It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Harada House gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Riverside, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the”
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“Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the caregiver is sick, nobody comes. I would think that they need a little more back up than they have right now. They give me a schedule, and billing is paid by Medicaid.”
“I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose it. The caregiver is very good with a very good attitude. They were able to provide the caregiver for myself immediately. She accompanies me to shopping.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Fairmount Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Le Chat Noir French Restaurant or visit Peter J. Weber House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Riverside, IA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Riverside, IA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Riverside, IA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
CORALVILLE — The name Molly Allen will reverberate forever in the history of Iowa high school girls wrestling after her accomplishment on Friday.The Riverside senior became the second wrestler to win four Iowa high school girls state titles (Naomi Simon of Decorah was ...
CORALVILLE — The name Molly Allen will reverberate forever in the history of Iowa high school girls wrestling after her accomplishment on Friday.
The Riverside senior became the second wrestler to win four Iowa high school girls state titles (Naomi Simon of Decorah was the first) on Friday night at Xtream Arena. Both Allen and Simon accomplished the feat with unblemished records in their high school careers, with Allen posting a 103-0 record against girls. Against boys, she was 29-7 during her freshman season.
Allen rolled through the state tournament, winning four matches including a 17-2 technical-fall victory in the final over Harlan Community freshman Ellexis Stephens to cement herself as one of the best wrestlers in Iowa history. Of her four matches, not one lasted into the second period, with each done in 1:44 or less.
From last week:Riverside's Molly Allen is on the verge of making Iowa high school girls wrestling history
Allen is known for her stoic approach to her wrestling, never showing too much emotion throughout her matches and treating each match with the same level of respect no matter the opponent or the moment. However, that changed as she got her hand raised by the official after Friday's first-period technical fall, as tears of joy ran down her face.
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"It makes me think of all the time and the hours I've spent in the wrestling room," Allen said. "The journey ... it's been real."
Allen began wrestling with her brothers at a young age, building her toughness that she exemplified throughout her career. Her high school career began wrestling with the boys, qualifying as one of the last girls for the IHSAA boys state tournament before eventually rolling to a 9-0 record vs. girls in her freshman season and winning her first state title.
As a sophomore, Allen transferred from Underwood to Riverside to wrestle for a girls program after the IGHSAU sanctioned girls wrestling. From then on, nothing changed. Not her dominance, her routines or those in her corner.
As she concluded her 103-0, four-time state champion high school career, she left the mat and instantly sought her mother and brothers who awaited on the edge of the wall. She hugged her mom, whom she called her biggest supporter, followed by seeing her brothers who helped make her the wrestler she is now.
Even the stoic, collected Allen had her breakdown in that moment, which was a brief reflection of all the things she carried in her career.
"The smile on all their faces ... it makes me sad," Allen said through the tears. "It's emotional."
This is the first time there have been undefeated state champions in back-to-back years (Simon accomplished the feat in 2024). That's never happened on the boys side in Iowa.
Allen senior season concluded with a 31-0 record, winning by technical fall, pin or forfeit in each of her matches.
"Miss Molly" hopes she is remembered for how the wrestling fans of Iowa got to know her these past four years.
"Just that I was a dominant wrestler who worked hard," Allen said. "I really have put in a ton of time in the wrestling room, and it pays off. I hope people see that."
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
The nickname "Miss Molly" isn't a moniker that strikes fear into the hearts of many.In Iowa girls high school wrestling, however, it's the name you never want to see in your bracket.In Western Iowa resides Riverside's Molly Allen, a three-time high school state champion who is searching for...
The nickname "Miss Molly" isn't a moniker that strikes fear into the hearts of many.
In Iowa girls high school wrestling, however, it's the name you never want to see in your bracket.
In Western Iowa resides Riverside's Molly Allen, a three-time high school state champion who is searching for her fourth title as a senior this season. From 9-0 as a freshman at 105 pounds, to 31-0 as a sophomore at 115 and 32-0 last year, she's looking to become only the second girls four-time state champion with Decorah's Naomi Simon. Just like Simon, she's looking to do it unscathed through high school competition too.
Allen's dominance extends beyond the borders of Iowa, though. She has won a 16U Nationals freestyle title in Fargo, North Dakota and a Super 32 title in Greensboro, North Carolina, solidifying her as one of the top recruits nationally in her weight class.
More:Iowa high school girls wrestling: Ranking top 50 wrestlers for the 2024-25 season
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See why so many fear "Miss Molly" now?
With the way Allen grew up, it shouldn't be much of a surprise she is where she is today.
