Tigers punch ticket to state volleyball

For the first time since 2020, Red Oak is headed to the Iowa State Volleyball Tournament.
The Class 3A, No. 3 ranked Tigers (38-2) swept Clarinda 25-20, 25-22, 25-20 in last Tuesday’s regional finals to punch their state ticket.
After never trailing in the first set, the Cardinals were well on their way to evening the match with a 22-17 lead but the Tigers wouldn’t have it, closing the set on an 8-0 run.
That comeback was the difference in the match, said Red Oak coach Angie Montgomery.
“One of the calling cards of this team is that never give up attitude no matter what,” she said. “That’s a pretty big deficit to be in, only three points away from the set, and chip away one point at a time was huge. They didn’t get tight or doubt their game plan, their training or each other.  We kept fighting and swinging and making big defensive plays for each other.  We could not be more proud of them and so happy to be representing our community and school next week at the state tournament.”
The Tigers trailed briefly to open the third set but once ahead, never relinquished the lead to extend to as many as 10 points.
Red Oak hit .207 as a team with 37 kills. Jocelyn O’Neal led the way with 12 kills and Keely Jones added 10. Emily Sebeniecher dished up a team-high 29 sets and Mariel Ramirez led the way with 16 digs.
The No. 3 seeded Tigers, making their 17th state volleyball appearance, faced No. 6 ranked Kuemper Catholic (31-2) in yesterday afternoon’s quarterfinals at the Xtream Arena in Coralville. In the regular season, Red Oak downed the Knights in a five-set thriller in Carroll back on Sept. 16.