Cedar Falls has earned the chance to defend its title at the Iowa High School Girls State Volleyball Tournament.

The Tigers (46-0) are returning to the Class 5A championship match for the third year in a row. They recorded their 44th sweep of the season in a semifinal win over Linn-Mar of Marion at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids Thursday morning (Nov. 8, 2018).

Set scores were 25-22, 25-16 and 25-12.

The Lions controlled most of the first set, before Cedar Falls closed it out. The Tigers took an early 2-1 lead, but didn't get the advantage back until a 5-0 run put them ahead 21-20.

Cedar Falls scored the first seven points of the second set and dominated the rest of the way.

Alayna Yates led the Tigers with 16 kills and Akacia Brown followed with 10. Kirsten Graves had 15 digs. Emerson Green recorded 39 assists.

Thursday's victory was the fourth by Cedar Falls over Linn-Mar this season, and the fifth-straight in the series. The Tigers also beat the Lions in the state semifinals last year.

Linn-Mar finished its season at 32-10.

Cedar Falls next faces Ankeny Centennial (40-3). The Tigers put their 75-match win streak on the line when they play for their second-straight title at 10 AM Friday.

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