It has been a while since the Knoxville Volleyball Squad played in the State Tournament, in fact none of the current players for the Panthers were born when Knoxville last made a trip to Cedars Rapids in 1992, that’s 28 years. Tuesday, the Panthers have a chance to end that dry spell as they travel to Creston to take on #9 Red Oak. After breezing through the first two rounds over Clarke and Centerville, senior players Tara Uitermarkt and Marley McKay know the challenge will not be easy, but they also have realized the hard work they have put in the last four seasons is paying off.

Tara:
“Being able to say I’m going to be able to play in the game to go to state is blowing my mind right now, I’m just so excited and I don’t think Knoxville has done that in a long time so I’m just really proud my team is doing that.”

Marley:
At the beginning of the season we were talking about grit and gratitude so this is really going to a great challenge to us, but it’s not a challenge we’re not going to lose to and it’s going to make us better and push our boundaries and make us better.”

Knoxville and Red Oak will square off Tuesday night in Creston with the first serve at 7:00.