Volleyball: Pleasant Valley aims to serve 1-loss Ankeny a state upset

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By Andrew Petersen | Tuesday, November 11, 2008 8:59 PM CST | () comments

It’s a number that doesn’t seem real initially.

1977.

Thirty-one year ago, Pleasant Valley appeared in its seventh state volleyball tournament in eight years. Those were the first eight years of state competition among Iowa high schools.

The Spartans hadn’t been back since.

But today they make their return in a Class 4A quarterfinal match against Ankeny at 2:15 p.m. in Cedar Rapids’ U.S. Cellular Center.

“It’s great,” PV sophomore Stacy Clark said. “None of us knew how long it had been.”

PV (36-5) qualified for state in its first year under coach Stacey Ruff, who spent three seasons coaching Augustana. Ruff installed an up-tempo offense that spread the attack and kept most opponents off balance.

Bettendorf was a notable exception, twice beating the Spartans during the regular season. But in last week’s Region 7 final at North Scott, PV upended the Bulldogs in four games. A marquee win a longtime coming.

“It’s hard to express how good it feels,” PV senior Courtney Linn said.

The Spartans have won 12 straight matches. That’s a nice number, but it’s half as many victories as Ankeny has strung together.The Hawkettes (37-1) have dropped only nine games all year and are at state for the seventh consecutive season.

“We have to serve to get them out of their system,” Ruff said of Ankeny. “If they get into their system, we really have to be on our blocks.”

PV got a good idea how it stacks up against state competition, scrimmaging Monday against state qualifiers Iowa City West, Cedar Rapids Prairie and Class 3A power Mount Vernon.

Today brings the real test as the Spartans seek to improve on 1970’s runner-up finish. Should they win, they’ll play at 1 p.m. Friday against either Iowa City West or Dubuque Hempstead.

Andrew Petersen can be contacted at (563) 383-2288 or apetersen@qctimes.com.