State Volleyball: Red Oak defeats Sioux Center

CEDAR RAPIDS -- For the first time since 2005, the Red Oak Tigers volleyball team picked up a win at the state tournament.

Red Oak swept Sioux Center 3-0 to get the win in the 3A quarterfinals Wednesday morning at the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids.

"Last year, we broke through getting a set. We had a lot of regrets after the Kuemper [Catholic] match last year, knowing that watcing them in the finals, that could have been us and I honestly think that it lit a huge fire, I know it did for me," Red Oak volleyball coach Angela Montgomery said.

The Tigers won the first two games each 26-24 and clinched with a third game win 25-18.

"We needed to stick to our gameplan and have a good, fast approach coming from all directions," Montgomery said.

Kate Walker led the way for Red Oak with 15 kills and 14 digs. Grace Blomstedt had eight kills, while Angela Mahoney finished with six.

Red Oak now sets its sights on Mount Vernon, a team they previously faced in the 2010 3A quarterfinals. Mount Vernon won that year 3-0.

Mount Vernon won its opening round match 3-0 against Union Tuesday night. The semifinal will take place Thursday at 2 p.m. on court one.