State Tournament Quarters: 4A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first day of the state tournament was full of high energy and even higher competition levels. The 4A and 5A classes came in and hit the ground running. With the end of their season on the line, all of these groups played like they were fighting for their life. There was passion, there were tears, and there was all around amazing volleyball. Here is a recap of two of the 4A matches: #3 Clear Creek Amana vs. #6 Sioux Center and #2 Davenport Assumption vs. #7 Waverly-Shell Rock.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Clear Creek Amana vs. Sioux Center</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CCA came out the gates with fire and took and early lead in the first set, Sioux Center seemed a little shakey to start the match and had a lot of unforced errors. Senior setter Payton Curtin did a fantastic job dishing the ball out to <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/julia-schlarbaum/" data-type="players" data-id="516002">[player_tooltip player_id='516002' first='Julia' last='Schlarbaum']</a> who kept their offense going strong in the first set. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/maryn-franken/" data-type="players" data-id="816843">[player_tooltip player_id='816843' first='Maryn' last='Franken']</a> was a promising piece for Sioux Center right off the bat and got a few kills of her own in the first. Sioux Center handled the ball well on serve receive, but could't find a way to score against CCA's outstanding defense. CCA managed to keep Sioux Center out of system throughout the majority of the match and took the first set 25-14.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sioux Center came out a little more aggressive in the second set and managed to tighten up their ball control. Adison Bransten did a fantastic job with making clean first contacts for the Warriors, but the Clippers were still able to get a good lead to start the second set, pressuring Sioux Center to call an early timeout. The Warriors came out of the timeout battling back and started to put a little more pressure on the Clippers, but CCA did a beautiful job closing it out with [player_tooltip player_id='516002' first='Julia' last='Schlarbaum'] racking up ace after ace later in the set. Sioux Center misses their serve, giving the 2nd set to CCA 25-18. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> CCA sets the tone for the 3rd set right off the bat and goes up 6-0 and forces SC to call an early timeout. The Clippers come out of the time out and add 5 more points before the Warriors answer back with a 7 point run of their own. Julia comes back out with her top spin right away and CCA goes on yet another run and SC takes their last timeout 8-17. The Clippers show no mercy after the timeout and takes the 3rd 25-11.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">What lead CCA to get it done in 3?</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clear Creek Amana went through the entire match doing all the right things. The Clippers capitalized on the aggression with their serves and offense, and focused on clean first contact in the back row. They put their foot on the gas and didn't let up once. They stayed humble and kept a level head and left little to no room for Sioux Center to crawl their way back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Stat leaders:</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clear Creek Amana: <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/julia-schlarbaum/" data-type="players" data-id="516002">[player_tooltip player_id='516002' first='Julia' last='Schlarbaum']</a> &amp; <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> combined managed to have 25 of the Clippers 31 kills of the match. Schlarbaum ended the night with 14 and Simpson with 11. Payton Curtin did a fantastic job leading the offense and ended the night with 23 assists. Schlarbaum also led the team in aces and finished the night with a total of 7. [player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson'], <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/haydin-wauters/" data-type="players" data-id="571219">[player_tooltip player_id='571219' first='Haydin' last='Wauters']</a>, and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/payson-ellard/" data-type="players" data-id="878889">[player_tooltip player_id='878889' first='Payson' last='Ellard']</a> all ended the night with 3 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sioux Center: <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/maryn-franken/" data-type="players" data-id="816843">[player_tooltip player_id='816843' first='Maryn' last='Franken']</a> and Stella Heitbrink collectively got 16 or SC's 23 kills on the night. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/taylor-holverson/" data-type="players" data-id="902722">[player_tooltip player_id='902722' first='Taylor' last='Holverson']</a> ended the night with 18 assists and both [player_tooltip player_id='816843' first='Maryn' last='Franken'] and [player_tooltip player_id='902722' first='Taylor' last='Holverson'] got 4 blocks a piece on the night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Marissa's players of the game:</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sioux Center: [player_tooltip player_id='816843' first='Maryn' last='Franken']- Although I could give Franken player of the game simply on her stats alone, what impressed me more was her composure and the leadership she showed throughout the match. No matter what the score was or what happened within the rally, she always kept a smile on her face and continued to encourage her teammates, even in the toughest parts of the match. I always say that how you act as a person matters so much more than how you perform as an athlete, and Franken is a spectacular volleyball player and an even better person.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adison Bransten- I couldn't do a player of the game and not pick Bransten after the night she had. Although the match didn't go her way, that didn't stop her from giving it her absolute all throughout the match. She was an all around major asset to the Warriors and had beautiful ball control throughout the night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clear Creek Amana: [player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson']- It should come as no surprise that [player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson'] is a player of the match, between her and Schlarbaum they managed to keep the Clippers offense rolling. She did a beautiful job holding her teammates accountable and not letting up throughout the match and did a great job leading by example.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='516002' first='Julia' last='Schlarbaum']- Just like I mentioned with Simpson, Schlarbaum took control of the game right off the back and was a major contributor in many categories. Her stats speak for themselves, but she also did a fantastic job leading the clippers as well with her constant guidance and reassurance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Assumption vs. Waverly- Shell Rock</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights came out strong in the first set and really capitalized on staying aggressive with their serve. