Clear Creek Amana fights off Solon’s stiff challenge, wins the Wamac tournament

SOLON — The potential is there, there’s no question about that.

As the regular season fades into the regional tournament — and maybe more — players and coaches around the Clear Creek Amana volleyball program are looking for something more:

Aggression.

“We’ve been a little shy at the net,” Averie Lower said. “If we use all of our tools, we can be unstoppable.”

The Class 4A top-ranked Clippers didn’t necessarily look invincible Thursday night, but they made enough plays at the end of the final match to get past No. 8 Solon in three sets (25-18, 21-25, 15-13) for the Wamac Conference tournament championship at Solon.

An off-speed change of pace has its place, but the Clippers had been tippers too much lately, they felt.

“We weren’t as aggressive as we should be,” sophomore Julia Schlarbaum said. “We need to be confident in ourselves.”

In other words, don’t be afraid to tee off.

CCA (39-3) found itself in a 7-6 deficit in the decisive set before pulling it out.

Lower had four kills in the homestretch, and Elizabeth Timmerman’s block at match point sent the Clippers home as Wamac champions for the second time in three years.

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A commit to Arizona State for women’s basketball, Lower finished with 14 kills to pace the Clippers. Schlarbaum added 13.

“We asked a lot out of Julia,” CCA Coach Jackie Clubb said. “And Averie has served as a mentor to her. Julia’s come a long way.”

Schlarbaum said, “Last year, I played right side. There were seniors at my position. This year, I’ve been playing more outside, and Emily (Henderson) is an amazing setter.”

CCA posted sweeps in its first two matches Thursday, against Mount Vernon at West Delaware. But Solon (28-9) made life uncomfortable throughout the final two sets.

Straight-set winners over Center Point-Urbana and Marion, the Spartans continue to show steep progress under second-year coach Ruben Galvan.

“This was fun,” he said. “I’m really proud with the way the kids kept fighting. But (CCA) is such a good team, you can’t afford to give them any free points.”

Kiley Devery paced Solon with 14 kills, including a series of them that brought the Spartans back from a 17-13 deficit in Game 2.

Wamac Conference volleyball tournament

At Solon

FIRST ROUND

Center Point-Urbana def. South Tama, 25-12, 17-25, 15-10

Marion def. Vinton-Shellsburg, 25-7, 25-10

Williamsburg def. Independence, 25-21, 25-11

Mount Vernon def. Benton Community, 25-23, 27-25

QUARTERFINALS

Solon def. Center Point-Urbana, 25-23, 25-20

Marion def. Grinnell, 25-15, 25-22

West Delaware def. Williamsburg, 25-17, 25-19

Clear Creek Amana def. Mount Vernon, 25-22, 25-13

CONSOLATION

Vinton-Shellsburg def. South Tama, 25-16, 25-23

Center Point-Urbana def. Grinnell, 25-13, 25-19

Mount Vernon def. Williamsburg, 25-23, 25-23

Independence def. Benton Community, 12-25, 26-24, 15-13

SEMIFINALS

Solon def. Marion, 25-14, 25-21

Clear Creek Amana def. West Delaware, 25-19, 25-15

CHAMPIONSHIP

Clear Creek Amana def. Solon, 25-18, 21-25, 15-13

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Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com