Lady Hounds sweep Keokuk

FORT MADISON - The postseason is about opportunity, Fort Madison volleyball coach Kelly Knustrom said after Tuesday’s sweep of Keokuk in a Class 4A Region 2 quarterfinal match.
Now the Bloodhounds (15-16) play at No. 2 Davenport Assumption (23-7) in Thursday’s 7 p.m. semifinal.
“I think we just have to come believing that we can win — that would be number one,” Knustrom said. “It's a great opportunity to go play a team like that. So I think that's the message it’s going to be tomorrow at practice — that this is an opportunity.”
To get to that point, though, the Hounds quickly eliminated Keokuk, winning 25-13, 25-13, 25-12 against their Southeast Conference rivals.
“I told them to come in humble as a team,” Knustrom said of the Bloodhounds, who won all four of their matches against the Chiefs this season. “In the postseason, everyone is 0-0, so you have to play your best. I told them, all that matters is that we show up and play our game, and if we do that, we can be confident that it would go our way, and we'll worry about the next game when we have to.”
It was an efficient performance for Fort Madison, which led for almost all of the match.
“I was proud of them,” Knustrom said. “Proud of the girls for sticking with it. We really had a lot of energy in the first game, maybe a little too much. That’s what we talked about between the first and second games. We talked about playing with consistency, not playing with so much hype. That’s not really our identity. But we came out strong every game, and I was proud of the way they played.”
Fort Madison raced to an early 6-1 lead in the first set, and while the Chiefs (5-23) kept pace with the Bloodhounds for most of the set, scored the final five points to finish off the win.
Keokuk got off to an early 5-4 lead in the second set before Fort Madison scored the next six points to take control.
Fort Madison led 10-8 in the second set before scoring the next five points, three coming on aces from Piper Denning.
“Having her come in and serve, I thought she did a great job,” Knustrom said. “Our serving has been good from multiple people. I feel like I can make changes in the game to throw off the rhythm.”

Kairringtuhn Donald led the Bloodhounds with nine kills and added 12 digs. Lyla Smith had eight kills and 10 digs. Tatum Menke had three blocks, while Natalee Nelson and Alaina Schwerin each had two.
Now the Bloodhounds advance into the semifinals.
“It’s not maybe ideal to have to go play the No. 2 team in the state, but hey, it's a great opportunity, and I think we just have to play hard, play our game,” Knustrom said.
FORT MADISON STATISTICS
Kairringtuhn Donald — 9 kills, 8-9 serving (1 ace), 12 digs
Lyla Smith — 8 kills, 13-14 serving (2) 10 digs
Jordyn Grisham— 21 assists, 15-15 serving (2), 13 digs, 2 kills
Kylie Lumino– 13 digs, 7-7 serving, 1 kill
Alaina Schwerin — 6-7 serving, 2 blocks, 1 kill
Natalee Nelson — 5 kills, 7-7 serving, 1 ace, 2 blocks, 3 digs
Tatum Menke— 3 kills, 3 blocks