JEFF B | Iowa Grandstand Sports

CHEROKEE — Thursday the Cherokee volleyball team earned the opportunity to play in their third consecutive regional championship. The latest win came against a scrappy Algona squad 3-0 (29-27, 25-15, 25-23).

The Braves are hoping for a similar result as the 2023 regional championship when they defeated MOC/FV to advance to the state tournament. Last season they lost to Sioux Center.
Rated eighth in the final 3A Iowa Grandstand Sports Rankings, Cherokee has had a winning percentage of .743 over the last five years, winning 133 matches.

Cherokee nearly gave the opening set away after building a 17-7 lead against Algona. The Bulldogs capitalized on a 14-4 run to tie the opening set 21-21. There were five additional tied after that with Algona taking a 27-26 lead and forcing set point. Addy Wolfswinkel secured the Braves set one win with a solo block.

Cherokee began the second set on a 6-0 run and established its first double-digit lkead at 22-12 on an Ellana Mortenson kill. Mortenson also got the winning kill to end the second set.

There were eight ties prior to reaching 13-13 in the third set. Algona built a three point 17-14 lead against Cherokee. Emma Ohlendorf pounded down a kill that tied the third set for Cherokee at 21-21. Two of the final three points of the third set came on Wichita State 2027 recruit Deidra Doeden of Cherokee.

Doeden finished second on the Braves in kills with 14 to Mortenson’s 16 total. Cherokee finished with 44 kills and a .229 kill efficiency. Wolfswinkel lofted a team-best 25 assists, and Mortenson had a match-high 24 digs.

Algona freshman Kate Limbaugh was a force to be reckoned with. The 6-footer had a match-high 22 kills. The Bulldogs finished 58-of-66 (three aces) for 87.9 percent. Algona finished the 2025 season with a 22-6 record.

Cherokee will face Van Meter (25-10) in the 3A Regional Championship tonight in Cherokee. The winner will advance to the state tournament November 3-6 at Xtreme Arena in Coralville.

CLASS 3A REGION 3 SEMIFINAL
Algona 27 – 15 – 23
Cherokee 29 – 25 – 25
Algona Record: 22-6, Cherokee Record: 28-7

Cherokee Individual Statistics
Serving (Min. 5 serves): 70-78 (8 aces) 89.7%
Addy Wolfswinkel 18-19 (5 aces), Ireland Kennedy 15-16 (ace), Kendyl Fox 12-13 (ace), Malausky 8-9, Gravenish 7-8, Ellana Mortenson 7-8 (ace), Deidra Doeden 4-6.
Assists (47): Wolfswinkel 25, Mahren Malausky 15, Kennedy 4, Fox 2, Gravenish 1.
Kills (44): .229 Efficiency
Ellana Mortenson 16, Doeden 14, Wolfswinkel 8, Kadyn Volkert 4, Emma Ohlendorf 2.
Digs (81): Mortensen 24, Fox 19, Wolfswinkel 13, Kennedy 12, Malausky 6, Doeden 4, Ohlendorf 3, Bryn Lewis 1, Macy Gravenish 1, Volkert 1.
Blocks (6): Wolfswinkel 2.5 (2S, 1A), Doeden 2 (1S, 2A), Volkert (1S, 1A).