Pleasant Valley finishes off 5A state volleyball semifinal sweep with massive third-set comeback against Dowling

CORALVILLE — The first step of a comeback, Amber Hall said, is respiratory.

“You’ve got to find your breath and reset,” said Hall, volleyball coach at Pleasant Valley.

A nine-point deficit, though, that’s a lot to overcome. That takes a lot of oxygen.

Top-ranked Pleasant Valley pulled it off, though, coming back from an 18-9 hole in Game 3 to conclude a Class 5A semifinal sweep (25-23, 25-19, 25-23) at the state tournament Wednesday morning at Xtream Arena.

“Sometimes when we get down, we stay down,” Isabelle Kremer said.

Not this time.

“We just said, ‘We’ve got this. We’re not going to a fourth set,’” Kremer continued.

Instead, the Spartans (34-2) are going to the championship match. They’ll face No. 6 Waukee Northwest (28-9) for the title at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Northwest is the defending champion; Pleasant Valley reigned in 2021.

Dowling (26-10) was on the doorstep of extending the match, blocking seemingly everything in Game 3 on its way to a seemingly commanding lead.

Kremer picked up a couple of kills immediately after the Spartans’ second timeout, and the rally was on.

Still, Dowling led 21-18 and 22-19 before the Spartans made one final, triumphant push.

Recommended Reading

Photos: Pleasant Valley vs. Dowling in Class 5A state volleyball semifinals

Setter Carsyn Kelley managed her second kill of the match to tie it, 22-22. After Ellie Muller’s kill put Dowling back in front, the Spartans scored the final three points.

Kremer led all attackers with 16 kills. Kelley distributed 30 assists; Olivia Hoskins posted 17 digs.

Kennedy Klein had nine kills for the Maroons.

Pleasant Valley 3, West Des Moines Dowling 0

(25-23, 25-19, 25-23)

Class 5A State Semifinal, at Coralville

Serving: Dowling 59-66 (.894), PV 67-74 (.905)

Aces: Dowling 3 (Ashley Staun 2), PV 4 (Carsyn Kelley 3)

Kills: Dowling 35 (Kennedy Klein 9), PV 42 (Isabelle Kremer 16)

Assists: Dowling 33 (Ella Rogers 28), PV 39 (Kelley 30)

Blocks: Dowling 11 (Ellie Muller 3.5), PV 10 (Stella Smith 3)

Digs: Dowling 35 (Annalise Grant, Rogers 8), PV 43 (Kremer 14)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com