Viqueens fall short in quarters to Janesville
CEDAR RAPIDS — It was Déjà vu all over again for the Stanton Viqueens at the Iowa State Volleyball tournament.
For the second time in the last two years, the Viqueens were eliminated in the quarterfinals at state.
Stanton suffered its first loss since Sept. 22 at the hands of Janesville 25-19, 25-13 and 25-17.
In the first game, Janesville jumped out to an early 4-0 lead. Stanton would recover, catch up and overtake the lead, but the lead didn’t last for long as the Wildcats jumped ahead.
“Janesville is just a strong team. They played the floor very well, nothing dropped. They take advantage of every weak point we had out there tonight and we were just happy to be able to play point-to-point with them in games one and three at different times,” Stanton Head Coach Jody Druivenga said. “I thought our girls put in a strong performance. Getting up here, it’s easy to have a case of the nerves and just fall apart and we didn’t do that tonight.”
The Viqueens had an early three point lead in the second game, but that would disappear as well. Stanton stayed close, being tied with the Wildcats 6-6. Janesville went on a 12-3 run though to jump out to a 18-9 lead. The Wildcats kept Stanton in check from there.
With their backs against the wall, Stanton fought hard to stay close early in the third game and did hold the lead for a few points. Janesville took the lead at 9-8 and eventually turned it into a 15-10 lead.
With the Stanton crowd, including Red Oak fans, cheering them on, Stanton fought back and got the Janesville lead down to two points.
The Wildcats rallied, allowing one Viqueen point as they eliminated Stanton from the state tournament.
The Viqueens were swept by Boyden-Hull in last year’s quarterfinals, also at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.
“To be up here, we have to be happy with our performance this year,” Druivenga said.
This is the second time Stanton played Janesville at state.
They faced each other in 2010, with Janesville winning in the semifinals.
“I thought the girls played a good game tonight, Janesville is a very tough team,” Druivenga said. “I think part of it is due to nerves. This is just a whole different environment for them to play in. But overall, I was very pleased with the girls.”
Janesville benefits from playing more 3A, 4A and 5A schools around Eastern and Central Iowa.
Druivenga thinks they have more experience playing some of those bigger schools.
“We would love to play some bigger schools, even some Council Bluff schools,” Druivenga said. “With our schedule next year in the Corner Conference, with Villisca combining with Corning, we have some open dates. I have no doubt that maybe we’ll be able to get into different tournaments next year where we are able to play some of the bigger schools.”
Carmen Subbert finished as the team leader for Stanton, recording 12 kills and 14 digs.
Subbert’s efforts did not go unnoticed around the state as the Des Moines Register selected the junior to be on the second-team of their all-state team for Class 1A.
It was the end of volleyball careers for several seniors, including Rachel Sorensen, Roey Sink, Ragen Anderson and Kara Allen.
Both Sink and Anderson had double-digit assists in the match. Sink finished with 16 assists, while Anderson had 14. Anderson also had four kills and four digs.
Allen had a kill out of seven attack attempts in the match. Sorensen had double-digit kills, recording 10.
Stanton will also be losing seniors such as Kimber Wagg, Amber Hamilton and Alix Kammerer.
“They’re a great group of girls,” Druivenga said. “We will miss them very much. They’ve been great leaders this year, some hard shoes to fill.”
Druivenga said she knows those returning next year will be playing a lot during the offseason together.
“When you have experience, experience a lot of times was what we had on the court this year, not to say that we don’t have some girls on the bench that will contribute heavily to our progam next year, because they will be,” Druivenga said. “They will be huge contributors.”
Janesville was eliminated by Grundy Center in the semifinals on Friday night. Tripoli repeated as state champions when they defeated Grundy Center in the 1A title match Saturday night.
Stanton finished the 2012 season with a 34-3 record. The loss was their first since Sept. 22 to East Union at the Bedford Tournament.
The other loss this season for Stanton was at the Missouri Valley Tournament to Missouri Valley.
The Viqueens have won numerous tournaments this season, most notably their ninth straight Corner Conference title.
Druivenga said she’s enjoyed every experience this year.
“It’s just been amazing. I’ve said this many times and I truly mean it, I could not ask for a better group of girls to have shared my first year with,” Druivenga said. “I have been around them for many years.”