Sigourney downed by defending champs in regional semifinals

ANKENY – Very quickly it became clear why they were the defending champions.

During the Oct. 28 class 1A regional semifinal match, Ankeny Christian seemed to be in a hurry to move past Sigourney. 

Although the Savages battled well throughout all three sets, the back-to-back, and No. 1 ranked, Ankeny Christian team showed their power in a 3-0 victory. 

“I think coming in here we weren’t as prepared as we thought with how fast their offense moves,” said Sigourney head volleyball coach Sierra Davis. “With the single block that we had it was kind of a struggle to move the block to where we needed it in time. We did the best with what Ankeny Christian gave us, but it wasn’t quite enough to stop them. They also had some hard hits.”

Throughout the opening part of the first set the Savages were able to slow down the attack of the Eagles. Although they weren’t getting the blocks that Sigourney had all season, they were able to get touches and disrupt the rhythm of the Eagles.

Through the first 15 points the Savages were able to do just enough to stay competitive with the Eagles. Once the Eagles were able to spread their wings, though, Sigourney was left on the ground without being able to defend.

In the middle of the first set the Savages were able to score three-straight points, closing in on the Eagles 12-8, but a kill attempt that landed outside gave the Eagles the serve back, and they never let another point up in the first set. 

Ankeny Christian used their lightning-quick offense to gain kills throughout the Sigourney side, working their way to a 25-8 first set victory. 

“Starting in the second set we adjusted our defense because Ankeny Christian liked to hit it pretty short of the 10-foot line,” Davis said. “We did the best we could, but their setter is tricky with the jump set that she has.”

For most of the second set Sigourney let the back of the court open and closed in around the net. That allowed the Savages to keep the score close, they stayed within three or four points for most of the set, even closing in 16-14 after a string of four straight points. 

Ankeny Christian adjusted though, and scored nine of the final 10 points to win the second set 25-15. 

Sigourney came out attacking in the third set, taking an early lead, but the Eagles seemed to adjust their offense again. This time Ankeny Christian started focusing their attack on cross-court shots and shots aimed at the back of the court, since the Savages weren’t playing deep. That allowed the Eagles to gain a comfortable 17-4 lead, before the Eagles pulled back on the reins.

Sigourney continued to attack, but it wasn’t quite enough as the Eagles soared to a 25-9 third set win to earn the sweep. 

“This group of seniors plays a huge part on the team,” Davis said after the match. “I want the girls to remember to not hang their heads walking out of the match. They had a good season and they should be proud of how the season went even if it ended sooner than we wanted it to.”

Sophomore Bailey Gretter led the Savages with three kills in the match. McKinley Chittick added two. Gabi Dehne, Taylor Rozenboom, Reagan Clarahan, Josephine Moore and Addy Fineran all had one kill each. 

Gretter and Rozenboom both had three assists each. Dani Aller added one assist. 

Gretter had 10 digs to lead the Savages. Moore added six. Hannah Hanselman finished with four digs. Chittick and Rozenboom both had three digs each. Clarahan and Aller finished with two digs each. Dehne, Jayden Mongomery and Fineran all had one dig each. 

Rozenboom had two aces and Gretter finished with one ace. 

The Savages end the season with a 17-6 overall record. Ankeny Christian earned the No. 1 seen in the class 1A State volleyball tournament.