Gehlen roars back, faces Tripoli for 1A title

By Mike Condon, Correspondent

CEDAR RAPIDS - LeMars Gehlen Catholic now has the rematch it has craved.

The Jays had a 2-0 lead in last year's semifinals against Tripoli, only to let it slip away. Now they have a chance at redemption and a shot to deny Tripoli a fourth straight title.

Gehlen (34-1) earned that right with a hard-fought 17-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-22 Class 1A semifinal win over Janesville Friday night at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

That sets up Saturday's 5 p.m. title match with Tripoli, which advanced with a sweep over Boyden-Hull.

Ironically, the Jays were almost looking at a 2-0 deficit Friday night. Janesville had the better of the play in Game 1 and won going away. The Wildcats held a 22-19 lead in Game 2 before the Jays came alive.

"We just started attacking a little better," said Gehlen Coach Mike Meyer. "We started getting the ball to the middle better and also to the outside."

The Jays scored six of the final seven points to even the match and swing the momentum their way.

"Winning that game was big," sais junior hitter Katelin Langel. "That really got us going."

Langel and Steph Rohe had big performances in Game 3 and when things were tight in Game 4, the ball kept going to Langel. The lefty drove home three straight kills to push her team to a four-point lead that Janesville couldn't overcome.

"I'm guess I just got on a roll," said Langel, who finished with 14 kills. "I was feeling good and I got some great sets."

Rohe finished with 13 kills and two ace serves. Kendyl Sorge was solid in defeat for Janesville (30-11), blasting home a match-high 21 kills.

Langel is looking forward to the final.

"We were up 2-0 on them last year and we lost our intensity," she said. "We know we can beat (Tripoli) if we play our game."

Meyer expects a great match.

"We don't have anything to lose," he said. "They have a tremendous player (Megan Gilbert) and the atmosphere here should be great.

"Our seniors have taken it one step further each year," Meyer added. "The next step for this team would be a championship."

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