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Waverly-Shell Rock overcomes big arm of Oskaloosa’s Faith DeRonde in state volleyball quarterfinals
Go-Hawks advance to Class 4A semifinals with 5-set victory
CEDAR RAPIDS — Not even a record-setting performance from Oskaloosa's Faith DeRonde could deny Waverly-Shell Rock.
DeRonde had a Class 4A state-tournament-record 40 kills, but it wasn't enough to push the Indians to victory as No. 3 Waverly Shell-Rock prevailed 23-25, 28-26, 21-25, 25-15, 15-12 in a Class 4A quarterfinal Monday night at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse.
The Go-Hawks (43-7) next face No. 2 North Scott in a noon semifinal on Wednesday. No. 6 Oskaloosa finishes at 31-5.
Monday's match was a battle between DeRonde and the balanced Go-Hawks offense.
According to WSR junior Averi Weichers, the balance ended up being the difference.
“This match was absolutely crazy,” she said. “You had to keep your head in it all the time because you had to be ready anytime you had it come to you.”
» Photo gallery: Waverly-Shell Rock vs. Oskaloosa in state volleyball tournament
Weichers and her teammates had the answers whenever they needed them. They battled back to win a tight 28-26 decision in the second set, then had to come back from a 6-2 deficit in the fifth.
“She is absolutely outstanding,” Weichers said of DeRonde. “I'm just so proud of how many times we were able to dig her hits.”
To get her record kill total, DeRonde had 89 attempts in the match.
The Oskaloosa senior said it was an accomplishment to break the old mark of 34 jointly held by Madison Larson of Independence (2018) and Aliyah Carter of Dubuque Wahlert (2017).
The final result was what she spoke of most as the Indians were making their first trip to state since 2006.
“That's a great accomplishment, but what I'll remember is how we worked so well together as a team," she said. "We trained so hard for this and it means everything to be in the state tournament.
“It's sad that we lost, but the big thing was that we were here.”
Weichers and Avery Beckett led the winners with 14 kills each, Ellie Thompson added 10. Maleah Walker had 15 kills for Oskaloosa.
Waverly-Shell Rock teammates celebrate their win at the IGHSAU state volleyball tournament quarterfinals between Waverly-Shell Rock and Oskaloosa at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Waverly-Shell Rock won in five sets. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Oskaloosa's Faith DeRonde (right) hits a kill shot against Waverly-Shell Rock's Elizabeth Frerichs (left) at the IGHSAU state volleyball tournament quarterfinals between Waverly-Shell Rock and Oskaloosa at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Waverly-Shell Rock won in five sets. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
