No. 2 ranked Kuemper gets by Glenwood

Hawkeye 10 Conference champions Kuemper Catholic traveled to Glenwood last Monday and left with a 25-15, 25-23, 25-16 victory over the Rams in Hawkeye 10 Conference volleyball.

The Class 3A, No. 2 rated Knights (35-2 overall, 10-0) dominated the Rams (16-14 overall, 4-5 in the conference) at the net, recording 16 blocks and picking up 66 digs.

Glenwood coach Chelsey Harvey called the Knights the best and most well-rounded team her team has seen this season. Her team was never intimidated and never backed down from the challenge but the Knights’ ability to dig up any and every shot the Ram attack could muster was the difference in the match.

“Our goal was to get to 15 points, then get 20 and go to 25 and we knew facing a team like this, a big hitting team, so our priority was to play as a team and go after every ball,” Harvey said. “We actually played pretty well. Not as well as we did last weekend (at the Lewis Central tournament) but I felt if we had played that consistent we could have done some more. But I saw some improvement and we fought hard.”

Glenwood finished with 19 kills on .012 hitting. Kuemper had 31 kills and hit .228.

“Our hitters just kind stuck on their blockers and our setters are working on being consistent,” Harvey said. They’re working hard but it’s difficult when you have a great blocking team like them. Consistency in the front row is so important.”

Sierra Stouder, who took over as the team’s defensive specialist mid-season after playing mostly outside hitter previously, recorded 25 digs in the match to lead Glenwood. Harvey said Stouder’s transition has gone as smooth as can be expected of any mid-season position change.

“It was a little shaky at first; she wasn’t used to that position,” Harvey said. “But she’s definitely liking it and doing a great job.”

Briar Cliff has recently begun to show interest in the Ram senior as a defensive specialist.

“She knows this is her time to work on (that position) to show them what she can do,” Harvey said. “She’s confident and enjoying it and doing a great job for us.”

The Rams were scheduled to host the Class 4A, Region 2 semifinals Tuesday night. Glenwood faced off against Boone (17-20)/A-D-M (22-11). Results were not available at press time.

“I feel pretty positive about this match,” Harvey said prior to the semifinals. “I’m really glad we’re at home.”
See next week’s edition of The Opinion-Tribune for full coverage of Glenwood’s post-season match.