Eagles Sweep Hawkeye, Advance to Region 11-B Championship
The #2-ranked Kirkwood Eagles played in Johnson Hall on Saturday afternoon, sweeping Hawkeye Community College in straight sets (25-15, 25-14, 25-14) to advance to the Region 11-B Championship.
Balanced Offense Powers the Eagles
Kirkwood's attack was in full rhythm from start to finish, hitting an impressive .374 as a team and posting double-digit kills in each set. (FR) Sydney Brandmeyer and (FR) Carly Wazac led the way with 11 kills apiece, both hitting a blistering .500 on the match. (FR) Madalyn Boyer added another 6 kills and a solo block, while (SO) Josie Bryan chipped in 6 kills and 4 digs to keep the Hawks' defense on its heels.
Setter (FR) Avery Knoop orchestrated the offense beautifully, dishing out 19 assists and adding 2 service aces. (SO) Kaci Johnson was equally effective in the setter rotation, contributing 17 assists, 2 aces, and a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage on 5 attempts. Together, they fueled a fast-paced, efficient attack that produced 42 team assists and 10 aces on the day.
Defensive Poise and Depth
Defensively, the Eagles' back row once again set the tone. (SO) Natalee Hartman anchored the defense with 14 digs, while (FR) Abbie Staats and (FR) Gabbi Smith combined for 13 digs and steady serve-receive play. At the net, Kirkwood tallied 11 total blocks, including strong performances from Bryan, Boyer, Brandmeyer, and Wazac—each contributing multiple block assists to shut down Hawkeye's hitters.
Next Up
The Eagles will now compete for the Region 11-B Championship on Wednesday night at 7:00 PM in Johnson Hall, where they'll face the DMACC Bears.
