Jefferson Volleyball

Jefferson sweeps Dubuque Senior

Maddy Baxter rolled up 36 assists Tuesday night as the Jefferson J-Hawks swept Dubuque Senior, 25-20, 25-22, 25-13, in a Mississippi Valley Conference volleyball meet at Jefferson.

Maddie Slagle slammed 16 kills for the J-Hawks. Sydney Kloubec had 12 kills, Abbie Ranschau six and Kristen Naber six.

Sam Kitterman, Lexi Moorer and Slagle all finished with 11 digs.

Cougars fall in Westside semifinals

Perhaps they just plain pooped out.

The last of the six Metro teams still standing Saturday in the 24-team Westside Volleyball Invitational, Cedar Rapids Kennedy advanced to the semifinals of the championship bracket but was upended at the end by Class 4A top-ranked West Delaware.

West Delaware lost in the finals to Class 5A seventh-ranked Ankeny Centennial.

The Cougars’ first match in the star-studded tournament started at 9:30 Saturday morning, and the fifth and final one of the day began eight hours later.

“It was a long day in a big tournament with a lot of tough competition,” noted Kennedy middle hitter Brinley Milbrath. “I think we lost a little energy. We seemed to kind of peter out there at the end.”

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Young J-Hawks play for 'Mom & Dad'

The Jefferson volleyball players call their coaches Mom and Dad. Which seems to fit just fine.

Married first-year co-coaches Amy and Will Norton, both 32, are like new parents raising a young family.

There are only two seniors on the 15-girl roster. Three freshmen are starters and all six ninth graders play prominent roles in the rotation.

The team leaders in kills, assists and digs are all in their first or second year on the varsity.

Yet even with a decidedly baby-faced lineup, the J-Hawks have more than held their own this year against arguably some of the best teams in the state.

An 11-13 record hardly reflects their overall consistent play.

“We’ve only lost to one unranked team,” says Will Norton. “The others have all been ranked in the top 15 in their class.”

Moreover, notes Amy, “We’ve pushed a lot of really good teams. Our record may not show it, but I think we’ve proven that we can play with anybody.”

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J-Hawks top Warriors in volleyball

The Jefferson J-Hawks used a balanced attack to sweep Washington, 25-15, 25-23, 25-21, in a Mississippi Valley Conference volleyball match at Jefferson Tuesday night.

Maddie Slagle led Jefferson with 16 kills and 11 digs. Kaylee Donner contributed 19 digs and five ace serves.

Maddy Baxter collected 38 assists and 12 digs for the J-Hawks. Raya George had seven kills. Autumn Anderson and Kristen Naber had six kills for Jefferson.