REINBECK — The ninth-ranked Gladbrook-Reinbeck volleyball team advanced with a 3-0 win over Don Bosco in Monday’s Class 1A Region 7 semifinals, winning 25-19, 25-11, 25-10. The Rebels (26-13) will face No. 11 Springville (26-12) in Wednesday’s regional final at Benton Community High School in Van Horne with a state tournament berth on the line.

G-R defeated Don Bosco (20-16) on the strength of a balanced attack that was led by Kennedy Brant and Elly Sieh with 11 kills apiece. Jada Cheville added six kills and Brinn Schneider had five more for the Rebels, who finished with a .260 hitting efficiency. Setter Kailey Larsen had 29 assists.

Brant led the Rebel defense with four total blocks, while Sieh, Larsen and Leila Thesing had two apiece. Sieh made a team-best 11 digs, Brant had nine, and Cheville added seven. G-R served 69-for-75 as a team with seven aces. Sieh was 14-for-15 with three aces, while Ayla Baer was 15-for-15 with an ace.

Spartans stamp out Earlham in regional semifinals

GRUNDY CENTER — The fourth-ranked Grundy Center volleyball team blew through Earlham in Monday’s Class 2A Region 4 semifinals, clubbing the Cardinals 25-10, 25-6, 25-17. The Spartans (34-9) will face No. 14 Woodward-Granger (29-10) in Wednesday’s regional final at Roland-Story High School in Story City in hopes of advancing to the state tournament.

On Monday night, Grundy Center emptied the bench and got playing time for 14 players. Ryanne Brubaker led the squad with 10 kills on 16 swings with no errors (.625) to lead the wway. Jenna Blythe had six kills, Trinity Jirovsky had five and Allison Koch four. Setters Lauren Zajac (15) and Caturella Brown (10) handed out the assists.

Brubaker piled up a whopping eight blocks at the net for the Spartans, while Koch had five and Ava Mundt added four. Grundy had three solo and 20 assisted blocks in the match. Raelyn Steinmeyer made 12 digs and Brown had eight to lead the defense.

Zajac served 24-of-26 with three of Grundy Center’s nine aces to lead the way over Earlham (20-16).

Top-ranked Saints eliminate East Marshall, 47-0

ST. ANSGAR — Top-ranked St. Ansgar was too much for the East Marshall football team as the Saints took a 47-0 win over the Mustangs in Friday’s Class A first-round playoff game.

St. Ansgar (9-0) led 40-0 by halftime and eased into the second round. The Saints racked up 485 yards of total offense, including 438 yards rushing with five touchdowns.

Korben Michels pounded out 227 yards on just 11 carries for the Saints, scoring twice, while Connor Mullenbach had 11 totes for 72 yards and two more scores. Quarterback Porter Schwiesow was 5-for-6 passing for 47 yards with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Michels.

East Marshall (5-4) was limited to 223 yards of total offense in its first playoff appearance since 1992. Jaxson Boswell was 14-for-24 passing for 139 yards and two interceptions. Blake Neuroth finished with six receptions for 85 yards, while Kaden Grant had four catches for 46 yards. Boswell led the team with 32 rushing yards.

Neuroth and Cody Weaver led the Mustang defense with seven tackles each. Wyatt Stalzer had 4.5 tackles, including one for loss.

No. 5 Van Meter stops South Tama in playoff opener

VAN METER — Fifth-ranked Van Meter scored three times in the opening quarter on its way to a 45-6 victory over South Tama in Friday’s Class 2A state football playoff game.

The host Bulldogs (7-2) scored 75 seconds into the game before turning a pair of turnovers into 14 more points. Andon Watson hauled in a 65-yard touchdown pass from Henry Lounsbury on the third play from scrimmage to start the scoring, and Van Meter turned an STC fumble into a 10-play, 71-yard drive that ended on Lounsbury’s 27-yard scoring strike to Lexon Blevins. Three plays later, a pick-six by Cody Deemer put the Bulldogs in control.

Lounsbury finished 10-for-18 passing for 189 yards and three touchdowns, plus 55 yards rushing with a TD. Christian Williams carried 19 times for 71 yards and a TD.

South Tama (5-4) committed four turnovers in the playoff loss, totaling just 145 yards of total offense. Eric Medina rushed 17 times for 87 yards and the Trojans’ lone touchdown.

Kyle Youngbear led the STC defense with 13 tackles, including one for loss, and Marcus Bear finished with 9.5 tackles.