Final chapter for Panther seniors

CLARINDA — The journey by the class of 2026 Creston seniors in Panther volleyball’s resurgence ended in a 3-1 loss to Clarinda Thursday in the Class 3A Region 4 semifinals.

With an active defense and effective net attack in set one, the Panthers opened the night with a 25-22 win. Creston had previously lost all five sets against the Cardinals — 2-0 at the Red Oak Tournament and 3-0 in Hawkeye Ten action on Clarinda’s court.

Clarinda, which had been state-ranked earlier in a 25-11 regular season, got untracked in dominating set two, 25-14.

From there, it was a competitive battle to the finish with both teams exchanging brief momentum swings. Clarinda grabbed an early lead in set three and held on, 25-22, to move ahead 2-1 in the match.

Creston threatened to force a fifth set to decide the regional finalist by taking a 17-15 lead in set four. Then, abruptly, Clarinda went on 5-1 spurt to inch ahead 20-18 on the way to a 25-23 win to clinch the match.

“I was really hoping we could get that one and get to a fifth set,” Creston coach Naomi Sharp said. “In that stretch it was like they would get two points and we would get a point. We had some hitting errors late, and a couple of errors dumping it over. They just executed a little better at the net. They’re a good team. Both of the Wagoner sisters are really good.”

Senior Addison Wagoner finished with 19 kills for the Cardinals, and sophomore Miley Wagoner added 17 kills. Carsen Wellhausen, the team’s 6-1 middle hitter, provided 12 kills. After the match, Miley Wagoner was recognized for setting the program’s single-season kills record (364) and Addison Wagoner reached 1,000 career digs. She has 352 kills this season.

Senior farewell

Braylee Pokorny, one of six seniors finishing their Panther careers Thursday, led Creston’s attack with 14 kills and two blocks, with a hitting efficiency of .385. Senior Jaycee Hanson had 13 kills and 13 digs. Senior Hollynn Rieck added 10 kills and a team-high 25 digs. Senior libero Avery Staver had 18 digs. On her final night as Panther setter, Kadley Bailey had 32 assists, along with 12 digs, three kills and a block.

Senior Ella Turner had had three kills in 16 hitting attempts with no errors, and four digs. Hope Henderson and Nora Barton, both juniors, had three kills and 10 digs, respectively.

As a team Creston served 96.4% with one ace each by Bailey and Henderson.

The overall play was superior to the two previous losses to Clarinda, but not quite enough to get over the hump in the fourth set.

“They’re used to winning, and they expect to win,” Sharp said. “We’ve had more success this year than in the past, but it’s still a mindset shift in Creston to start thinking of us as a team that wins, instead of a team that is competitive and hangs around in games. We’re working on it. These girls certainly moved us in the right direction.”

Longtime connection

Sharp returned to the program in 2024 after serving as head coach one year in 2004. Prior to 2024, however, she got involved in coaching this year’s seniors in junior high AAU volleyball competition, through friendships with players’ mothers. It was a lasting connection, as Sharp coached them every AAU season until becoming the head coach last fall.

Thursday ended a six-year journey as their coach in volleyball.

“To say they have a little bit of a special place in my heart in an understatement,” Sharp said. “They didn’t grow tall, but they’ve grown so much as players. They know this game very well. They’re smart players. We’re not tall, so we have to be smart. We find ways to get kills. It may not always be the fancy, wham-bam kills, they may be a roll shot to the middle after I hit it hard three times. Whatever it takes. We won quite a few long volleys tonight. I’m so proud of them.”

The Panthers earned the respect of Clarinda coach Jess Hanafan. In an interview with KMA radio, Hanafan said, “We really prepared for them to play good defense — they’re one of the best defensive teams we’ve gone against. They really challenged our offense, which is good for us going into Red Oak.”

The Cardinals (26-11) play at No. 3-ranked Red Oak (37-2) Tuesday for the Region 4 championship and berth in the Class 3A state tTournament. Kuemper Catholic and Lewis Central also moved on to regional finals in Thursday’s action. St. Albert won a 1A regional quarterfinal match Wednesday over Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton. The Saintes host Audubon in Monday’s regional final.

Clarinda 3, Creston 1

Serving (aces) — Creston: Hollynn Rieck 20-20, Jaycee Hanson 16-16, Nora Barton 16-16, Avery Staver 10-11, Hope Henderson 9-10 (1), Kadley Bailey 9-10 (1). Clarinda: Kelby Gray 18-21, Addison Wagoner 16-21 (1), Miley Wagoner 14-15, Kylie Meier 13-15 (1), Maddie Cole 10-11.

Attacks (kills) — Creston: Braylee Pokorny 22-26 (14), Hanson 43-47 (13), Rieck 32-43 (10), Henderson 17-19 (3), Ella Turner 16-16 (3), Bailey 8-13 (3). Clarinda: A. Wagoner 51-59 (19), M. Wagoner 39-41 (17), Carsen Wellhausen 23-24 (12), Meier 22-24 (9).

Blocks — Creston: Pokorny 2, Rieck 1, Bailey 1. Clarinda: M, Wagoner 1, Stroud 1, Wellhausen 1.

Setting (assists) — Creston: Bailey 32, Hanson 1, Staver 1. Clarinda: Ellery Bird 52, Maddie Cole 4.

Digs — Creston: Rieck 25, Staver 18, Hanson 13, Bailey 12, Barton 10, Turner 4. Clarinda: Cole 23, M. Wagoner 22, Bird 16, A. Wagoner 16.