Allen's wrestling journey began like so many other girls in the sport; by wrestling boys.
However, her story is slightly different than lining up against a random boy on the other side of a bracket. Her bouts were often with her siblings. She's the middle child between two older brothers, Blake and Westin Allen, and two younger brothers as well. Between the five of them, they are all within eight years of one another.
Growing up in a wrestling family, she began her career at about 4 years old. The family had two wrestling mats they would roll out in the living room when they weren't in an organized setting. There, many scraps occurred while "quite a bit" of furniture was casualties of the bouts.
"There's been some tough fights, but it's definitely made us who we are," Molly Allen said.
Since opportunities for girls wrestling were sparse throughout her time growing up, Molly Allen always tagged along with her two older brothers to practices. Blake was a grade above his sister, while Westin was three grades ahead.
Through middle school and her freshman year of high school, Molly Allen and her brothers attended Underwood. She said she was nervous being one of the only girls to go to an otherwise all-boys practice while she was younger, but it was the support of her two older brothers that made her feel comfortable right away.
Of course, it helped that her brothers had already let the other wrestlers in the program know just how good she was at the sport.
"She was just natural at it," Westin Allen said.
In Molly Allen's freshman year at Underwood, girls wrestling had yet to be sanctioned by the IGHSAU. During that time she mainly wrestled against boys, while competing in a few matches against girls under the umbrella of the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association.
She was the varsity wrestler for the Underwood boys team at 106 pounds, routinely beating every other boy around her weight class. While everyone at Underwood knew how good Allen was, not everyone on the high school circuit did. That left many boys in Molly Allen's path stunned in the wake of a loss to her.
"You can just see it (shock) on the guy's face after the defeat," Westin Allen said. "You don't want to lose to a girl. I used to see that time and time again, but we enjoyed it."
Those days of the three of them wrestling together finished at the Western Iowa Conference tournament in 2021, where each of them took home titles in their respective weight class. Molly Allen did not concede a takedown the entire tournament and received a standing ovation from the crowd.
"It just showed we're always there to support each other and how close of a family we are," Molly Allen said.
It's a memory that Molly Allen holds dearly, having the chance to share that moment with her brothers. However, she was focused on placing at the boys state tournament a few months later and most importantly, winning the unsanctioned girls state tournament. Ultimately, she did not place at the boys state tournament but did win her first of three state titles on the girls side.
That freshman season is where her brothers say their sister took the biggest leap her in wrestling career and helped set her up for what was to come.
As a sophomore, two major changes came for Molly Allen. Girls wrestling became sanctioned by the IGHSAU. Since Underwood did not have a girls program at the time, she switched schools to Riverside while her brother Blake remained at Underwood.
That was a tough, and rapid change for Molly Allen who has always had a close relationship with her brother. Throughout the years as they scrapped together, the two of them dreamed of winning state titles together in the same year.
"It was something we talked about forever since we were young," Blake Allen said.
They didn't just accomplish their dream once, though. They did it twice, in back-to-back seasons, as they each won titles in 2023 and 2024 before Blake Allen graduated.
Molly Allen was all smiles through that, continuing her dominance and achieving a lifelong dream alongside her brother. Despite changing schools, Allen made the transition with ease. In fact, it was people at Riverside who were more nervous than her.
After meeting her new teammates and making friends at Riverside, they told her that her dominant reputation as a wrestler scared them and they thought the worst at first.
"Everyone says once they get to know me, it's not what they thought," Allen said. "Like, I'll have a conversation with anyone. I love to talk and I'll help anyone with wrestling."
Loving to talk, being bubbly and caring for others are common characteristics people use to describe Allen. While a dominant presence on the mat, off of it she is always willing to share expertise with teammates and has built deep friendships quickly in three years.
Beyond that, she's inspiring the next generation of girls at Riverside, which has increasingly developed youth and junior high programs. The younger girls wrestlers are inspired by what they've seen Allen do.
"They all look up to Molly," Riverside girls wrestling coach Ben Dorr said. "It's pretty special to have someone like her at our school and the little girls are especially in awe of her."
Never in the history of Iowa high school wrestling have there been back-to-back seasons with undefeated four-time state champions.
While there are several occasions where there were consecutive seasons with four-time state title winners, the closest gap between undefeated four-time champions was when Iowa City High's Jeff McGuiness (1993) was followed up by Maquoketa's Eric Jurgins in 1996.
