Spartans top Wapsie Valley, advance to 2A regional final

By: 
Jake Ryder

GRUNDY CENTER – Maybe it would've been easy to get upset in the moment.
 
The Grundy Center volleyball team was getting a harsh test from Wapsie Valley, and mistakes were starting to mount, leading to the Spartans facing set point.
 
Even with a 2-0 lead in the match, the Spartans couldn't afford a momentum swing to the combative Warriors.
 
Grundy Center volleyball head coach Lori Willis called a timeout with Grundy Center and asked her Spartans to visualize the last few points they'd need for victory.
 
Fantasy quickly became reality.
 
"They didn't wither away, they got stronger," Willis said.
 
In Class 2A No. 1 Grundy Center's final home game of the season, the crowd roared as the Spartans fought back from a 24-22 deficit to secure the sweep of Wapsie Valley in a Class 2A regional semifinal volleyball match.
 
The Spartans (39-3) won 25-20, 25-18, 27-25. They'll play No. 11 Wilton on Tuesday at Cedar Rapids Xavier with a return trip to the state tournament on the line. Wilton came all the way back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat West Branch in the other regional semifinal.
 
Thursday's game wasn't a new frontier for a Grundy Center senior group that has been through its fair share of clutch moments and two previous trips to the state tournament under their belt. But the Spartans, a 2A state semifinalist last season, always welcome a good challenge, and Wapsie Valley certainly brought it on Thursday night.
 
"It's good to be in that pressure situation and see how we'd respond," Spartan senior Hailey Wallis said. "The excitement in here was awesome, the atmosphere was great, and that helped carry us through those last few points."
 
Wallis had 15 kills to lead the Spartans as outside hitting was a big part of the first two sets for both teams. Kylie Willis came on strong with 13 kills, many of which came in the third set as the middle hitter was the focus of the battle at the net.
 
Emerson Kracht added 43 assists and six kills. Kyah Luhring had 16 digs, with Wallis adding 15 and Frannie Brown recording 11 digs.
 
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For the full story, see the upcoming edition of the Grundy Register. Subscribe by calling (319) 824-6958 or clicking here. 

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