Pleasant Valley girls volleyball adds a state championship to trophy case
RIVERDALE, Iowa (BVM) — As the Pleasant Valley girls volleyball team headed home from Cedar Rapids, they were met right outside of town by the sheriff. They then received a police escort back to Pleasant Valley High School so that they could celebrate what they had just done with the whole community.
鈥淏eing able to give our trophy to the school and the community, it鈥檚 been wonderful,鈥� Pleasant Valley head coach Amber Hall said.
The trophy was the IGHSAU Class 5A girls volleyball state championship trophy that the Spartans had just won by beating Cedar Falls in consecutive sets. The championship is the first for the volleyball program. It was the team鈥檚 third straight appearance in the state tournament, but after losing in the semifinal the previous two years, the girls were able to power through and get that elusive first state championship.
鈥淟ast year it was right there for us, we just couldn鈥檛, so now we were hungry to really finish what we started years ago,鈥� Hall said.
鈥淭hose past successes and falling short kept this group hungry.鈥�
The team motto all year had been “humble and hungry,” and the Spartans showcased that throughout the season, going 33-4 overall as well as being the undefeated champions of the Mississippi Athletic Conference.
One specific instance that Hall remembers as an important milestone for the team was a tournament in Waukee that Pleasant Valley was involved in. The girls had fun staying the night in a hotel, but never lost focus or why they were there. They were serious about winning the tournament and it showed. The Spartans won all four games they played that day to win the tournament.
鈥淔rom then on we were able to keep pushing, keep reaching our potential and pushing our ceiling,鈥� Hall said.
All leading to a state championship match. The first two sets were close affairs with Pleasant Valley winning 25-23 and then 28-26. Cedar Falls had battled in both, and with the third set coming up and the state championship right there for the taking, the Spartans did not miss their opportunity, winning the final set 25-13.
鈥淚 think the girls did a good job of collecting themselves and just that move on to the next mentality,鈥� Hall said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we were able to capitalize on that third set.鈥�
It was the culmination of years of work and a season in which the girls grew stronger as the season went on. Not only improving on the court, but becoming a closer team.
鈥淚t was a whole group effort to have these girls to connect and the girls were always willing and wanting to connect,鈥� Hall said. 鈥淭hey always wanted to be there for each other and get to know more about each other. The team chemistry was, I think, a big reason why we were able to get to that state championship as well as win a state championship.鈥�
That chemistry showed in their play. Pleasant Valley was top five in the state at the Class 5A level in kills, assists and kill efficiency. Led by the school’s all-time leader in career assists, Kora Ruff, the Spartans鈥� offensive prowess helped them go undefeated in conference play and dominate in the postseason, only losing three sets in their five postseason games.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 write it any better,鈥� Hall said.
鈥淚t still feels like a dream.鈥�
Hall and the Spartans will enjoy their first state championship for a while. The celebration is well deserved, but with 10 juniors returning for next season, Pleasant Valley will have a strong start to its title defense.
鈥淲e definitely have a good core coming back 鈥� I know our future is bright,鈥� Hall said.
