Wolverines sweep Wolfpack for state title No. 13

CEDAR RAPIDS – The Dike-New Hartford volleyball team never lost focus.
 
The goal was to win the state championship once again, even as the Wolverines lined up against Western Christian, the only other volleyball program in Class 2A with a claim to more tradition than D-NH at the state level.
 
D-NH proved what many observers thought out loud all season long: The Wolverines are one of the best high school volleyball teams in Iowa, if not the absolute best regardless of class.
 
The Wolverines swept Western Christian in Friday's 2A championship by scores of 25-15, 25-21, 25-17.
 
"It just made us focus more to know that it's a rivalry game," D-NH senior Baylee Petersen said. "It was our last game and we wanted to end up on top."
 
The win was D-NH's 13th title in school history, dating back to the program's roots of the Dike teams that won five state titles in the 1980s under head coach Barb Bakker. It's the Wolverines' sixth state title in the last seven seasons and the fifth time D-NH has vanquished the Wolfpack in the title game.
 
"It means a lot just to be able to come down here," D-NH sophomore Morgan Weber said. "To be able to get the win, it means more than the world."
 
Weber joined Baylee Petersen and Sydney Petersen on the Class 2A All-Tournament team. Sydney Petersen, a University of Texas commit, was tabbed as the team's captain. Baylee, a University of Northern Iowa commit, was last year's 3A all-tournament captain.
 
Sydney Petersen had 20 digs as Baylee Petersen contributed 16 kills and Morgan Weber added 11 kills and four blocks.
 
Western Christian was given no breathing room from Dike-New Hartford throughout the match. The Wolfpack didn't have a run longer than three points until the beginning of the third set and only scored consecutive points five times before the decisive final frame.
 
"They have such great ball control," Western Christian head coach Tammi Veerbeek said. "Their passing is top notch and they don't make mistakes. … I knew we were going to have to play a perfect game to beat them."
 
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Friday was one last go around for a talented senior class that includes the Petersen sisters, playing their final game together in a Dike-New Hartford uniform before heading separate ways for college after graduation next spring.
 
The Wolverines also bid farewell to Madison Hedges, Allie Aalderks, Courtney Bolhuis after playing their final game in the royal blue and white.
 
Baylee and Sydney will have club volleyball later in the school year, but it's all a whirl in this final night together in Cedar Rapids.
 
"I guess I'm a little bit in shock," Sydney Petersen said. "We just won, but now my season's over at Dike-New Hartford. I'm sure I'll be emotional later but for right now I'm pretty hyped."
 
D-NH 25-25-25
W. Christian 15-21-17
 
Kills: D-NH (Baylee Petersen 16, Amber Rickert 12, Morgan Weber 11, Carlee Dove 4, Sydney Lage 2, Madison Hedges, Sydney Petersen); WC (Ashtyn Veerbeek 11, Jessi De Jager 9).
Assists: D-NH (Hedges 36, S. Petersen 4, Weber 2, Allie Aalderks); WC (Olivia Granstra 15).
Digs: D-NH (S. Petersen 20, Weber 13, B. Petersen 10, Aalderks 5, Hedges 4); WC (Madison Hofman 11).
Blocks: D-NH (Weber 4, Dove 4, Rickert 2, Lage 2, Hedges 2); WC (Veerbeek 3).
Aces: D-NH (B. Petersen, Courtney Bolhuis); WC (Tori Wynja, Chandler Schemper).
 
Class 2A All-Tournament Team
(* denotes captain)
 
Sydney Petersen, Dike-New Hartford*
Morgan Weber, Dike-New Hartford
Baylee Petersen, Dike-New Hartford
Kylie Willis, Grundy Center
Sydney McLaren, Council Bluffs St. Albert
Jessi De Jager, Western Christian
Ashtyn Veerbeek, Western Christian