Lady Hounds push No. 2 Assumption

DAVENPORT — Kelly Knustrom tried to fight off the emotion as she talked about her team, but it was a difficult battle at times.
Fort Madison’s volleyball season ended with a three-set loss to No. 2 Davenport Assumption in Thursday’s Class 4A Region 2 semifinal, but Knustrom, the Bloodhounds’ coach, teared up as she talked about the fight her team showed.
“I didn’t see any fear,” Knustrom said after the 25-15, 25-12, 25-12 loss. “I saw belief in their eyes. And even in that third game, when we were close to the end, there were still a lot of smiles out there.”
There were moments of success for the Bloodhounds (15-17), but Assumption’s power was too much to overcome as the Knights (24-7) advanced to next Tuesday’s regional final against Bondurant-Farrar (22-17).
Fort Madison led 11-7 in the first set, 5-4 in the second set, and 9-6 in the third, but the Knights would put together long runs that would swallow all of the Bloodhounds’ momentum.
Assumption had a 12-1 run in the first set, runs of 8-0 and 6-0 in the second set, and an 8-0 run followed by a devastating 10-0 run in the third set in which the Knights got eight points off kills.
“They didn't lay off, especially in Game 3,” Knustrom said. “I thought in the first two games, when they did throw different things at us, I thought our defense was disciplined enough to not just be back on our heels expecting a big swing every time. But then in Game 3, when they did swing every time, it was … yeah, they're good. They were good. Once they got in a rhythm, they were good.”
Fort Madison challenged Assumption early. The Bloodhounds, down 7-6, went on a 5-0 run that forced the Knights into a timeout. Assumption battled back to tie the match before a serving error gave the Bloodhounds the lead again. The Knights then followed with that first big run that led to the first-set win.
It would be that way for the rest of the night.

“I'm just really proud of them,” Knustrom said. “I never saw any fear, and so that's kind of motivating, that's exciting, moving forward. It wasn't us dreading coming up here and playing the No. 2 team in the state. I think we looked at it as it was an opportunity to get to come and play them and kind of see what we could do. And you know, we talked about how we’re playing the defending state champs (Assumption won the Class 3A title last season, and then we got aces and we got kills and we dug them up and did a lot of good things.”
Fort Madison loses seniors Kylie Lumino, Alaina Schwerin and Adelyn Lampe.
The seniors will be missed, and always seem irreplaceable,” Knustrom said. “They have shown tremendous improvement in their careers and I hope they know how proud I am of them. Being their coach is the best.”
FORT MADISON STATISTICS
Lyla Smith — 4 kills, 7-7 serving (1 ace), 13 digs.
Kairringtuhn Donald — 2 kills, 6-6 serving (1)
Jordyn Grisham— 2 kills, 7 assists, 3 digs, 1 solo block.
Natalee Nelson— 1 kill, 2-3 serving
Kylie Lumino - 6-6 serving (1), 21 digs
Alaina Schwerin— 7-7 serving (1), 1 dig