‘Gritty’ Falcons rally past South Hardin, clinch first State Volleyball berth in 15 years

CEDAR FALLS — Aplington-Parkersburg rallied from a 10-6 deficit in the fifth and deciding set and earned its first State Volleyball Tournament berth in 15 years with a 24-26, 25-14, 25-27, 25-22, 15-13 victory over South Hardin Wednesday at Cedar Falls High School.

“They just played so gritty tonight and never gave in,” Falcon coach Candace Kleespies said.

“We’ve battled all year no matter what it is,” she said. “If we’ve been up or we’ve been down we have no give – they do not give in at all. I just think that heart is what got them through.”