Lions fall just short in Class 3A Region 2 Quarterfinal

Emily Theiss hits one to the front row while Xada Johnson (#9) and Jaden Ainley (#1) look on.  -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy

by Marianne Gasaway

The Lions saved their best match for last, but fell just short in their Class 3A Region 2 Quarterfinal against Forest City Monday night.

Clear Lake hadn’t won more than one game against the traditionally strong volleyball program since 2017 and haven’t defeated the Indians since 2014.  Monday they broke one of those strings in a 3-2 defeat.

“While I am so disappointed we fell short against Forest City, I am so proud of the way our team competed,” said Head Coach Heather Johnson.  “We had been dialed in all week at practice, at our match last Thursday, and our tourney Saturday, so I had every confidence in the world that our team would come out and compete.  I believed it until the very end. They played their hearts out and that’s the ONLY way to live life. Believing, preparing, and then leaving it all on the court. They have much to be proud of.”

The Lions found themselves in a hole early, as the Indians captured the first game  25-17 and the second, 25-20.  

But in game three the tide began to turn.  The Lions evened the score with wins of 25-18 and 25-23.

The all important tiebreaker went to the Indians, 15-12.

“Both our middles played solidly, but Autumn VanHorn was on fire at the net,” noted Coach Johnson.

VanHorn, one of nine seniors on the squad, had nine kills in the match.  On defense she made six blocks and had three digs.

The coach also credited senior Ashlyn Fread with moving the ball around well for the offense, both setting and serving.  Fread was perfect from the service line, putting in 20 of her 20 attempts with one ace.

“Jaden Ainley had some amazing hustle plays and Emily Theiss was always looking for ways to score,” added the coach.

Ainley made a team-high 28 digs, while fellow senior Theiss had eight kills on offense and 10 digs on defense. 

“We are so thankful for our seniors: Jaden Ainley, Emeny Brattrud, Ashlyn Fread, Summer Froiland, Skyla Geitzenauer, Layne Lester, Grace Meyer, Emily Theiss, and Autumn VanHorn for all their dedication to CLVB over the years,” said the coach.

Sophomore Xada Johnson led the Clear Lake offensive onslaught with 13 kills and junior Hannah Blaha put down 10.  Senior Grace Meyer recorded six kills in the match.

Johnson was also a standout on defense with 24 digs.  Also making double digit digs was Makella Jacobs with 15 and Fread with 11.

In addition to VanHorn, Ainley was also 100 percent serving.  She went 19/19 with two aces.  Jacobs also had an ace in 17/18 serving.  As a team the Lions served at 95 percent.

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ing.   Hauge was 35th in 22:43.43; McLaughlin was 36th in 22:50.91; Feuerbach was 37th in 22:53.13.  

Olivia Fausnaugh was close behind, in 42nd, running a 25-second personal record, 23:02.70.

After finishing 12th at the Regional meet in 2020, the girls came away with an impressive fourth place team finish. 

“These girls have taken their program to a new level and with no seniors on the roster, we will return our entire squad next year,” said Coach Tyler Havens.

The 2A State Championships will take place Saturday, Oct. 30, in Fort Dodge.

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