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/belle-cotton/" data-type="players" data-id="694203">[player_tooltip player_id='694203' first='Belle' last='Cotton']</a> gets it going right off the bat, putting WSR out of system with her serve. [player_tooltip player_id='828130' first='Adalyn' last='Tucke'] answers right back with an ace followed by 2 more aggressive serves. Assumption did a fantastic job staying aggressive and keeping WSR out of system so they couldn't run standout <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/amalia-djoumessi/" data-type="players" data-id="893927">[player_tooltip player_id='893927' first='Amalia' last='Djoumessi']</a>. However, when they were in system, that's exactly who they'd find and Djoumessi kept finding the court. The Knights start the match strong and takes the first set 25-21.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption comes into set 2 looking comfortable and fired up and WSR is looking like they are starting to find some sort of rhythm. They were connecting much better and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/lauren-gade/" data-type="players" data-id="1053868">[player_tooltip player_id='1053868' first='Lauren' last='Gade']</a> and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/lizzy-frazell/" data-type="players" data-id="950565">[player_tooltip player_id='950565' first='Lizzy' last='Frazell']</a> are starting to heat up and contribute offensively. Assumption's serve receive is looking locked down, giving them various hitting options, but WSR isn't letting up at the net and their block is kicking it into high gear. Although WSR was much more alive and assertive in this set, Assumption still managed to skim by and take the second 25-23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is where we are reminded that Assumption is a young team because they took a few steps backward in this set. The Go-Hawks came into the third set fired and put a lot of pressure on the Knight's serve receive and Assumption was starting to lose their control of the game. The Knight's were still working hard and fighting for every point, but you could tell the nerves were getting to them and WSR did a fantastic job taking advantage of that. Djoumessi was assertive and fired up, getting kill after kill. This is where Assumption starts to make more unforced errors and WSR cleans up their all around game. WSR kept their feet on the gas and stayed alive, taking set three 25-16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights got a little shaken up after set 3, but are coming into set 4 looking composed and ready to win. However, WSR also comes into the 4th set fired up and ready to take this match to 5. At this point, everyone on WSR is contributing,spirits are high, and the Go-Hawks are setting the tone of this set right off the bat, staying assertive with their serves and swings. The Knights are still shaken up and are struggling to find ways to score. Their serve receive has continued to drop and they aren't finding ways to put the ball away while out of system. WSR uses their momentum from set three all throughout set 4 and forces Assumption into a 5th set, winning 25-18 in the fourth. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At this point of the game, the outcome could go wither way. WSR has the momentum, but as we've seen throughout this season, Assumption has the grit and that's exactly what brought into the fifth set. The Knights found their footing right off the bat and I think it caught WSR a little off guard as the Knights pull ahead. The Go-Hawks kept battling, but Knights managed to get enough little runs to take the fifth set right out from under WSR, finishing the set 15-11. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">What helped the Knights to pull through in 5?</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think the biggest thing that Assumption has shown not only in this match, but all season long is that you can never count them out. The Knights are full of hungry kids who thrive during the toughest parts of the battle. Once you think they've lost the game, they find a way to dig themselves out of a hole and come at their opponents like a gut punch. I also think a very important thing that Assumption excels on is always making sure their setter has various options at all times, even when they're out of system. I am curious to see what tricks this group has up their sleeves for their match against Clear Creek Amana.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Stat Leaders</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kills: [player_tooltip player_id='854516' first='Zoe' last='Cinadr'] (Assumption)- 17 kills, [player_tooltip player_id='893927' first='Amalia' last='Djoumessi'] (Waverly)- 22 kills, [player_tooltip player_id='694203' first='Belle' last='Cotton'] (Assumption)- 19 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assists: [player_tooltip player_id='946877' first='Natalie' last='DePoorter'] (Assumption)- 42 assists, Dawn Meyer-Lillinbridge (Waverly)- 53 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Digs: [player_tooltip player_id='522957' first='Regan' last='Pries'] (Waverly)- 14 digs, [player_tooltip player_id='742600' first='Piper' last='Hodge'] (Assumption)-23 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Marissa's players of the game:</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption: I have to give my player(s) of the game to Assumption's ds' for their absolute grit all throughout the match. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/emmy-burkhart/" data-type="players" data-id="555771">[player_tooltip player_id='807931' first='Emmy' last='Burkhart']</a>, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/kinsley-needham-2/" data-type="players" data-id="880999">[player_tooltip player_id='880999' first='Kinsley' last='Needham']</a>, and <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 balls to the wall and all three of these girls held it down in the back row. Their control in serve receive as well as their grit on defense was one of the main reasons Assumption was able to play another day. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waverly-Shell Rock: I obviously have to shout out [player_tooltip player_id='893927' first='Amalia' last='Djoumessi'] for an incredible performance from start to finish. In the first 2 sets when WSR was still finding their groove and the pins were still trying to heat up, Djoumessi wasted no time putting the offense on her back and racking up kill after kill for the Go-Hawks. This girl is definitely a force to be reckoned with and I am so excited to see how she excels through the club season and how she bounces back next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->