2A Recaps: Grundy Center Reverse Sweeps, Hinton Advances

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CORALVILLE - </strong>Winning a state tournament match isn't something soon forgotten. Doing so in a reverse sweep will stay with your forever. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grundy Center experienced it in Tuesday's Class 2A quarterfinals, rallying back against Beckman Catholic. The Spartans trailed big in Set 3 before taking it, 25-23. They then won the fourth set by the same score and took down Set 5, 15-13. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was the first meeting between the schools since 2021. Grundy Center ended a three-match skid against the Trainblazers, beating them for the first time since 2016. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='818213' first='Ryanne' last='Brubaker'], Grundy Center's 6-foot-8 middle hitter, generated 22 kills in a match that also saw her post three blocks. Jenna Blythe added 17 kills for the winners, and [player_tooltip player_id='797808' first='Raelyn' last='Steinmeyer'] picked up 20 digs. Lauren Zajac contributed 30 assists and 10 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='791383' first='Joy' last='Burkle'] led Beckman with 22 kills, while Jaylin Burkle had 16, and [player_tooltip player_id='804719' first='Ava' last='Burkle'] and Isabel Kluesner had 12 apiece. Paige Fangman doled out 48 assists, and Addison Hogan recorded 33 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For its effort, Grundy Center draws top-ranked Denver in Wednesday's 2A semifinals. The Cyclones ride a five-game winning steak in the series into the action, including a pair of 2-0 victories in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hinton will face Dike-New Hartford in the other 2A semifinal after taking down Regina, 3-1, in Tuesday's quarterfinals. The Blackhawks are winners of 10 matches in a row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their latest victory featured two of the state's top seniors going at it. Hinton's [player_tooltip player_id='389079' first='Bailey' last='Boeve'] produced 28 kills, hitting .375. Regal star [player_tooltip player_id='261094' first='Reese' last='Naeve'] cranked out 29 kills, and came up with 14 digs. They traded powerful swings, eliciting crowd reaction as the ball slammed down onto the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blackhawks controlled the first two sets, winning 25-18 and 25-17. To Regina's credit, it responded for a 25-20 victory in Set 3. The Regals kept the pressure on in the fourth set, but Hinton won the big points in pulling out a 25-23 triumph.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='769009' first='Ellie' last='Friessen'] contributed nine kills, five digs and a block for the Blackhawks. Brynlee Boeve, Adalyn Ortegren and Addisin Dunkel teamed up for 31 digs with Dunkel and [player_tooltip player_id='552901' first='Katelyn' last='Hoefling'] each handing out 27 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hinton and Dike-New Hartford have met twice before with the Wolverines winning at the 2022 and 2023 state tournaments. They faced off for the state championship two years ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->