CEDAR RAPIDS— After two days of riveting quarterfinal action,we've reached semifinal Wednesdayat the 2021 Iowa high school state volleyball tournament.
Already, there have been numerous dominant performances and a few stunning upsets. Now, we crank up the action even more as 20 teams battle for 10 spots on championship Thursday.
The Register's Dargan Southard will have you covered here throughout the day with recaps, analysis and commentary across all five classes. Photographers Kelsey Kremer and Joseph Cress are also live from Alliant Energy PowerHouse
Keep it right here for all of today's volleyball action.
More:Here's how you can watch the 2021 Iowa high school state volleyball tournament
Class 1A final is set.
No. 3 seed Springville downs No. 7 seedNorth Tama in straight sets (25-10, 25-12, 25-17). No. 1 seed Burlington Notre Dame over No. 4 seed Holy Trinity in straight sets (26-24, 26-24, 27-25).
Burlington ND and Springville at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Class 2A final isset.
Our fourth title match is set. No.1 Dike-New Hartford rolled over No. 5 Denver (25-12, 25-10, 25-12) to reach the Class 2A championship game. The Wolverines are a machine that can't be stopped.
On the other side,No. 3 Western Christian (40-5) toppled seventh-seeded Osage ( 25-19, 11-25, 25-22, 25-18) and will get a chance to take down D-NH.
4:08 p.m.— A recap of Thursday's title matches
5A: No. 4 Cedar Falls (32-8) vs. No. 2 Pleasant Valley (32-4), 10 a.m.
4A: No. 3 Waverly-Shell Rock (44-7) vs. No. 1 Western Dubuque (33-3), 12:15 p.m.
3A: No. 4 West Liberty (39-4) vs. No. 2 West Delaware (42-5), 2:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m.— Comets pull another stunner
Another No. 1 seed goes down as West Liberty knocks off Davenport Assumption in five sets. What a win. Comets versus West Delaware at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
3:51 p.m.— West Delaware is moving on.
West Delaware rallies for a 25-23 win in the fourth set and will advance to the 3A title game at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
3:41 p.m.— Comets force a fifth set.
What a showdown. West Liberty rebounds with a 25-23 win in the fourth set. Mac Daufeldt finishes it off. She has 18 kills in the match.
3:24 p.m.— S-BL stays alive.
S-BL on the board with a 25-22 win in the third set. West Delaware tried to finish the sweep with a strong close, but S-BL had enough juice late. Fourth set upcoming.
3:15 p.m.— Davenport Assumption surges back ahead.
A 25-19 win suddenly has West Liberty on the ropes. It hasn't been the easiest route for the top-seeded Knights, but Assumption seems to have it back together after a rough openin
2:59 p.m.— West Delaware takes another step.
Dominant win in the second set, as West Delaware grabs a 25-15 win over SB-L. Half of the 3A final is nearly set.
2:50 p.m.— Big answer from the Knights.
Davenport Assumption rallies for a 25-23 win in the second set to pull even with West Liberty. The Knights had to rally from two sets down on Wednesday and certainly didn't want to have to again.
2:33 p.m.— West Delaware jumps in front.
A long, dramatic set with No. 6 seedSergeant Bluff-Luton sees West Delaware jump in front with a 25-23 win.
2:18 p.m.— West Liberty with a great opening.
Fourth-seeded Comets land the first blow with a 25-23 win over No. 1 seed Davenport Assumption. Knights will need to sharpen up to avoid being the second top seed to fall.
2:06 p.m.—Class 3A semis are underway.
3A semifinals (2 p.m.)
- Court 1:Davenport Assumption (35-4) vs. West Liberty (38-4)
- Court 2:West Delaware (41-5) vs. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (31-6)
1:46 p.m.—Our Class 4A title match is set.
Go-Hawks finish off the four-set win over North Scott, 25-22, 19-25, 25-17, 32-30, to advance to Thursday's title game. No. 1 seed Western Dubuque vs. No. 3 seed Waverly-Shell Rock at 12:15 p.m. Thursday.
1:30 p.m.— Western Dubuque advances.
The Bobcats have won 25 straight games, the last of which sends them to the championship match. Western Dubuque finishes off Marion in four sets, 25-19, 25-18, 17-25, 25-15. The No. 1 seed looked like that today.
1:12 p.m.— Go-Hawks surge back in front.
A 25-17 win in the third set has WSR on the verge of a championship appearance. The No. 3 seed has the No. 2 seed on the ropes.
1:08 p.m.— Marion hanging around.
The Wolves aren't done just quite yet. A 25-17 win in the third set keeps Marion alive. Still a long way from a rally, but a positive step for Marion.
12:45 p.m.— Bobcats closing in.
Western Dubuque with a 25-18 win in the second set. The No. 1 seed in Class 4A is looking like exactly that so far. Fifth-seeded Marion going to need a rally in a hurry.
