IGHSAU State Tournament Quarterfinals Recap: 4A/3A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are back with the Quarterfinals of the state tournament and things are starting to heat up. Teams are fired up, knowing that a state title is right on the horizon. Not only are the athletes alive and fired up, but the fans are definitely matching their energy. We are going to see the best of the best competing over the next two days and I'll be here to cover it all. In this article I'll be covering the semifinals between #2 Assumption vs. #3 Clear Creek Amana as well as #2 MOC-Floyd Valley vs. #6 Cherokee Washington.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To stay up to date on the State Tournament make sure to follow me on Instagram @Prepdigmarissa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Assumption vs. Clear Creek Amana</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a match that everyone thought was going to be a tight one, CCA made it very clear that they weren't playing around. They took care of business and knocked out #2 Assumption in the semifinals in a quick three-setter. Although there were some glimmers of hope for the Knights, the Clippers refused to let up and showed that they're not a team to undermine. The final scores were 25-17, 25-22, 25-12.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption libero <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/piper-hodge/" data-type="players" data-id="742600">[player_tooltip player_id='742600' first='Piper' last='Hodge']</a> went all out and although the Knights didn't come away with a win, Hodge still made her mark on the match. The junior made had a lot of beautiful digs and saves in each set. Hodge managed to end the match with 13 digs and two assists. Solo senior <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/emmy-burkhart/" data-type="players" data-id="555771">[player_tooltip player_id='807931' first='Emmy' last='Burkhart']</a> left her all on the court and came up with 8 outstanding digs of her own and managed to get 3 aces as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/julia-schlarbaum/" data-type="players" data-id="516002">[player_tooltip player_id='516002' first='Julia' last='Schlarbaum']</a> took this game and made it the Schlarbaum show. The junior finished the night with 24 kills, which was over half of CCA's kills, and also go 7 digs as well. Payton Curtin finished the night with 35 assists and 13 digs. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/bailey-simpson-3/" data-type="players" data-id="493660">[player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson']</a> and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/delaney-vaske/" data-type="players" data-id="693879">[player_tooltip player_id='693879' first='Delaney' last='Vaske']</a> were also solid offesive contributors, fishing the night with 9 and 7 kills of their own.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Clippers will now be facing off against <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/gabrielle-hatlevig/" data-type="players" data-id="560368">[player_tooltip player_id='560368' first='Elle' last='Hatlevig']</a> and her #1 ranked Norwalk team in the 4A Championship match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#2 MOC-Floyd Valley vs. #6 Cherokee Washington</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cherokee came into the quarterfinals clearly feeling themselves after upsetting #3 ranked Dike-New Hartford and it showed. The Braves came in and took the Dutchmen for quite the ride and decided to pull off another upset, taking down MOC-FV in 3 sets. Cherokee played like they had nothing to lose, but also like they wanted to win a state title. If they can come into the championship match like they've done the last two games, I'm betting on the Braves hands down. The finals scores of the match were 25-19, 25-18, 25-16.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/deviryn-mccarty/" data-type="players" data-id="573313">[player_tooltip player_id='573313' first='Deviryn' last='McCarty']</a>, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/brielle-hoegh/" data-type="players" data-id="741261">[player_tooltip player_id='741261' first='Brielle' last='Hoegh']</a>, and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/lily-vander-pol/" data-type="players" data-id="493656">[player_tooltip player_id='493656' first='Lily' last='Vander Pol']</a> all tried to get the job done offensively and were taking amazing swings throughout the match. McCarty finished with 13 kills, Vander Pol with 9, and Hoegh with 8. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/blair-van-gelder/" data-type="players" data-id="775215">[player_tooltip player_id='841986' first='Blair' last='Van Gelder']</a> gave it her all in the back row and finished the night with 11 digs and 2 aces. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are so many players that did some amazing things in this match. But the biggest shoutout goes to <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/addy-wolfswinkel/" data-type="players" data-id="574225">[player_tooltip player_id='574225' first='Addy' last='Wolfswinkel']</a>, who contributed in various ways throughout the match. Wolfswinkel finished the night with 7 kills, 19 assists, 3 aces, and 3 blocks. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/ellana-mortensen/" data-type="players" data-id="831703">[player_tooltip player_id='831703' first='Ellana' last='Mortensen']</a> also was a big help, racking up 11 kills and 4 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Braves will now be facing off against #1 ranked Western Christian for the 3A title/</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->