The #5 (2A) Aplington-Parkersburg and #11 (2A) Grundy Center volleyball teams both fell to #1 (2A) Denver, which won the North Iowa Cedar League Volleyball Tournament Championship Thursday inside the Cyclone Center, as aired on 99 The Wave. The Spartans placed second, the Falcons placed third, and #13 (2A) Wapsie Valley placed fourth.
In the first semifinal, the Falcons fell 2-1 to the Cyclones, 16-25, 25-23, 15-11. The Falcons controlled the first set, handing Denver one of its most decisive set losses of the season. AP led 16-13 and 22-20 in set 2, but was unable to finish the job. Denver led by as many as 9-2, but a Falcon rally was too little, too late. Peyton Klooster had nine kills.
In the second semifinal, Grundy Center beat Wapsie Valley 2-1, 18-25, 25-22, 15-11. The Warriors had the edge in the first set, but the Spartans built some momentum with four set points. After the Spartans gutted out the second set, Wapsie Valley led 6-3 in set 3. But the Spartans cranked up the intensity to advance to the championship match. Ryanne Brubaker had 13 kills. The win marked the 300th in Head Coach Lori Willis’ career.
In the third place match, the Falcons beat the Warriors 2-1, 24-26, 25-19, 15-12. After falling in the first set, the Falcons found the needed energy to tie the match at 1-1. They overcame 10 service errors with some strong serving in set 3 to close the match. Zoey Uhlenhopp and Jenzen Klooster each had 10 kills.
In the championship match, Denver was in complete control, winning 2-0, 25-12, 25-10 in the most lopsided match of the evening. Grundy Center coach Lori Willis says despite the ugly loss, placing second is a remarkable accomplishment.
“When we started the season, I didn’t picture us here,” Willis says. “I knew we would get better. I just didn’t realize we would get better as fast as we did. And I felt like what we did a really good job of is taking advantage of the opportunities in front of us. When we saw that the tournament, how it was shaking out, we’re like, ‘ooh, OK. You know, this is great.’ And that’s what we just ask the girls to do when an opportunity is presented. Just go seize it. Because, that’s a life skill.”
The Cyclones had eight service aces, Brubaker, Kayden Muller and Paige Venenga each had three kills.
Lori Willis interview:
In the consolation pod at #4 (2A) Dike-New Hartford, the Wolverines went 1-1. They fell 2-1 to Union (13-25, 25-23, 15-10 and defeated #12 (2A) Sumner-Fredericksburg 2-0 (25-11, 25-10). #6 (2A) South Hardin went 1-1. They defeated Sumner-Fredericksburg 2-0 (25-15, 25-21) and fell to Union 2-0 (25-20, 27-25).
AGWSR went 1-1 at the consolation pod at Hudson. They fell to the Pirates 2-1 (25-16, 23-25, 15-11) and defeated #15 (1A) Gladbrook-Reinbeck 2-0 (25-18, 25-16).
