File photo by Andy Abeyta Clarion-Goldfield/Dows players (left to right) Clarissa Hasty, Alaina Friesleben, Summer Traub, Morgan Middleton and Jadyn Jondle celebrate their state quarterfinal victory last year in Cedar Rapids.

CLARION — Success on the volleyball court has brought the entire Clarion-Goldfield/Dows community together, as the team has put together a successful program that everyone in the district showing their Cowgirl pride.

Clarion-Goldfield/Dows has reached the state tournament two years in a row, and its fans have been by the squad’s side every step of the way.

“The support we have received is amazing,” said eighth-year head coach Katrina TerHark. “Our crowd comes up with all kinds of different chants and cheers. The community has been rallying behind us.

“I have gotten random emails and text messages and cards — especially right now from people who have been looking forward to watching this team play.”

The third-ranked (Class 3A) Cowgirls ended a nearly 20-year hiatus at state by qualifying in 2018. They made it back-to-back years after reaching the Class 2A semifinals last season.

The significant steps the program has taken under TerHark has brought the entire group together.

“Last season we reached out to family members without the girls knowing to leave messages for (the entire team),” TerHark said. “We watched that before our state match, and the impact that the families messages had on the girls was tremendous. There were so many people that wanted to reach out and be a part of something special. We are a true volleyball family.

“We talk about it all of the time. The coaches are in their corner and we are here for them. It just comes down to having great kids…they’re fun to be around and fun to coach.”

The year’s senior class has put together a memorable run for a group that has been playing together since third grade. The Cowgirls have put together a combined record of 93-27 in the last three campaigns, and C-G/D was the North Central Conference champion in 2019.

“They have a love and passion for volleyball,” TerHark said. “They all have great personalities, and when we are playing our best volleyball, they are having fun. You can see their personalities come out on the court and they are super competitive.

“They understand their roles and get along well, and they have spent a lot of time on the court together through the years.”

The camaraderie and family atmosphere has been pivotal both on and off the court. A large senior class, led by Morgan Middleton, Jadyn Jondle, Kendall Lienemann, Emma Conlon, Alaina Friesleben, and Nicole Waters, have been the anchors.

“This group has been fun to watch and coach,” TerHark said. “They built relationships on the long suburban rides and bus trips. They are really selfless and take responsibility if they have an error or a play that doesn’t go right. They never blame others.

“It’s fun to see the cohesiveness. That is hard to instill.”

The Cowgirls started the season 9-0 before dropping two matches. C-G/D lost to second-ranked Dike-New Hartford (2A) and No. 2 Osage (3A) recently.

Middleton, who will play volleyball at North Dakota State University next season leads Class 3A and is sixth in the state in kills with 159. Middleton is fourth in 3A in kill efficiency at 40 percent.

Jondle is second in 3A with 28 service aces.

Friesleben leads the team with 228 assists and Jondle leads in digs with 86, while Lienemann has 50.

“This group is unique,” TerHark said. “We have a lot of traditions that they have built and have done it together, coming back this year with no seniors (from 2019). It’s been a couple of years like that, so it’s kind of a different feel (with so many 12th-graders this time around).

“Every day, they come in with a different intensity about them. They always want to get better and have fun.”