Marion Volleyball

Paulsen named Metro Coach of Year

Roxanne Paulsen of Marion High School has been named the Metro Coach of the Year in girls volleyball, as selected by the Metro coaches.

Marion earned a spot in the Class 4A state tournament with a 3-0 victory over DeWitt Central in the regional finals Tuesday night. This will be Paulsen's fifth trip to the state tournament with the Indians and the first since 2009. Marion won a state title in 2008.

Abby Phillips and Amanda Sahm of Marion were named to the top all-Metro squad with their coach. They were joined by Kayla Torson of Xavier, Amanda Ollinger of Jefferson, Kate Busswitz of Prairie, Sarah Renner of Linn-Mar, Anna Fluent of Kennedy and Macy Anderson of Kennedy.

SECOND TEAM

Alyssa Thomas (Marion), Olivia Frazier (Marion), Ellie Anderson (Linn-Mar), Sami Boekhoff (Linn-Mar), Caiti Peterson (Washington), Mallory Jones (Prairie), Madsy Richards (Xavier), Brinley Milbrath (Kennedy).

HONORABLE MENTION

Jefferson - Maddie Slagle, Kristen Naber
Kennedy - Paige Franck, Kendal Meier
Prairie - Jennifer Lockhart, Megan Sprengeler
Washington - Sophie Smith, Rumer Weiland
Xavier - Mel Wertzberger, Olivia Krapfl
Linn-Mar - Emilee McGowan, Meg Gostonczik
Marion - Isabella Sade, Johanna Steggall

Marion cruises to 4A state tourney

MAQUOKETA - Roxanne Paulsen has been operating a successful volleyball program at Marion High School for many years and won a state title in 2008, but none of the players on this year's team had ever played in the state tournament when the season began.

That changed Tuesday night.

The third-ranked Indians dominated DeWitt Central, 25-13, 25-13, 25-18, in the Class 4A regional finals and claimed the school's first trip to the state tournament since 2009.

Marion (33-7) will face Charles City (41-4) in the quarterfinals of the state meet next Tuesday, Nov. 11 at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids at 4 p.m. on Court 2.

"It's been five years," Paulsen noted. "None of these girls were part of the high school squad the last time we went, so it was nice to be able to do it tonight.

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No. 3 Indians cruise without Phillips

With her right hand bandaged like a sledgehammer, senior all-stater Abby Phillips is still trying to take her Marion volleyball team to its first state tournament in her stellar four-year career as a starter.

The diminutive libero, an Iowa State recruit who holds the all-time Indian record for digs, hurt her hand diving for a ball at practice Oct. 10 but played six matches before seeing a doctor and realizing the hand was broken.

She’s missed seven matches since then and may not be able to return as Marion marches through the post-season

“Even on the bench she’s still an invaluable member of the team,” said Coach Roxanne Paulsen Thursday night after the Indians whacked Davenport Assumption 3-0 in a regional semifinal on Marion’s home court.

“It breaks our heart that she’s not on the court. But she continues to be a leader.”

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Cougars ranked 9th in volleyball poll

The Kennedy Cougars will enter the postseason volleyball playoffs next week as the highest ranked Class 5A team from the Metro area.

Kennedy climbed one spot to No. 9 in the final poll of the season Thursday after reaching the championship round of the Mississippi Valley Conference tournament last Saturday.

The Marion Indians remained third in the Class 4A rankings despite losing two matches in the tough Wamac Conference tournament Tuesday.

The Prairie Hawks dropped out of the Class 5A poll Thursday.

CLASS 5A

1. Bettendorf (34-0), 2. Ankeny Centennial (36-3), 3. Dowling (35-5), 4. Johnston (34-5), 5. Ankeny (33-6), 6. West Des Moines Valley (35-10), 7. Council Bluffs Lincoln (35-13), 8. Iowa City High (22-9), 9. Kennedy (26-11), 10. Southeast Polk (30-9).

CLASS 4A

1. Harlan (35-2), 2. West Delaware (41-2), 3. Marion (30-7), 4. Sioux City Heelan (28-11), 5. Clear Creek-Amana (24-9), 6. Charles City (39-4), 7. Indianola (30-9), 8. LeMars (29-9), 9. Waverly-Shell Rock (31-19), 10. Boone (31-6), 11. Dallas Center-Grimes (23-13), 12. Davenport Assumption (18-13), 13. Fort Madison (28-10), 14. Glenwood (16-13), 15. ADM (21-12).