urbatsch 32)

Blocks: Janesville 3 (Dani Hughes 1.5), Saint Ansgar 4 (Johnston 2)

Digs: Janesville 56 (Hovenga 20), Saint Ansgar 54 (Makenna Norby 14)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com