(PHOTO): Cherokee Washington’s Kadyn Volkert (13) and Cherokee Washington’s Deidra Doeden (12) try to block Humboldt’s Mia Schluter (13) shot during Iowa High School Volleyball State Tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville Tuesday, November 4, 2025. (Amir Prellberg/The Gazette)

JEFF B | Iowa Grandstand Sports

CORALVILLE — It was an ending Cherokee hadn’t anticipated, losing in the state quarterfinal on Tuesday. Iowa Grandstand Sports eighth-ranked Cherokee was swept by fourth-ranked Humboldt 16-25, 15-25, 21-25.

Cherokee struggled at different points throughout the match with covering of down lines, passing, communication, and too much dinking and tipping offensively. The Braves finished with 18 attack errors and a .125 kill efficiency — at state you need to swing and swing hard at the ball

The Braves and Wildcats registered five ties in the first set 2-2, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8, and 9-9. Humboldt gradually built the lead from there to three to four to five and final nine point margin in set one. Doeden was effective in set one finishing with five kills for Cherokee.

Set two saw four ties with the final tie at 10-10. Humboldt capitalized on a 6-0 run to make it 23-13, before an Emma Mortenson kill for the Braves ended the Wildcats run.

Cherokee managed to build a three point 11-8 lead in the third set only to have Humboldt tie it at 11-11. Six ties later, Cherokee recorded a double block to trail 23-20.

There simply wasn’t a solution Cherokee was able to come up with to prevent a .345 kill efficiency and 50 kill performance by Humboldt. Three Wildcat players finished in double figures for kills — Adelynn Goodell (14), Mia Schultler (12) and Kendall Works (12).

Humboldt had an incredible 22 kills to go with a .513 kill efficiency in the first set against Cherokee.

Wolfswinkel led Cherokee with 12 kills and finished with a individual .207 kill efficiency. Doeden finished the match with nine kills and an identical kill efficiency to Wolfswinkel. Mahren Malausky lofted a team-high 12 assists for the Braves.

Wolfswinkel was 17-of-17 serving with two aces. Wolfswinkel finishes her junior season with a Class 3A best 72 aces. Sophomore Mariesa Gibbs of Waukon was second behind Wolfswinkel, finishing her season with 70 aces.

Cherokee graduates three seniors in Kalexis Hyndman, Macy Gravenish, and Kadyn Volkert.

Humboldt (31-6) advances to a 3A semifinal on Wednesday against top-ranked Western Christian. It was only Humboldt’s second appearance at state.

CLASS 3A STATE QUARTERFINAL
Humboldt 25 – 25- 25
Cherokee 16 – 15 – 21
Humboldt Record: 32-6, Cherokee Record: 29-8

Cherokee Individual Statistics
Serving (Min. 5 serves): 53-56 (3 aces) 94.3%
Addy Wolfswinkel 17-17 (2 aces), Emma Mortenson 9-9 (ace), Mahren Malausky 8-8, Deidra Doeden 6-6, Ireland Kennedy 5-6, Kendyl Fox 7-9.
Assists (27): Malausky 12, Wolfswinkel 9, Kennedy 3, Kadyn Volkert 1, Fox 1, Mortenson 1.
Kills (31): .125 Efficiency
Wolfswinkel 12, Doeden 9, Mortenson 8, Volkert 1, Maluasky 1.
Digs (37): Fox 9, Wolfswinkel 7, Kennedy 6, Emma Ohlendorf 6, Mortenson 5, Bryn Lewis 1, Malausky 1, Volkert 1.
Blocks (4): Doeden 2 (1S, 2A), Wolfswinkel 1 (1S), Ohlendorf 1 (2A), Ally Timmerman 0.5 (1A).