Linn-Mar Volleyball

Prairie takes flight at MVC volleyball

DUBUQUE – This is the state's proving ground of whether a team is playoff ready. History's proven if you win at the Mississippi Valley Conference volleyball tournament, you can win anywhere, even under the bright high-pressure lights of the U.S. Cellular Center at the state meet.

“This is the end of a battle of attrition,” said Iowa City High coach Craig Pitcher. “The conference has been rock, paper, scissors all year.”

“It's a long, trying day,” Linn-Mar all-state outside hitter Amanda Ollinger said. “You know going into every game it's going to be a battle, especially since you're playing the teams you face all year.”

“It's the longest day of the year,” Kennedy setter Anna Fluent said.

And after the way they dug, set, spiked and weaved their way to the title match of Saturday's rigorous and taxing nine-hour MVC Tournament, the surging Prairie Hawks – who've already captured their first MVC divisional crown since 2008 – look ready for anything the road to the Class 5A state tournament may bring their way.

“I told them if this doesn't help your confidence beating all these ranked teams, I don't know what will,” a thrilled Hawks Coach Lynnette Stecklein said. “It was a great day.

“This team got better today.”

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No. 6 Lions trimmed by No. 3 Tigers

The third-ranked Linn-Mar volleyball team dropped a tight match to No. 3 Cedar Falls Tuesday night, 25-19, 21-25, 25-17, 23-25, 18-16, in a Mississippi Valley Conference showdown at Linn-Mar.

Amanda Ollinger led the Lions with 31 kills. Megan Renner had 11 kills and Carly Spies 10.

Ellie Anderson rolled up 47 assists for Linn-Mar. Renner finished with 17 digs, Emilee McGowan had 15 and Ollinger 12.

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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No. 7 Linn-Mar knocks off Wahlert

The Linn-Mar Lions rallied for a 21-25, 25-18, 26-24, 25-16 victory over Dubuque Wahlert on Tuesday night in a battle of ranked Mississippi Valley Conference volleyball teams at Linn-Mar.

Linn-Mar is ranked No. 7 in Class 5A and Wahlert is ranked No. 9 in Class 4A.

Amanda Ollinger rang up 16 kills and had 13 digs for the Lions. Ellie Anderson finished with 38 assists, 10 digs and six kills.

Megan Renner had eight kills and five digs for the Lions. Carly Spies also had eight kills. Ariana Rolle contributed six kills and three blocks.