Allen is poised to make history this year, following up Naomi Simon's run last year as an undefeated four-time champion (129-0). As of Jan. 23, Allen is 20-0 this season, up to a 92-0 record all-time against girls. Against boys as a freshman, she was 29-7.
As a senior this year, it's "bittersweet" for Allen as she counts down the events she has left. However, her dominance continues. Last season, she beat Ridge View's Destiny Brown in a 10-2 major decision in the state finals. When the two met on the mat this season, she won via a technical fall (19-2) in just 2:36 of match time, showcasing her constant improvement.
When she hangs up her Riverside singlet for the final time, she hopes to have a fourth state title to her name. More importantly, though, she wants to be remembered for the way she commanded the mat and how she helped those away from it.
"I want to be known as a dominant wrestler who worked hard," Allen said. "I have success because I work hard, I want people to remember that as well. Some people are like, 'Oh my gosh, how are you so good? It's not fair.' But, I truly believe if you really lock in and if you spend hours and hours and hours in the wrestling room, it's going to pay off.
"I just want people to remember me as that and just a humble wrestler. I go out there and I take care of business and then off the mat, I'll sit there and talk to you forever."
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
CORALVILLE — Quick work.That’s how Ankeny Christian volleyball likes to do things. The Eagles sent their quarterfinal opponent packing in less than an hour. Wednesday’s semifinal matchup was a different story, though.Sure, Ankeny Christian swept Riverside in three sets (25-12, 25-21 and 25-18) and won in a little over an hour, significantly less time than it took for their fans to drive from the Des Moines suburb to Xtream Arena in Coralville.But the Bulldogs didn’t make the path to...
CORALVILLE — Quick work.
That’s how Ankeny Christian volleyball likes to do things. The Eagles sent their quarterfinal opponent packing in less than an hour. Wednesday’s semifinal matchup was a different story, though.
Sure, Ankeny Christian swept Riverside in three sets (25-12, 25-21 and 25-18) and won in a little over an hour, significantly less time than it took for their fans to drive from the Des Moines suburb to Xtream Arena in Coralville.
But the Bulldogs didn’t make the path to another state title game easy for Ankeny Christian, at least not in the final two sets.
“Riverside is a smart team,” Eagles head coach Michele Quick said. “They definitely had all kinds of ideas in their arsenal. They were trying to kind of outsmart us, switching their setters from front to back.
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“As long as we were picking up on that and capitalizing on the opportunities we could…we knew that it was taking them a little bit off guard.”
Ankeny Christian set the tone from the moment the official’s whistle blew. Senior Katie Quick scored the first point of the game with a light-handed tip over the net to put the Eagles on the board almost instantly. The team didn’t slow down from there, rolling past Riverside, 25-12, in the opening set.
It was Riverside that scored first in the second set, and the Bulldogs hung with Ankeny Christian through the first five points. That’s when the Eagles began to pull away. Unlike the first set, though, Riverside kept it close.
The Bulldogs tied it again at 10 apiece, forcing Ankeny Christian to call a timeout and regroup. The Eagles came out of that break strong and – despite Riverside’s best effort to retake the set – Ankeny Christian claimed a 25-21 win in the second set.
Set point came off another soft tip-over from Katie Quick.
"She has great court IQ,” Michele Quick said of Katie. “She knows where the blockers and the defense are. So, she knows if we keep them guessing on what she’s about to do, it opens up the front line and our hitters can do whatever they want.”
Riverside’s 21 points in the second set were the most Ankeny Christian has allowed by a Class 1A team since BCLUW won a set against the Eagles on Sept. 28; the Eagles won the next two sets and the match.
The third set featured another comeback effort by the Bulldogs. Riverside trailed for most of the set before taking its first lead, 15-14. Ankeny Christian responded with six unanswered points.
“We stay in control by just trusting each other,” Michele Quick said. “They do a great job of communicating with each other and talking to each other and just staying on pace. We always talk about one point at a time, so we don’t get too worried about a tie.”
There wasn’t much Riverside could do to come back after that, and the Eagles swept the Bulldogs with the 25-18 win to claim the third set and the match. Katie Quick finished the game with a team-high 13 kills, in addition to one ace and 25 assists. Carley Craighead and Anna Weathers each finished with three aces.
Ankeny Christian heads back to the state title game, with hopes of claiming its third consecutive championship trophy. The Eagles aren’t looking too far ahead, treating that final matchup as just another game.
“When we’re out on the court, we’re focusing on this point and this pass, and we don’t let the game get too big,” Katie Quick said. “We take it point-by-point, and it’s just a volleyball game, you know?”
Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at [email protected] or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.
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