Crusaders get top-ranked Ankeny Christian in semis

CORALVILLE — It’s a quick turnaround for Holy Trinity’s volleyball team at the Class 1A state tournament, which is how the schedule always turns out for the smaller schools.
Holy Trinity had finished off its five-set win over Wapsie Valley in Tuesday’s late quarterfinal — it was the penultimate match of the night — then headed back to Fort Madison for a little rest before coming back Wednesday to face top seed and top-ranked Ankeny Christian in the semifinal at Xtream Arena.
It’s a challenge the Crusaders embraced after Tuesday’s win.
“We just have to play our game,” senior Adalyn Kruse said. “I think we’re the underdogs, but we proved tonight that no matter what, we’re going to win, and we’re going to do everything in our power to do that.”

“We’re going to have to play defense, and we’re going to have to hit the ball,” coach Melissa Freesmeier said. “We know you always have to play your best ball up here, and that’s what we’re going to have to do."
Ankeny Christian (39-2) has won three of the last four state titles and comes in on a 10-match winning streak. The Eagles’ lone losses of the year were to Ankeny, the No. 3 seed in Class 5A, and Roland-Story.
Ankeny Christian swept West Monona in Tuesday’s quarterfinal, winning 25-16, 25-19, 25-19. Sophomore Havanna Dolbeare, who has 383 kills on the season, had 17 in the win.
The Crusaders come in with their own momentum after Tuesday’s win, taking the last two sets after struggling in the first set, and then falling down 2-1 after a third-set defeat. They are on a seven-match winning streak.
“I think it’s anybody’s ball game in 1A,” Freesmeier said. “It’s who is getting hot at the right time. We’re going to do the same things we did tonight. We’re going to stay aggressive, play volleyball and work as a team. If we do that, we’ll be OK."