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SIOUX CENTER — Version weren’t of sugar plums dancing in their heads, but a return trip to the state volleyball tournament was for Cherokee, who came into Tuesday’s Class 3A Region 6 Championship never having beaten their opponent Sioux Center in four previous meetings, the most recent October 20, 2021.
Iowa Prep Illustrated’s eighth-ranked Cherokee lasses were one win shy of matching last year’s win total of 29. It was the Braves first state qualifying with a 3-2 victory over MOC/FV in Cherokee. Seventh-ranked Sioux Center was seeking its ninth trip to state, the most recent 2022.
Cherokee won the only set of the match in the first set 25-22 despite a numbers of errors building up in passing, serving, and attacks. The second set was much the same as Cherokee was unable to control the tempo of the set, dropping it 25-21. The third set saw Cherokee trailing twice by as many as 12 points 19-7 and 22-10.
In the final set, a Deidra Doeden block tied the set at 10-10 and a pair of ace by senior Laney Wolfswinkel was part of a 6-0 Braves run. Cherokee had a 16-11 lead in the fourth set, and again at 23-22, only to have Sioux Center tie it at 23-23, and finish off Cherokee with a 5-0 run to win the match 25-23.
(Photo above) Cherokee senior Laney Wolfswinkel drives her attack through the double block attempt of a pair of Sioux Center defenders on Tuesday during the Class 3A Region 6 championship in Sioux Center. Wolfswinkel would finish the match with 16 kills to go with a .375 kill efficiency. Wolfswinkel tied the Warriors’ Maryn Franken for most kills in the match. (Photo by Ryan Timmerman, Sioux City Journal)
Cherokee’s kill totaled 39 with only nine errors in the match. Aside Wolfswinkel’s total Keylee Gregg added nine kills. Opposite Cherokee was Maryn Franken 16 kills and Margo Schuiteman finished with 14. Sioux Center racked up 57 kills and a .239 kill efficiency against the Braves. Wolfswinkel finishes as the Braves leader in kills for the season, finishing with 276 and a .305 kill efficiency.
Sophomore Addy Wolfswinkel also a a good all around performance for Cherokee. She finished with 11 assists, four kills, a team-best 18 digs, three blocks, and a 16-for-17 effort with three aces at the service line. As a team, Cherokee finished 79-95 (92.9%) with six aces.
Cherokee finishes their 2024 season with a match record of 28-8. It is the fourth straight season Cherokee has finished with 23 wins or more, and six of the last eight seasons. Three seniors played the final match for Cherokee. They were Laney Wolfswinkel, Gregg, and Elise Anderson.
Cherokee 25 – 21 – 14 – 23
South Center 22 -25, 25 – 25
Cherokee Record: 28-8 | Sioux Center Record: 29-5
Cherokee Statistics
Assists (32 ) — Elisa Anderson 17, Addy Wolfswinkel 11, Keylee Gregg 2, Laney Wolfswinkel 1, Macy Gravenish 1.
Kills (39 | Kill Eff: .217) — L. Wolfswinkel 16, (.375), Gregg 9, Deidra Doeden 4, A. Wolfswinkel 4, Ellana Mortenson 3, Kadyn Volkert 2, Gravenish 1.
Digs (64) — A. Wolfswinkel 18, L. Wolfswinkel 12, Anderson 11, Gravenish 7, Kendyl Fox 7, Gregg 6, Volkert 2, Doeden 1.
Blocks (9.0) — Doeden 3.0 (2 S, 2 A), A. Wolfswinkel 3.0 (2 S, 2 A), L. Wolfswinkel 1.5 (1 S, 1 A), Gravenish 1.0 (2 A), Gregg .50 (1 A).
Serving (Mininum 7 attempts): (79-85 92.9% 6 ace) — Gravenish 12-12 (100%), Fox 10-10 (100%), A. Wolfswinkel 16-17-3 (94.1%), Anderson 12-13 (92.3%), Gregg 12-13-1 (92.3%), L. Wolfswinkel 16-19-2 (84.2%).
