The Ankeny volleyball team appears to be on a collision course with its crosstown rival for the CIML Central Conference championship.
The seventh-ranked Hawkettes are tied with No. 2 Ankeny Centennial for the league lead after sweeping No. 6 Urbandale on Tuesday at Ankeny. Both Ankeny schools are now 2-0 in the conference with three matches remaining, including the Jag-Hawk showdown at Ankeny on Oct. 2.
Ankeny rolled to a 25-17, 25-21, 25-11 victory on Tuesday after opening conference play last week with a similar sweep over then-No. 6 Dowling Catholic.
“We were extremely happy as a coaching staff with the effort of the kids,” said Ankeny coach Joe Morton, whose team is now 17-10 overall. “We were able to bring girls off the bench and see major production. Karly Weber jumped in and was tremendous for us defensively.”
Isabelle Vacek led the Hawkettes with 15 kills, while Sara McCullough and Taylor Richards each added 10. McCullough hit .500 for the match.
Setter Phyona Schrader racked up 38 assists.
“Phyona was excellent setting our matchups for Taylor and Sara to dominate in the front row,” Morton said.
Urbandale dropped to 1-1 in the conference and 14-8 overall. The J-Hawks were coming off a semifinal loss to No. 3 Valley on Saturday at the Waukee Invitational, where the Hawkettes also lost in the semifinals to Sergeant Bluff-Luton, the No. 2 team in Class 4A.
Ankeny will compete in the Boone Invitational on Saturday.
“I’m super proud of the focus the girls are putting forth right now,” Morton said.
