By: Eric Pratt
Messenger Sports Editor
BOONE — Sara Horn said goodbye to a generational sophomore class last season at Iowa Central.
The veteran volleyball coach had a feeling her returning Triton players — along with a strong influx of recruits — could help bridge the gap in 2023.
Iowa Central didn't just shore up any lingering deficiencies, though. Horn's squad has built a legacy all their own.
The ninth-ranked Tritons captured a fourth consecutive Region XI Tournament championship here Sunday, outlasting No. 11 DMACC on the Bears' home court with a thrilling five-set victory.
Scores were 28-30, 25-17, 25-8, 22-25, 15-5 in favor of Iowa Central, which clinched the region's only automatic bid to the NJCAA Div. II national tournament. DMACC and fourth-rated Kirkwood — the team the Tritons (31-5 overall) defeated in Saturday's semifinals — now must wait to see if they receive at-large invitations.
Horn predicted her group would have very little margin for error in this year's regional bracket. Iowa Central shared the regular-season title — its sixth in a row — with both the Bears and Eagles.
"We knew it would be even harder (to qualify this time around), but I don't think we could have imagined the route that we drew, (having to face) Hawkeye in the quarters, Kirkwood in the semis and DMACC in the finals," Horn said. "Our team is really solid in every aspect of the game. Some nights, our serving takes over; some nights, our offense takes over; some nights, our defense takes over.
"Every year, our team has the goal of qualifying for the national tournament. Once our freshmen get to experience national tournament week, it's really hard to imagine not getting to go back as sophomores. It's a really fun and exciting week of volleyball and other events. This sophomore class has worked extremely hard over the past year, and have done an amazing job of leading the freshmen to where we want to be. Our freshmen jumped right on board, and we are beyond proud of each and every one of them."
Sunday's victory was a rollercoaster ride. The Tritons fell behind early, dominated the next two sets, then had to hold off a desperate comeback attempt by DMACC before the Bears were worn down and out in the deciding game.
Former Manson Northwest Webster standout Olivia Sturgis garnered regional tournament most valuable player honors, and fellow former Cougar Emily Goodner — also a freshman — made the all-tourney team, along with Iowa Central sophomore Mercedes Madlock.
"Our recruiting starts here (in the area)," Horn said. "We look at local players at camps, high school games, and local clubs. Both Emily and Olivia played for us at Iowa Storm Volleyball Club, and we've worked with them at camps starting four or five years ago.
"A huge goal of ours is giving our community players a great college athletic experience, a chance to play for one of the best junior college volleyball programs in the country, and an opportunity to compete for a national championship. Olivia and Emily are both great examples of what can happen when you work hard for your goals and continue to study and improve your game."
Sturgis and Goodner are joined by former St. Edmond standout Mya McClain and FDSH graduate Alexis Hiracheta in Iowa Central's regular rotation.
Goodner recorded 20 kills in the win over the Bears. Noemia Chiacchio (19), Sturgis (11) and Emma Bilhimer (9) followed.
Madlock had 56 assists. Chiacchio and McClain both tallied 24 digs, with Madlock contributing 20.
In the 27-25, 24-26, 25-8 and 25-18 triumph over Kirkwood, Sturgis led the way with 11 kills. Chiacchio added nine.
Madlock had 34 assists. McClain (16), Chiacchio (15) and Madlock (10) were tops in digs.
Chiacchio (5 aces), Hiracheta (4), Olivia Benson (3), McClain (3) and Madlock (3) were all effective at the service line.
The Eagles had swept the Tritons during the regular season.
"Against Kirkwood — a really talented front-row team — our serving took over as we had 19 aces," Horn said. "Against DMACC, our offense took over as we hit .432 and had 70 kills versus an all-sophomore back row.
"We have talked all year about doing our jobs, worrying about what we can control, and staying in the present. We did just that this weekend and it paid off with winning the regional title."
National pairings will be announced on Thursday. The NJCAA Div. II tournament, which follows a double-elimination format, is in Cedar Rapids Nov. 15-18.
Iowa Central has placed seventh, fourth and third in the last three national tourneys. This is the Tritons' eighth NJCAA bid since 2011.