Ankeny over Ames in the regional final: Takeaways
In a win-or-go home regional final on Monday, No. 6 Ankeny hosted Ames. For the third time this season, the host Hawkettes simply overpowered the Little Cyclones, advancing to the state tournament with a 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-20, 25-11), ending…
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Continue ReadingIn a win-or-go home regional final on Monday, No. 6 Ankeny hosted Ames. For the third time this season, the host Hawkettes simply overpowered the Little Cyclones, advancing to the state tournament with a 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-20, 25-11), ending the Little Cyclones’ season with a 12-24 record. Ankeny improved to 31-12 and has now won 30 straight sets over Ames. Here is what stood out:
Sophomore connection
Sophomore setter Phyona Schrader, a terrific talent who is committed to Notre Dame, showed once again why she is such a highly-coveted recruit. The 6-foot-1 lefty notched six kills (playing hitter, as well as setter) and passed well. One of her favorite options was fellow sophomore McKenna Scheib. A 5-foot-10 middle hitter, Scheib has just the sixth most kills on the Hawkettes this year, but she was a reliable force for Ankeny on Monday. She racked up six kills in the first set alone, finishing with eight.
An accurate hitter (.359 on the year), Scheib received quick passes from Schrader and put them away. Oftentimes, the Ames defenders couldn’t get a hand on them before they hit the ground.
Options are everything
Ames struggled to get their footing all evening, as they were constantly battling to keep points alive. On the few occurrences when they could get their offense going, they were limited in their attack options, as setter Kenna Redies — who did a good job — was often forced to only pass to fellow senior Katelyn Courtney, a DMACC commit who finished with seven kills.
On the other hand, Ankeny had options for days. Schrader, who is just as comfortable passing to the middle hitter as she is sending it to the far antenna, found hitters all over the place.
A leader in each set
With their diversified attack, Ankeny had a different kill-leader in each set. Scheib was the go-to option in the first set, but in the second, Schrader favored Isabelle Vacek, the team’s leader in kills this season. Vacek, a 5-foot-10 hitter, notched five kills in that set and seven overall. A junior, she’s getting Division-II looks.
In the final set, senior Sara McCullough, a 6-foot-1 middle hitter, led the Hawkettes with four kills (she had eight total). A hard server, too, McCullough added two aces.
5-foot-9 hitters
Not quite as tall as their peers, Ankeny’s Taylor Richards and Malea Daugherty are just as viable offensive options. Richards, a senior who is being looked at by Division-II schools, notched seven kills in the match, killing sets and out-of-system balls alike. She’s also capable in the serving department and is almost like a baseball pitcher, with varying serves she can use to trick the receiving team.
Daugherty, one of the most athletic players on the court Monday, notched four kills.
Libero shift
Playing without starting libero Savannah Perry, who was injured last month, Ames has primarily used junior Abi Janzen at libero. But on Monday, Peter Cruz gave the other-colored jersey to senior outside hitter Annalissa Eller, in part to throw off Ankeny and in part because of her serve-receive ability. Cruz was pleased.
“She was incredible tonight, she was really good on serve-receive tonight,” he said.
Ready for Valley
After defeating Ames and clinching a spot in the 5A eight-team state tournament, Ankeny coach Joe Morton said: “A shot at Valley would be nice.” The Hawkettes, winners of 15 of their last 17 are likely to get that chance, as that is their likely first round matchup.
Said Morton: “I think right now, we’re really coming together as a team, bonding-wise, so I feel pretty good about the way we’re playing right now.”