Union Community pulls a 3A state volleyball first-round shocker over No. 2 Cherokee

CORALVILLE — Comeback queens. Front-runners.

The Knights from Union Community can play either role effectively.

Eighth-ranked Union pulled a surprising sweep at the state volleyball tournament Wednesday morning at Xtream Arena, taking down No. 2 Cherokee in a Class 3A quarterfinal, 25-21, 25-21, 25-15.

“You’re going to have ups and downs throughout a match,” senior Gracie Klima said. “You’ve just got to stay confident.

“We had to make some adjustments when we called timeout (in the first set). And we had to stay calm.”

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One of six teams from the powerful North Iowa Cedar League (the only in 3A) to make their way to Coralville, the Knights (39-11) advance to Wednesday’s semifinal against No. 3 Western Christian (30-13).

First serve is 12:25 p.m.

Union got off to slow starts in each of the first two sets. Cherokee (29-7) led 9-2 in Game 1, 10-5 in Game 2.

In neither instance did the Knights panic.

“We switched our serve-receive a little bit,” Klima said. “We’ve got some seniors, but we’ve got some young girls too, and it took a little time to adjust to the environment.”

The Knights didn’t lead in the first set until late, scoring the final six points to erase a 21-19 deficit.

Dena Robb had two blocks in that pivotal stretch. Klima had a kill. And the Braves committed two ball-handling errors and an attack miscue.

The comeback came a little sooner in the second set. Union knotted the score at 13, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 19 before breaking through.

Down 20-19, the Knights scored six of the last seven points. Klima posted two kills, Robb one, Reagan Glenn one.

Union played brilliantly in the finale, knocking down 15 kills against no attack errors in 33 swings. The Knights stormed to an 8-3 lead, Cherokee got within 15-13, then the Knights sprinted away again.

“I thought if we won the battle in the middle, we’d be in good shape,” Union Coach Brian Jesse said.

Robb complied with 11 kills, a .381 efficiency and four blocks.

“We have strength on the outside and in the middle,” Robb said. “We knew we matched up well with them.”

Klima took 52 swings, finishing with a match-highs in kills (16) and digs (16).

Avery Knoop distributed 35 assists.

Laney Wolfswinkel paced Cherokee with 11 kills.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com