Surprising Warriors reach MVC finals
Among the dozens of state tournament banners hanging in the Cedar Rapids Washington gymnasium there is but one lonely one for volleyball.
Before most any of the girls on this year’s team were even born, the Warriors made it to the state meet way back in 1994. That’s it in the history of the school.
This may be the year that a second banner is hung.
“That’s our goal,” according to junior outside power hitter Dani Franklin. “We want to see another one go up in the gym.”
The Warriors staked a claim Saturday to be a legitimate state qualifying team by finishing a surprising second in the talent-laden Mississippi Valley Conference tournament at Kennedy.
Of the 14 MVC schools in the field, seven are ranked in the top 15 in the state in either Class 4A or 5A.
Unranked at 20-11 coming in, Washington reeled off a string of impressive victories to advance to the championship final against Class 5A third-ranked Dubuque Hempstead (22-4).
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