BGM, Iowa Valley get first-round road wins

Four area teams advanced in the first-round of regional volleyball play Monday in Class 1A Region 3. Two of those came on the road. Montezuma and HLV-TC took care of business at home.

Iowa Valley 3, Belle Plaine 1

BELLE PLAINE — Iowa Valley did not let the results of the regular season get them down.

The Tigers were swept by the Plainsmen earlier this season, and had some other tough conference losses.

“It means a lot to our team to get this win tonight,” Iowa Valley coach Ross Karsten said. “All season long we've battled hard with our conference teams but have come up short in several close sets.”

After dropping the first set 25-11 Monday, the Tigers won the next three 25-23, 25-20 and 32-30.

“Our focus lately has been on closing out sets, and our girls were able to do that tonight even when Belle Plaine fought back and made several pushes, especially in that fourth set,” Karsten said.

The Tigers made adjustments from that recent loss to the Plainsmen.

“We didn't pass as well as we are capable of and just didn't play as a connected team overall,” Karsten said of the first match against Belle Plaine. “It was great to see them make those fixes and play together after we got past the initial nerves of that first set.”

The team had 37 kills in the win, with Maeci Marshall leading with 14.

Iowa Valley will now face another familiar foe Wednesday in the quarterfinals against Montezuma.

Belle Plaine finishes the season 12-15.

BGM 3, Hillcrest Academy 0

KALONA — BGM dominated on the road with a sweep by set scores of 25-12, 25-20 and 25-13.

The Bears’ attack was led by Emersyn Minnaert with 10 kills. Ana Coleman added eight as the team had a kill efficiency of .168 on the night.

BGM will face No. 3 North Tama in the quarterfinals.

Montezuma 3, Lone Tree 0

MONTEZUMA — The Bravettes’ first set win Monday could not have been more dominant at 25-2. The next two sets were not close either. Montezuma won each 25-13.

The team had 27 kills and 14 aces. Sydnee Burgess led the Bravettes with 10 kills.

Montezuma will host Iowa Valley Wednesday in the quarterfinals.

Keota 3, English Valleys 1

KEOTA — English Valleys evened the match with a 25-19 set two win, but it was all Keota after that with convincing wins in the following two sets (25-14, 25-15).

It was the third time this season the two teams faced off, with Keota winning all three.

English Valleys ends its season 11-15.