Tuesday’s 10 area volleyball regional finals include 3 coin flips

Robin Fonck isn’t too proud to adjust.

With her volleyball team facing its most important match of the season, Fonck is tinkering with her defense.

“(Waukee Northwest is) more dominant in the middle than we are, so we’re rearranging some things so that we’re more prepared for their attacks,” said Fonck, coach at Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

Ninth-ranked Kennedy (22-11) travels to No. 7 Northwest (27-12) in a Class 5A regional final Tuesday. It’s one of 10 make-or-break matches involving area teams in 5A, 4A and 3A, including three that can be classified as coin flips.

The other most competitive matchups, at least on paper, are No. 8 Clear Creek Amana (31-10) at No. 6 West Delaware (29-14) in 4A, and No. 9 Solon (26-12) at No. 5 West Liberty (30-7) in 3A.

All matches start at 7 p.m., with winners advancing to the state tournament next week at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

Elsewhere in the area:

* Top-ranked Iowa City Liberty (29-8) welcomes Cedar Rapids Prairie (14-21) in Class 5A.

* In Class 4A, No. 1 Cedar Rapids Xavier (29-4), No. 3 Marion (34-6) and No. 5 Western Dubuque (23-10) are significant favorites at home against Dallas Center-Grimes, No. 15 Knoxville and Charles City, respectively.

* In Class 3A, No. 3 Mount Vernon (33-5) hosts No. 15 Vinton-Shellsburg (28-13), Center Point-Urbana (18-17) travels to No. 8 Union Community (41-9) and No. 11 Mid-Prairie (27-11) tackles No. 2 Davenport Assumption (29-7) on the road.

Despite Northwest’s advantage in the middle, Fonck likes Kennedy’s chances. And why shouldn’t she? The Cougars have won 15 of their last 18 matches and earned runner-up honors at the Mississippi Valley Conference tournament.

“It’s going to be really close,” Fonck said. “We’re very even. We both have some strong outside hitters.”

Last year’s 3A state champion, West Delaware is up a class and has three key hitters in Alivia Schulte, Allie Demmer and Brooke Krogmann.

“We’ve kept battling. We’ve kept improving. I’m happy with our mindset,” Hawks Coach Brett Mather said. “Success is measured in different ways with different teams, and this is one of those years we’ve been grinding it out, and for that I’m proud.”

The Hawks have not seen Clear Creek Amana this season, despite both being members of the Wamac Conference.

“I think it’s two teams that feel they have a legitimate shot at qualifying for state. Both teams are certainly capable,” Mather said. “They have one really good middle (Bliss Beck), and other hitters that are capable, as well.”

Regional finals are Wednesday in 2A and 1A.

Tuesday’s area Class 5A regional finals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE (14-21) at No. 1 IOWA CITY LIBERTY (29-8)

Liberty is heavily favored to reach its fourth consecutive state tournament, a run that was highlighted by a trip to the finals in 2020. Senior all-staters Cassidy Hartman and Shelby Kimm have been the focal points of the Lightning’s ascent. Hartman ranks second among 5A attackers at 4.90 kills per set, while Kimm is No. 4 in digs (3.97). The Bolts started their season with a four-set MVC win over Prairie on Aug. 23, and defeated the Hawks on Sept. 10. Prairie had an easier-than-expected three-set win over Muscatine in the regional semifinals and is led offensively by senior Jacey Miller (3.10 kills per set).

No. 9 CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY (22-11) at No. 7 WAUKEE NORTHWEST (27-12)

With 15 wins in its last 18 matches, Kennedy has been one of the best teams in Class 5A through the second half of the season, a run that included a second-place finish at the Mississippi Valley Conference tournament Oct. 11. The Cougars outlasted Bettendorf in a five-set regional semifinal. The last of three Fluent sisters, setter Mara Fluent pilots the Kennedy attack with 7.65 assists per set. Adelyn Hermanson, Emma Koeppen and Jacey Powell are her primary targets. Northwest is seeking its first state tournament in its brief history, and the Wolves’ Brooklyn Halbur (5.58) and Chloe Jones (4.11) rank 1-3 in the state in digs.

Tuesday’s area Class 4A regional finals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

DALLAS CENTER-GRIMES (20-16) at No. 1 CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER (29-4)

Xavier takes aim at a seventh consecutive state tournament under Coach Austin Filer. Those last seven years have produced a 207-51 record, highlighted by a 4A state title in 2020. Now seniors, Anika Ivester and Brooklyn Miller were starters on that team and have an eye on returning to the top. Listed at 6-foot-4, Ivester is among the state’s most efficient hitters (.409), while senior Anna Shoger has made the most of her first year as the starting setter, posting a 4A-high 10.24 assists per set. Xavier spotted Waverly-Shell Rock the first set in the regional semifinals before winning the next three. Senior Haily Leinbach leads DCG at 2.18 kills per set.

