Submitted photo Clarion-Goldfield/Dows team members are, front row (left to right): Chelsea Grandgeorge, Jadyn Jondle and Sophia McLaughlin. Middle: Kendall Lienemann, Emma Conlon, Morgan Middleton, Nicole Waters and Alaina Friesleben. Back: Laura Odland, Katrina TerHark, Kennedy Trca, Delia Swanson, Summer Traub, Lexi Lane, Clarissa Hasty, JadynNelson, Karlee Lehman, Karen Staples, Macoy Rohrer. Not Pictured: Brooke Askelsen and Nikki Kapka.

CLARION — After clinching the North Central Conference title, Katrina TerHark knew her second-ranked team had to climb their way to the top of the tournament to get where they wanted to be.

Before regionals, TerHark played “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus to motivate her second-ranked (Class 3A) Clarion-Goldfield/Dows volleyball team to reach its full potential.

“We printed out a mountain and counted down the six matches that we had left,” TerHark said. “We wanted them to have a visual of climbing to the top together.

“We may not have the best game every night, but the goal is to be at the top.

“We have to not look back and not overlook an opponent — keep moving forward.”

This has been a three year process for the Cowgirls, who are making their third straight trip to the state tournament. C-G/D (27-2 overall) reached the quarterfinals in 2018 and the semifinals in ’19. TerHark is hoping that the third time is a charm this time around.

C-G/D will meet Red Oak in the Class 3A quarterfinals on Monday in Cedar Rapids. Action begins at 8 p.m.

TerHark has watched this group come together as a unit and put together something special on the court.

“They are so coachable,” TerHark said. “This group is so humble and genuine and sincere. They are just truly happy to be around one another.

“They get the game in that sense. They work hard to get better, and are a fun group to coach.”

This year’s run started the minute last season ended. The Cowgirls didn’t graduate one player, setting up a perfect chance to return to Cedar Rapids and make a bid for the championship.

“The girls were upset after not reaching the finals, but not having a senior on that team was great for this season,” TerHark said. “We knew we could make it back.”

This year’s graduating class of six seniors started the trek as sophomores, and the state was forced to take notice as well.

“When this group made it to state (in 2018) and then when we won conference (last year) and all the individual accolades came in…that kept us motivated,” TerHark said. “When Alaina (Friesleben) reached 1,500 assists and Morgan (Middleton) got to 1,000 kills, everyone celebrated. Morgan got on the all-tournament team (at state). But every award is about the team.”

The six-Cowgirl seniors — Middleton, Friesleben, Jadyn Jondle, Kendal Lienemann, Emma Conlon, and Nicole Waters — have been playing together since the third grade and have built a strong bond on and off the court.

“Before every match, the girls set their own goals in the locker room,” TerHark said. “They take ownership of them, and it’s a constant reminder of wanting to get to the finals.

“They are hungry for more.”

The Cowgirls picked up two quick victories in the opening rounds of the postseason, knocking off Iowa Falls-Alden and Nevada. In the regional finals, C-G/D ran into a tough Des Moines Christian team who pushed the Cowgirls to a five-set match.

It was the first time in two years that the Cowgirls had played a five-set match, but TerHark felt it was a great time to get pushed.

“Being in Class 3A, our region was no cakewalk,” TerHark said. “It’s been at least two years since we’ve played more than three sets. We lost the first set and then got down in the second set, needing a 9-1 run to win. After that, it was pedal to the metal.

“Des Moines Christian is a solid team and we knew it was going to be a dogfight. It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for us to be challenged (heading into state). We want our team to be able to have that fight in them when we need it most. We just have to have a short-term memory either way. We can’t hold on to anything.”