Grundy Center sends streak to 21

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Samantha Meyers mentioned the term "Grundy Center volleyball," then was asked to define it.

"What does Grundy Center volleyball mean?" she asked. "It means to take care of the little things. Pass well. Hit well. Serve well."

The fourth-ranked Spartans did it all well and rolled past No. 6 Sheldon, 25-16, 25-23, 25-20, in a Class 2A quarterfinal at the state  tournament Thursday night at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

Three attackers reached double figures in kills as the Spartans (42-1) marched into a semifinal showdown with top-ranked, defending-champion Western Christian. The Wolfpack (48-1) swept Carroll Kuemper.

"They're the cream of the crop, and it will be a real challenge," said Grundy Center Coach Darwin Sents. "But we've got a good team too, and I think we can play with them.

"We didn't come here just to win a match, or two matches. This is just one step."

Grundy Center won its 21st straight match since a midseason loss to Dike-New Hartford. Twenty of those 21 triumphs have been sweeps.

This was too, though Sheldon (36-4) pushed the Spartans somewhat in the second set. The Orabs fought off a pair of set points to get within 24-23 before Grundy Center closed it out.

Sheldon led through the early stages of Game 3, the final time at 16-15. But a seven-point surge swung the momentum in the Spartans' direction for good.

Meyers collected 19 kills, against two errors, in 38 attack attempts for a .447 kill efficiency. Meghan Krausman added 11 kills, Sarah Frisch 10.

"They're really fast, both in the middle and the outside," said Sheldon Coach Michele Hoogers. "That makes it tough for our blockers to read and defend."

Heather Hook provided 43 assists for the winners.

Kellie Goedken collected 15 kills for Sheldon.

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