The #4 (2A) Dike-New Hartford volleyball team will take on #13 (2A) Wapsie Valley for a third time this season when the programs battle for a state tournament berth in the 2A Region 4 Final on Wednesday at neutral site Cedar Falls. The match will air on 99 The Wave.
The Wolverines are 1-1 against Wapsie Valley this season. The Warriors won 2-1 in a NICL tournament quarterfinal at Dike on October 8th. The Wolverines won 2-1 in a NICL quad hosted by the Warriors on October 17.
Dike-New Hartford (28-15) won 3-0 over Grand View Christian and Hudson to advance. Izzy Norton has been striking well from the outside with 275 kills at 2.8 per set. Addy Joslin leads in assists with 396 on the year. In addition to success on the front line a difference maker for the Wolverines has been at the service line with a 95.8% serve efficiency (leads 2A).
DNH Head Coach Diane Harms on the cohesiveness of the team and keys in the regional final.
“They spend a lot of time together in season and they do a lot of things on their own outside of the volleyball,” says Harms. “We have a lot of new faces, new personnel and I think it takes some time throughout the season for everybody to get comfortable, what ball is everyone going to go for, that trust and everything. I believe we’re in a pretty good spot where they’re really trusting and understanding who’s going to get what. We’re going to have to come in play well and take care of the ball like we did tonight again. We need to try to stay aggressive and hopefully things end up working in our favor.”
Wapsie Valley (26-16) won 3-0 over Columbus Catholic and Jesup to advance. The Warriors’ top attacker is Kylee Moulds with 292 kills at 2.7 per set. Avery Jones ranks as the third best setter in 2A with 955 assists this season.
DNH will look to punch their ticket to a fifth straight state tournament. Wapsie Valley will look to return to the state tournament for the first time since 2022.
Pre-match coverage on 99 The Wave begins at 6:40 p.m. followed by the first serve at 7:00 p.m. at Cedar Falls High School.
