Freshman Alaney Sienknecht, center, celebrates with her teammates, including Kruiz Ewoldt (9) and Lily Sell (17) after winning the Class 1A Region 3 quarterfinal against the BGM Bears this past Wednesday, Oct. 22, in Traer. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER – No. 3 North Tama quickly ended BGM’s hopes of advancing any closer to the state tournament during a Class 1A Region 3 quarterfinal match played in Traer this past Wednesday evening. In less than an hour’s time, the scrappy Redhawks swiftly ticked through three sets to shut out the unranked Bears (12-10) and move on to the semifinals next week.

The Redhawks ran hot practically from the get-go, racking up 10 unanswered points before the Bears called a timeout at 14-4. But the brief reprieve seemed to do little to set BGM back on track. In just under 15 minutes, North Tama took the set 25-7.

BGM fared slightly better in the second set, keeping pace until about the 10th point before the game got away from them. Most of the Bear’s points were earned due to North Tama errors. The Redhawks triumphed again, 25-13.

The third set ran similar to the second and the Bears even briefly pulled ahead early on by one point. But, again, much of that success came about due to errors by the Redhawks. After being foiled at least once at match point, North Tama finally cut the Bears off for good, winning the set 25-15 to move on to Monday’s semifinal round.

Senior Kruiz Ewoldt led North Tama with 15 punishing kills out of 30 attempts. Freshman Alaney Sienknecht added another eight; senior Cayleigh Heller and sophomore Lily Sell each had six apiece. Sophomore Isabelle Gropper and Heller (with her butter-like setting skills) helped Ewoldt lead the offense with 18 and 14 assists, respectively.

From left, sophomore Isabelle Gropper, senior Addison Hochstetler, and senior Kruiz Ewoldt celebrate Wednesday evening after winning their Class 1A Region 3 quarterfinal match 3-0 over BGM. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

On defense, senior libero Addison “Addy” Hochstetler kept control with 14 digs. She had help from Sienknecht who recorded 10 digs and Ewoldt with eight. Gropper and Heller both racked up four apiece. Heller, senior Brooke Bradley, junior Jessica Morrison, and junior Kahlia Even all had one block apiece.

At the line of service, the Redhawks rained down a baker’s dozen aces on the Bears; five from Sienknecht, four from junior Haydn Wilson, three from Ewoldt, and one from Hochstetler.

In total, BGM’s offense recorded just 11 kills and 10 assists against North Tama. The Bears defense managed 48 digs and zero blocks. The team also recorded zero serve aces.

With the victory over the Bears, North Tama (26-13) advances to play again at home this Monday, Oct. 27, in a Class 1A Region 3 semifinal against the North Mahaska Warhawks (17-9) beginning at 7 p.m. in the Redhawks Nest. The Warhawks defeated Twin Cedars 3-0 (25-5, 25-16, 25-18) in the regional first round and then HLV-TC 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-23) in the quarterfinal.

After winning the regional championship last season to qualify for the Class 1A state volleyball tournament, the Redhawks fell 3-2 in a hardfought quarterfinal match against Riverside. North Tama has never won a state volleyball championship but has made it to the semifinals twice, in 2019 and 2021, both under head coach Channing Halstead who is in her 12th season helming the Redhawks.

North Tama libero Addison Hochstetler serves against the BGM Bears during the first set this past Wednesday evening in Traer. Hochstetler is currently No. 1 in the state across all classes for serve aces with 99. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Editor’s Note: This story is printing online ahead of the Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 edition of the North Tama Telegraph.

North Tama outside hitter Kruiz Ewoldt goes for the kill against BGM Wednesday evening in the Redhawks Nest. Ewoldt led her team with 15 kills. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

North Tama volleyball head coach Channing Halstead (second from left), flanked by assistant coach Karisa Kladivo (left), speaks to her players following their first set victory over BGM on Wednesday night in Traer. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

The North Tama Redhawks celebrate a point during Wednesday's Class 1A Region 3 quarterfinal match against BGM in the Redawks Nest in Traer. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Redhawk head coach Channing Halstead speaks to her team from the sidelines halfway through North Tama’s 25-7 first set routing of the BGM Bears Wednesday evening in Traer. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Redhawk junior defensive specialist Grace Dvorak, left, and freshman outside hitter Alaney Sienknecht, right, await BGM's service Wednesday evening. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Redhawk senior Cayleigh Heller sets up the ball perfectly Wednesday evening in Traer. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER