Jefferson sweeps archrival Washington in a 5A regional volleyball first-round encounter

CEDAR RAPIDS — At some point, it’s going to end, as it does for every high school athlete.

Danielle Boche grimaces at the thought of it.

“I hate to leave,” the senior captain said after Cedar Rapids Jefferson swept Cedar Rapids Washington, 25-23, 25-16, 25-20, in a Class 5A volleyball regional quarterfinal at Jefferson High School.

“Volleyball is one of my favorite sports, and now we’ve got some talented young people.

“(Freshman) Mia (Denlinger) is going to be a phenomenal setter. And I think (sophomore) Kymara (Atwood-Hayes) has a lot of potential. I’m proud of them. I know they’re going to do well.”

A year after winning just one match, Jefferson improved to 7-27. The J-Hawks will face No. 3 Ankeny (34-4) in the semifinal round at 7 p.m. Thursday at Ankeny.

They’ll be prohibitive underdogs. Whatever happens, it was a successful final home match for Boche and her six senior teammates.

“I thought we all played well,” Boche said. “It’s definitely a different atmosphere this year. We lost a lot of close matches last year. Now, we’re competing and playing super hard.”

The pivotal moment of this match came at the end of the first set. Washington (2-30) turned an early 9-2 deficit into a 21-19 lead before the J-Hawks countersurged.

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Photos: C.R. Washington at C.R. Jefferson in Class 5A regional volleyball first round

Jefferson was out early in both of the next two sets, seizing a 10-3 advantage in Game 2, and 11-2 in the finale.

Denlinger posted 17 assists for the J-Hawks. Sophomore Lexi Haller accumulated 10 kills.

The J-Hawks served 12 aces, four by Carlee Deam.

Selia Stein paced Washington with nine kills.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson 3, Cedar Rapids Washington 0

(25-23, 25-16, 25-20)

Class 5A Regional Quarterfinal, at C.R. Jefferson

Serving: Washington 52-60 (.867), Jefferson 66-74 (.892)

Aces: Washington 4 (Maliyah Borchardt 3), Jefferson 12 (Carlee Deam 4)

Kills: Washington 25 (Selia Stein 9), Jefferson 28 (Lexi Haller 10)

Assists: Washington 21 (Isolde Pfremmer 15), Jefferson 27 (Mia Denlinger 17)

Blocks: Washington 3 (three with 1), Jefferson 4 (Kymara Atwood-Mayes 3)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com