Not always smooth, but Clear Creek Amana makes its way to 34-0

CEDAR RAPIDS — It probably would be unfair to state that Clear Creek Amana sleepwalked its way to a tournament championship Saturday.

But Coach Jackie Clubb attested that the Clippers were playing tired.

“A lot of the girls went to Burlington for the football game (Friday night) and got home around 12:30 in the morning,” Clubb said.

So a mild case of fatigue was one thing. So was another day at the office in which all opponents are aiming to knock the Clippers off their perch.

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“We’re trying to show that we’re worthy of (the attention we’re getting),” senior all-stater Bliss Beck said. “We’re trying not to put ourselves in (tough) situations, but it’s kind of inevitable.

“It’s good to show that perseverance through it.”

The top-ranked team in Class 4A, Clear Creek Amana pushed through some bumpy moments at the Michelle Starcevich Invitational volleyball tournament at Prairie High School.

CCA endured a second-set loss to Muscatine in its first match of the day, then rallied from a 20-16 first-set deficit in its finale against Cedar Rapids Prairie.

The final receipt was five more match wins, pushing the Clippers’ season match record to 34-0.

“We can overcome anything as long as we’re playing as a team,” sophomore Averie Lower said.

The Clippers were a surprise 4A finalist at the 2022 state tournament. Everything good that they do this season, well, that’s expected.

“We’re scouting ourselves as if we were trying to beat us,” Clubb said. “Serving to specific girls. Forcing our non-dominant hitters to terminate.”

CCA opened with a sleepy three-set win over Muscatine (22-20, 14-21, 15-4), swept Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Cedar Rapids Washington and Benton Community, then closed with a 23-21, 21-13 triumph over host Prairie.

The Clippers faced a 20-16 disadvantage in the first set against Prairie, then scored five straight points — including consecutive aces by Lower — for a 21-20 lead.

“I just tried to stay calm, get it over and in,” she said.

Sam Schrage’s kill ended the first set, then Lower’s consecutive kills capped a four-point run as the Clippers surged away from an 11-10 battle in Game 2.

Prairie, Washington and Muscatine all finished 3-2.

Claude Howard was hired at Prairie (10-16) after coaching the previous nine years as head coach at Springville, a run that featured 293 wins and seven state tournaments.

“I love it here. It’s a good challenge,” Howard said. “That’s why I came here, to challenge myself as a coach.

“We’re making progress. The girls want to win; they just need to figure out how to close out some of these matches.”

Washington (5-19) earned its first three wins since August.

Benton’s Piper Nelson passed the 1,000-kill mark for her career.

Michelle Starcevich Invitational

At Cedar Rapids Prairie

Teams — 1. Clear Creek Amana 5-0, 2. (tie) C.R. Prairie, C.R. Washington and Muscatine 3-2, 4. Benton Community 1-4, 5. C.R. Kennedy 0-5.

Benton Community def. C.R. Kennedy, 21-14, 21-19

C.R. Prairie def. C.R. Washington, 21-7, 21-15

C.R. Prairie def. Benton Community, 21-10, 21-14

C.R. Prairie def. C.R. Kennedy, 17-21, 21-7, 15-8

C.R. Washington def. Muscatine, 8-21, 21-10, 15-12

C.R. Washington def. C.R. Kennedy, 21-15, 21-17

C.R. Washington def. Benton Community, 19-21, 21-16, 15-11

Clear Creek Amana def. Muscatine, 22-20, 14-21, 15-4

Clear Creek Amana def. C.R. Kennedy, 21-13, 21-13

Clear Creek Amana def. C.R. Washington, 21-17, 21-11

Clear Creek Amana def. Benton Community, 21-7, 21-12

Clear Creek Amana def. C.R. Prairie, 23-21, 21-13

Muscatine def. Benton Community, 21-11, 21-19

Muscatine def. C.R. Prairie, 26-24, 17-21, 15-13

Muscatine def. C.R. Kennedy, 21-18, 21-7

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com