Stanton's Carmen Subbert (left) hits into the block of Boyden-Hull's Kassidy Van Voorst (center) and Abbie Kreun during their class 1A state quarterfinal match at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Boyden-Hull won in three sets. (SourceMedia Group News/Jim Slosiarek)

CEDAR RAPIDS — That other team from Hull can play, too.

Whitney Vander Maten played beyond her modest stature, and fourth-ranked Boyden-Hull swept No. 5 Stanton, 25-21, 25-10, 25-21, in a Class 1A quarterfinal at the state volleyball tournament Thursday afternoon at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

The Comets (28-3) are making their first state appearance in 20 years, and it will be a prolonged one. They’ll face No. 1 Tripoli in a semifinal at 6 p.m. Friday. The Panthers (38-3) are three-time defending champions.

“We’ve got to keep attacking, and our back row will be a key,” Vander Maten said. “If we limit our serve-receive errors, we should be OK.”

You think volleyball in Hull — and in Northwest Iowa in general — you think Western Christian, a mighty program with 29 state appearances and 13 championships.

Apparently, there are enough good players to go around in the community.

“I know a lot of their players, but we don’t play them,” Vander Maten said.

Despite a 5-foot-6 frame, Vander Maten was able to sky for 11 kills to join Nicole Ewoldt for team honors. Kassidy Van Voorst delivered 32 assists.

The teams’ proximity in the rankings — No. 4 vs. No. 5 — would indicate a competitive match. It really wasn’t. Credit the Comets.

Game 1 was tied at 19-all before Boyden-Hull made the critical run, a four-point surge that put the Comets in control for good. Ewoldt had a kill to start the run and an ace to end it.

Boyden-Hull blew open the second set with an 18-4 run to race away from a 5-5 tie, then did not face a deficit throughout the final game.

Carmen Subbert led Stanton (33-2) with 11 kills.