Cyclones open 4-A state title defense vs. Pella

 CEDAR RAPIDS -- The Harlan Community volleyball team left for Cedar Rapids Monday afternoon with no intentions of returning until sometime late Friday.
 The ultimate goal: scratch out nine more set wins and become three-time state champions in Class 4-A.
 The 2nd-ranked Cyclones (35-5) will begin their back-to-back title defense Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. when they face 10th-ranked Pella (27-10) in a 4-A state quarterfinal match inside the US Cellular Center.
 The winner faces No. 3 Waverly-Shell Rock (42-9) or No. 8 Bishop Heelan (30-13) on Thursday at noon, with the 4-A championship match set for Friday at 12:15 p.m.
 The dream title showdown for many would be a rematch of last year’s 4-A final when HCHS topped West Delaware 3-1. The top-ranked Hawks (46-2) return nearly their entire squad from 2014 while the Cyclones have smoothly blended a mix of veterans and newcomers to put themselves right back in the conversation among title contenders.
 HCHS head coach Angie Spangenberg, however, won’t be taking part in any of those speculative title conversations - at least not in 4-A - until her team takes care of the necessary business at hand.