Kennedy gets the matchup it wanted Friday in the semifinals of the state volleyball tournament.

The seventh-ranked Cougars routed No. 4 Dubuque Hempstead in three sets Wednesday, 25-9, 25-21, 25-15, in the first round of the state volleyball tournament at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

Kennedy (30-9) advances to play No. 1 Iowa City West (37-6) in Friday's semifinals at noon. Iowa City West beat Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln in three sets, 25-20, 25-15, 25-20, earlier Wednesday.

Iowa City West has knocked Kennedy out of the state tournament in the semifinals the last two years. The Women of Troy won the state title last year.

"They got us in five (sets) by two (points) in the fifth set," Goodall said of the 2009 matchup. West won in four games last year, but the final set also was decided by two points.

"We remember this," Goodall said. "Our shirts kind of say it. They say, 'Going 4 more.' Our goal is to get past that (semifinal) match. We assumed it would be West."

The Cougars came out like they were on a mission against Hempstead. Junior Lexi Rogers had two kills and three blocks to help the Cougars bolt out to an 8-1 lead that grew to 17-3 in the first set.

"Our defense was great and that really brings up the energy on this team," said Rogers, who was credited with 10 kills and four blocks for the match.

Kennedy trailed only once all day, and that was Hempstead placed in its serve to start the third set. Kennedy came back with three straight points, the last on a kill by senior Ashlyn Milbrath.

The Cougars ran off eight straight points with senior Allie Hutcheson serving to take control of the set, 11-2. Hempstead never got closer than seven points the rest of the set.

"I think we had a lot of confidence and I think (the way Kennedy started) gave us more confidence that we could do it," said Hutcheson, who led the Cougars with 23 assists. She also had seven kills, was good on 19 of 20 serves, and had nine digs.

The Cougars were far form a two-woman band. Junior Jordan Calef had seven kills and two blocks, Milbrath six kills and senior Katherine Thompson also had six kills. Senior libero Naomi Pfeil had 11 digs.

Kennedy had a .462 kill percentage. Hempstead's kill percentage was .022.

"We started out really strong and that's something we always want to do," Calef said. "When we start out strong we know we have the intensity and motivation the whole match."

Kennedy was aggressive at the net, but also used finesse on a few shots to dink in some points.

"I like the way we're mixing it up," Goodall said. "The pressure is not just on one kid. Everyone's performing.

"We got a lot of kids in the match and I thought everyone played well. I'm really pleased with the way this team has come around and I think they're in it for the long run."

Kennedy and West will be joined in the semifinals by Iowa City High and Ankeny. City High beat Cedar Falls in four sets and Ankeny swept Waukee.

The City High-Ankeny match will follow the Kennedy-West match on Friday. The winners meet Saturday in the state championship match at 11 a.m.