Photo courtesy of Iowa Central Athletics: Anabel Seaman sets the ball for Iowa Central on Saturday at Hodges Fieldhouse.

The seventh-ranked Iowa Central volleyball team moved one step closer to a return to nationals, sweeping Central Community College (Neb.) on Saturday inside Hodges Fieldhouse.

Scores were 25-14, 25-18 and 27-25.

The Tritons (29-7 overall) will now host Southeastern back here on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the finals of the Region XI-A Tournament.

Sophomore Talya Sampson recorded 20 kills and had 22 digs in the victory. Shirley Monaghan added 15 kills and 15 digs, and Cooper Griffin had four kills.

Anabel Seaman dished out 37 assists, adding four aces, seven digs, two block assists and two kills. Former Fort Dodge Dodger standout Meah McCaleb had 22 digs with three assists and an ace.

Addi Hindt (Southeast Valley) added three block assists, and Devon Rodewald tallied nine digs.

“I thought our girls came out ready to play and started the match really strong,” ICCC head coach Sara Horn said. “They built big leads in both sets one and two before Central came out with a different rotation in set three and jumped out to a lead. We had to work hard the whole set to come back and tie it late at the end.

“We got really tough and took some big swings when we needed them.”

For Central, Mallory Dressen had eight kills. Meah Sackett recorded 22 assists with 11 digs.

The Tritons have won all 13 matches inside Hodges Fieldhouse this season, including a five-set victory over then-No. 1 Kirkwood. They have won nine in a row overall.

“Our outsides both had great matches and got really big kills all match long (vs. Central),” Horn said. “We’ve had different players step up in different matches and it’s great to see everyone be able to trust their teammates and lead at different times.”

Southeastern (26-18) upset Northeast on the road in the semifinals. The Blackhawks were swept by Iowa Central earlier this year.

With a win over Southeastern, Iowa Central would secure a spot in the NJCAA Div. II National Tournament, which is Nov. 19-22 in Cedar Rapids. The Tritons have advanced to nationals each of the past five seasons, placing ninth last year.