No. 15 KNOXVILLE (26-12) at No. 3 MARION (34-6)

Despite playing the toughest schedule among 4A teams (according to Varsity Bound), Marion has fashioned another fantastic season. The Wolves have beaten all of the teams they should have, and that bodes well for Tuesday. Five starters are back from last year’s state-semifinalist team, led by senior Avery Van Hook (8.77 assists and 2.21 kills per set), who has committed to the University of South Dakota. She has several weapons to choose from, including junior Michaela Goad (3.87 kills per set, .352 efficiency). Knoxville is coming off a four-set win over No. 13 Pella in the regional semifinals, ending a 19-match losing streak to the Dutch.

CHARLES CITY (27-12) at No. 5 WESTERN DUBUQUE (23-10)

Western Dubuque was hit hard by graduation after claiming the 4A state championship last year, but the duo of seniors Ella Meyer and Libby Lansing has kept the Bobcats clicking. Meyer, a libero, is the 4A digs leader (6.71 per set) and has served 63 aces. A 6-foot-1 middle hitter, Lansing averages 3.25 kills per set and is tops in 4A with a .474 efficiency. The Bobcats were MVC Valley Division champions and chase their fourth straight state berth. Charles City outlasted Decorah in a five-set regional semifinal Thursday. The Comets have five hitters between 140 and 192 kills this season, and only one is a senior.

No. 8 CLEAR CREEK AMANA (31-10) at No. 6 WEST DELAWARE (29-14)

These Wamac Conference cross-division foes did not play in the regular season, but this might be the premier area matchup Tuesday. West Delaware is back up a class after winning the 3A state championship last year. Senior hitters Alivia Schulte and Allie Demmer return from that team, and the development of sophomore Brooke Krogmann gives the Hawks three strong hitters. Krogmann leads the team at 2.68 kills per set. CCA won the Wamac West Division and is pushing for its first state bid since 2014. Six-foot-2 junior Bliss Beck, a Drake commit, averages 3.45 kills per set and is No. 2 in 4A in both kill efficiency (.418) and blocks (1.34).

Tuesday’s area Class 3A regional finals

(All matches 7 p.m.)

CENTER POINT-URBANA (18-17) at No. 8 UNION COMMUNITY (41-9)

The Stormin’ Pointers and the Knights collided twice within hours at the Monticello Invitational on Sept. 24. CPU won in pool play, then Union reversed the outcome with a victory in the tournament finals. Union has made eight state appearances, all since 2010, and was battle-tested this season in the North Iowa Cedar League, finishing second in the East Division to Wapsie Valley. Senior Aubrey Gates is second in 3A in kills (4.80) and sports a .360 kill efficiency. Both teams swept their way through their first two regional matches, and CPU’s semifinal victim was No. 13 Clarion CGD. Senior Taylor Luscomb leads a balanced CPU attack with 2.21 kills per set.

No. 15 VINTON-SHELLSBURG (28-13) at No. 3 MOUNT VERNON (33-5)

If you’re into the Varsity Bound power rankings, then you probably believe Mount Vernon is the top team in 3A. With 13 state appearances in the last 15 years, this is one of the area’s shiniest jewels on a consistent basis. Senior setter Madeleine Miller is a New Mexico recruit and the 3A leader in assists (10.24 per set), and sophomore Chloe Meester is No. 1 in kills per set (5.16) and No. 3 in efficiency (.437). Like the Mustangs, Vinton-Shellsburg has back-to-back regional sweeps. At 98.2 percent, Brylee Bruce is the most accurate server in 3A, and Abby Davis is third in digs (4.96 per set). Vinton-Shellsburg’s lone state trip was in 1999.

No. 9 SOLON (26-12) at No. 5 WEST LIBERTY (30-7)

So you thought West Liberty would take a tumble after 2021 state co-player of the year Macy Daufeldt moved on to Drake University? You would be wrong. State runners-up last year, the Comets have stayed strong around senior all-staters Monica Morales (libero) and Brooklyn Buysse (setter), sweeping the River Valley Conference South Division regular-season and tournament titles. Morales is the 3A leader in digs, with 6.69 per set. Solon is enjoying a return to prosperity. The Spartans won a state title in 2014, then followed that with only one winning record in the next seven years. Senior Delaney Bombei averages 2.27 kills per set; the next three hitters are sophomores.

No. 11 MID-PRAIRIE (27-11) at No. 2 DAVENPORT ASSUMPTION (29-7)

Mid-Prairie has its sights set on its first state-tournament appearance since 2004 (and only its third in school history), but Assumption is a tall task to tackle. The Knights have one of the state’s top hitters in senior Ava Schubert (3.30 kills per set), who has been a constant on this team since her freshman year. Speaking of freshmen, Assumption has another good one in Ellah Derrer, who terminates at a rate of .416. Mid-Prairie enters with 10 wins in its last 12 matches. Senior Landry Pacha and freshman Jovi Evans are hit-and-set combos in the Golden Hawks’ attack, and sophomore Dakota Mitchell ranks No. 2 in 3A in digs, at 6.53 per set.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com