Recap, Reaction: DCG Solves Cedar Falls in 5A Quarters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CORALVILLE - </strong>Second-seeded Dallas Center-Grimes had a [player_tooltip player_id='781517' first='Hadassah' last='Smith'] problem. The Cedar Falls sophomore middle hitter took over the end of the first set in powering her team to a 1-0 lead during Monday's Class 5A state quarterfinals. Kills. Blocks. It was a barrage. Adjustments were necessary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs figured it out. The serving improved. So did the attack. They stopped trying to just hit through the block and played off of the block when that was the play. Their block was more effective, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DCG simply found its footing on the big stage and competed the way it had all year. After bowing out in last year's Class 4A first round, the Mustangs reach the 5A semifinals in what's been a magical season. After dropping the first set, 25-22, they took the next three, 25-19, 25-18, 25-23. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='730390' first='Ava' last='Smid'] was named player of the match by the state. The junior cranked out a match-best 17 kills, hitting .366. [player_tooltip player_id='766068' first='Madison' last='Messerly'] added 11 kills, [player_tooltip player_id='443085' first='Avery' last='Edgington'] had eight, and [player_tooltip player_id='394331' first='Maggie' last='Leifker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493973' first='Gwen' last='Farley'] each had five. Farley dished out 42 assists and came up with 12 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='729146' first='Anna' last='Jackson']'s 18 digs led the way for the winners. Leifker came up with two solo blocks and five assisted blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='781517' first='Hadassah' last='Smith'] paced the Tigers with 13 kills, while [player_tooltip player_id='389853' first='Kennedy' last='Krecklow'] contributed 12 and [player_tooltip player_id='754242' first='Piper' last='Smith'] pounded out 10. [player_tooltip player_id='742408' first='Kinzie' last='Clayton'] chipped in six kills, 18 assists and assisted on three blocks. Krecklow's 13 digs were a team high, while Lanie Schmidt had 12 and [player_tooltip player_id='767026' first='Elsie' last='Gerdes'] had 10. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cedar Falls finishes a memorable season at 32-9. DCG improves to 33-2 and will face the winner of Monday's quarterfinal between Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial in Wedneday's semifinals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/2PhTPn3g9rE","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/2PhTPn3g9rE </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/ql7fIEMG3Fo","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/ql7fIEMG3Fo </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->