12:32 p.m.— North Scott back even.
Good response from the Lancers, which take a 25-19 win in the second set. Decisive third set upcoming.
12:18 p.m.— Go-Hawks out in front.
Waverly-Shell Rock grabs a win in the first set, 25-22. Good start from the Go-Hawks.
12:15 p.m.— Western Dubuque takes control.
Bobcats win the first set over Marion, 25-19. Not surprising given the dominance Western Dubuque has been showing.
11:50 a.m.— Class 4A semifinals beginning shortly.
We start at noon with these.
4A semifinals
- Court 1:Western Dubuque (32-3) vs. Marion (37-8)
- Court 2:North Scott (31-4) vs. Waverly-Shell Rock (43-7)
11:40 a.m.— Spartans advance.
No. 2 seed Pleasant Valley vs. No. 4 Cedar Falls for it all. Thursday at 10 a.m. 25-17 win in the fourth set. There will be a new champion in Iowa's largest volleyball class.
11:32 a.m.— Pleasant Valley takes control in set four.
Spartans have a 15-8 advantage and are closing in on a championship appearance. This would be the first time since 2012 that no CIML schools made the title match.
11:21 a.m.—Ankeny stays alive.
Pleasant Valley isn't gonna use the brooms today. Hawks get a 25-15 win to force a fourth set.
11:16 a.m.— There it is.
25-18 win in set three. Cedar Falls completes the sweep.
11:10 a.m.— Tigers closing in another championship appearance.
After going to four straight title games from 2016-19, Cedar Falls took a rare year off last season. But it looks like Cedar Falls is on its way back, with a 21-17 lead in the third set.
10:55 a.m.— Cedar Falls one win away.
Tigers pull away for a 25-18 win in the second set. Johnston's magic is running out. Cedar Falls one win away from returning to the championship game.
10:52 a.m.—An epic second set.
Deep into extra points this one went, neither team able to find the necessary separation. Pleasant Valley scored, but couldn't put the finisher away. Ankeny wouldn't go quietly.
The Spartans finally grabbed it.
A 32-30 win has Pleasant Valley one win from the championship game.
10:45 a.m. The defending champs aren't going away just yet.
Just when it seemed Pleasant Valley was ready to cruise, Ankeny puts together a nice rally late in the second set. Hawks have seven of last eighth to pull even, 23-23.
10:35 a.m.— Spartans are living right.
Pleasant Valley grabs a 16-10 lead in the second set to put Ankeny on the ropes. Punishing kills and flawless defense have pushed the No. 2 seed firmly in front.
Cedar Falls with an 8-3 lead in the second set.
10:26 a.m.—Both CIML schools go down a set.
Johnston had a decent late push to keep within reach, but Cedar Falls closes for a 26-24 win.Tigers allowed Johnston to come back 24-24, but Cedar Falls scores both of the extra points to clinch it.
10:21 a.m.—A loud opening statement from Pleasant Valley.
Spartans open with a 25-16 win in the first set. Defending 5A champions will need another rally to keep this going.
10:15 a.m.—Here comes Johnston.
Dragons have fired back to pull even, 14-14. Don't expect this Johnston squad to wilt after Monday's massive victory.
10:10 a.m.— 5A semifinals underway.
Early on, both CIML schools are struggling. No. 8 seed Johnston in an early 11-5 hole against No. 4Cedar Falls. No. 2 Pleasant Valley surges ahead with a 12-7 lead over No. 3 Ankeny.
9:15 a.m.— A recap of today's schedule.
5A semifinals (10 a.m.)
- Court 1:Johnston (28-11) vs. Cedar Falls (31-8)
- Court 2:Pleasant Valley (31-4) vs. Ankeny (40-5)
4A semifinals (noon)
- Court 1:Western Dubuque (32-3) vs. Marion (37-8)
- Court 2:North Scott (31-4) vs. Waverly-Shell Rock (43-7)
3A semifinals (2 p.m.)
- Court 1:Davenport Assumption (35-4) vs. West Liberty (38-4)
- Court 2:West Delaware (41-5) vs. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (31-6)
2A semifinals (4 p.m.)
- Court 1:Dike-New Hartford (52-1) vs. Denver (37-7)
- Court 2:Osage (29-9) vs. Western Christian (39-5)
1A semifinals (6 p.m.)
- Court 1: Burlington Notre Dame (36-8) vs. Holy Trinity Catholic (33-10)
- Court 2: North Tama (31-10) vs. Springville (34-4)
More:Iowa state volleyball: No. 8 seed Johnston stuns top-seeded Iowa City Liberty in 5A quarterfinals
Dargan Southard covers Iowa and UNI athletics, recruiting and preps for the Des Moines Register, HawkCentral.com and the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
