TRAER – The 1A No. 8 Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebels volleyball team took runner-up in the Redhawks Nest last Saturday, Sept. 7, at the North Tama Volleyball Tournament, finishing just behind the champions, 3A No. 13 Union Knights.

On their way to the championship round, the Rebels swept Waterloo Christian 2-0 (21-12, 21-16), barely lost to Union in a sweep 2-0 (25-21, 25-23), lost to the hosts 1A No. 9 North Tama 2-1 (21-15, 21-13, 15-8), and beat conference foe Grundy Center 2-1 (25-19, 25-21, 15-8).

In the championship round, Gladbrook-Reinbeck lost back-to-back sets to the top-ranked Knights, falling 21-13 and 21-13.

Against the Knights – who lost the 3A state seminfinal last season against the eventual state champions, Western Christian – the Rebels were led by junior outside hitter Kennedy Brant who had seven kills, seven digs, and an assist across the final match. She was also 7-for-9 at the serve line.

Sophomore setter Kailey Larsen racked up 24 assists against Union in the final to help lead the offense. She was 4-for-4 serving. Rebel seniors Jaden Hansen and Braelynn Morgan served up one ace apiece during the two final sets.

Heading into this week, the Rebels (6-6) were scheduled to play East Marshall (4-6) at home on Tuesday followed by the South Hardin Volleyball Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 14, in Eldora. Teams scheduled to compete on Saturday include Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Greene County, Oelwein, and the hosts, 2A No. 4 South Hardin.

The Rebels will travel back to Eldora to again face South Hardin in an NICL-West showdown on Tuesday, Sept. 17. South Hardin currently leads the conference followed by AGWSR, Grundy Center, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, and East Marshall.