Tripoli reaches fourth straight 1A finals

By Mike Condon, Correspondent

CEDAR RAPIDS -- It was by no means their best effort, but it was good enough to put Tripoli in line for a fourth-straight Class 1A state title.

The Panthers never did find an offensive rhythm in Friday night's semifinal match-up with Boyden-Hull. They struggled to get the ball to all-state hitter Megan Gilbert but the defense was good enough for a 25-21, 25-13, 25-22 victory at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

Tripoli (39-3) will meet LeMars Gehlen Catholic in Saturday's title match in a rematch of last year's semifinal, which Tripoli won after being down 2-0. Boyden-Hull closes out at 28-4.

"We just never got into an offensive flow at all," said Panther Coach Will Baumann. "Our passes were off and our sets are all over the place. When you run an offense like we do, you can't have that."

Even with their struggles, the Panthers were still plenty tough. Gilbert managed 15 kills in 40 attempts. Her defense was stellar, picking 13 digs and five blocks.

"We knew we would have trouble with her," said Boyden-Hull Coach Dean Hoogeveen. "We don't have the size to match her, but we wanted to try and slow her down a little bit and I think we did that to an extent."

The first game was tight throughout. Hoogeveen said things could have been different had the Comets pulled through to win that game.

"If one serve here or one dig there would have went our way, we could have won that game," he said. "They made the plays when they needed them and we didn't."

Game 2 was all Tripoli as Gilbert, a St. Louis University recruit, had her best offensive stretch of the match. The Panthers built an early lead then scored the final seven points to close the game.

"We knew they wouldn't quit," Gilbert said. "This ended up being their last match and they went down giving all they had."

Tripoli built an 18-10 margin in Game 3 only to see Boyden-Hull charge back to tie the game at 22. Baumann called a timeout and challenged his squad.

"Coach told us first team to three wins," Gilbert said.

A Gilbert kill, and two Comet passing errors closed the match quickly.

"It says something that we were able to push through and get the win not playing our best," Baumann said. "Tomorrow is another day and we will have to be sharper to win."

Allison Te Slaa led Boyden-Hull with 15 kills in 23 attempts.

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