New Hampton is headed to the state volleyball tournament for the first time in 45 years after putting together a dominating performance Monday night.
The 13th-ranked Chickasaws may have been the underdog against seventh-ranked Camanche, but they played with plenty of heart, grit and confidence on their way to a 25-22, 25-19, 25-23 Class 3A regional final.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of these girls,” said New Hampton coach Jess Geerts said after her team improved to 36-5. “We were swinging really well, we got on the floor and we didn’t quit on any point. That’s how you win volleyball matches.”
And it was a team effort that put New Hampton in the state tournament for the first time since 1973.
Kerigan Tenge, Maddi Moorman, Kiersten Tenge and Rachel Rinken led the hitting attack. Lauren Frerichs ran the offense to almost perfection. And Ashlynn Tank and Natalie Hoey were solid in the back row.
“Everyone came to play tonight,” Kerigan Tenge said. “Honestly, I don’t think we’ve ever played better or had as much intensity as we did tonight.”
New Hampton will play next Wednesday in the state tournament that will be held in Cedar Rapids. The Chickasaws drew the seventh seed and will play second-seeded Tipton at 10 a.m. and as happy as they were Monday night, the Chickasaws aren’t completely satisfied.
“This is nice, but yes, we want more,” Moorman said. “The first goal was to get there; the second goal is a state title. So we still have work to do.”
Story Credit: New Hampton Tribune