Howells-Dodge Claims D1-3 Championship

FREMONT – Sometimes a volleyball coach will make key strategy changes between sets or even add a few wrinkles to what is working on the court. And, sometimes, a coach uses the three minutes between sets to chew some butt.

That’s what Howells-Dodge coach Neil VanLengen did between the second and third sets with his team on Tuesday night in the Class D1-3 subdistrict championship – and it worked.

Howells-Dodge, 21-10 and ranked #7 in Class D-1, won the subdistrict championship 25-22, 22-25, 25-15, 25-19 over #3 Cedar Bluffs at Fremont Senior High.

“I kind of lit into them a bit,” VanLengen said following the match when asked what sparked the Jaguars’ resurgence after dropping the second set. “We had gotten tentative and when you play against a team that plays great floor defense like (Cedar Bluffs) does, you can’t tip.

“We turned into a more aggressive team. The girls decided they didn’t want to go home because we were tipping the ball all night.”

WATCH THE FINAL THREE MINUTES OF THE MATCH HERE

http://youtu.be/CTSNT69x9-A

After playing two tight sets to start the match, Howells-Dodge clearly came out more aggressive in the third set and sprinted out to a 6-1 lead behind a kill and block from Samantha Brester and a kill by Kalli Brester.

That quick start in the third set – and the stern talking from VanLengen - helped Howells-Dodge find its momentum, senior outside hitter Faith Molacek said.

“We took that very, very seriously, and it was a good thing because it helped us stop shaking and got the jitters out,” Molacek said. “We got a big kill right away and the nerves were just gone.”

After Cedar Bluffs got within 8-6 on a kill by Emilee Klahn, Howells-Dodge proceeded to go on another 6-1 run to pull out to a 14-7 lead and the Wildcats never threatened again in the set.

In the fourth set, Cedar Bluffs held early leads of 9-6 and 12-9 and eventually took a 15-14 lead after a kill by Klahn and a Howells-Dodge hitting error. The Jaguars, however, tied it at 15-15 on a Cedar Bluffs service error and took the lead for good at 16-15 on a kill by sophomore Haley Eikmeier.

Eikmeier drew the praise of VanLengen after the match. The 5-foot-10 middle finished the night with three kills and two blocks. Before Tuesday night’s district final, Eikmeier had only played in eight varsity sets this season and did not have a kill all year.

“Haley Eikmeier blocked her butt off and played the game of her life,” VanLengen said. “And, it came on a night when we had to have her.”

Molacek led Howells-Dodge with a match-high 16 kills while Kalli Brester added 13 and Sam Brester had 11. Cedar Bluffs was led by Maddison Roumph and Mandi Stansberry with 10 kills apiece.

Howells-Dodge will face Humphrey St. Francis on Thursday in the Class D1-2 district final for a trip to state. Cedar Bluffs, which dropped to 26-3 with the loss, is still alive for a potential wild card berth into the state tournament, depending on the results of Thursday’s district finals.

Class D1-3 Subdistrict Championship

Howells-Dodge def. Cedar Bluffs 25-22, 22-25, 25-15, 25-19.

Howells-Dodge (kills-ace serves-blocks)

Haley Eikmeier 3-0-2, Kalli Brester 13-0-2, Sam Brester 11-1-2, Kelly Cech 1-0-2, Abby Coday 1-0-1, Morgan Baumert 0-1-0, Shelby Hegemann 0-1-0, Kara Brichacek 2-0-2, Faith Molacek 16-0-0, Hailey Coufal 0-2-0.

Cedar Bluffs (kills-ace serves-blocks)

Maddison Roumph 10-3-0, Kylie Lineberry 1-0-0, Emilee Klahn 10-2-2, Shelby Lineberry 5-2-1, Mandi Stansberry 10-0-0, Bailey Tenopir 1-0-0.

Assists: Howells-Dodge 37 (Baumert 18, Tessa Brester 13, Eikmeier 2, Hegemann 2, Cech 1, Coday 1). Cedar Bluffs 30 (Shelby Lineberry 24, Kylie Lineberry 6). Digs: Howells-Dodge 70 (Megan Kaup 21). Cedar Bluffs: N/A.