Thursday night’s regional semifinal game between the ADM and No. 6 Lewis Central volleyball teams will pit a pair of opponents familiar with the postseason spotlight.
The difference between the two lies primarily in experience. ADM (20-16) has a number of underclassmen and first-year upperclassmen starters that needed time to become a cohesive unit. That certainly appears to be the case of late, as the Tigers won five straight matches and 10 of their final 13 to close the regular season.
What could give the Tigers even more confidence is the fact that Lewis Central (30-5) had to rally from down 2-sets-to-1 to beat Glenwood Monday in the opening round of Class 4A Region 3 postseason play.
“I have to say I was a little surprised. I was expecting it to be a little bit easier for (Lewis Central),” said ADM head coach Mary Beth Scott. “But I know that they obviously have played each other before, and anytime you keep playing a team, it does get harder because you kind of start to know each other’s (weaknesses). But I had planned on playing Lewis Central, but when it comes to playoff volleyball and it comes to state tournament time, you never know who’s going to come out on top.”
Scott said the Titans may be more vulnerable than last year’s team, which ended ADM’s season in the regional finals last November, but will still pose a major challenge.
But Scott is confident her team is coming together and playing its best volleyball at the right time.
“They (Lewis Central) were definitely good last year and they’re still very good this year. I think there are some more weaknesses that we can hopefully exploit,” she said. “Again, this team (ADM), this year, they’re just a really happy-go-lucky bunch and not much seems to really get them frustrated, and I think that’s turning into a strength for them, especially this year in the season.
“It’s taken us time to get some of our younger players the experience, some of my seniors are getting the experience they need, some of the juniors — we have some people out there, who this is really the first time they’ve had to play this level, and so I feel like we’re at a good point in the season.”
The Tigers and Titans will face off at 7 p.m. Thursday at Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs for a trip to the regional finals.