Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

TIFFIN – Before Clear Creek Amana became an undefeated, top-ranked state title contender this fall the Clippers needed a breakthrough.

That came last season when the Clippers shined in their first trip to the state tournament since 2014 reaching the state title game for the first time in program history and finishing runner-up in Class 4A.

Before Sam Schrage could emerge as a force in the middle of a star-studded Clipper rotation she needed her own breakout performance.

For Schrage that moment also came at last year’s state tournament.

Schrage had 19 kills in three state tournament matches last season including 10 in a quarterfinal upset of third-seeded Marion.

Since the strong state-tournament stretch Schrage hasn’t slowed down helping top-ranked Clear Creek Amana to a 46-0 record and a spot in the Class 4A semifinals for the second consecutive season.

“She stepped it up at the state tournament last year and after that she has taken off,” Clear Creek Amana coach Jackie Clubb said. “She’s more confident this year and she is putting balls away.”

Schrage was solid last season ranking third on the team with 165 kills on .226 hitting.

The 5-foot-9 Schrage has been even better this fall while helping the Clippers enjoy the best season in program history.

“Last year I knew my role and I think at state I really embraced it and it worked out for the best,” Schrage said. “After that in the offseason I had a ton of confidence and that was really helpful coming into this season.”

While Schrage has posted career-highs in kills, hitting efficiency and digs it’s easy to overlook her impact on a team filled with all-state caliber players.

Schrage may play in the shadow of fellow senior Bliss Beck, an all-state Drake recruit, but those teammates have played a key role in the success of Schrage.

“Sam works with Bliss or against Bliss every day so that has helped her improve,” Clubb said. “She is a competitor and she does not like to lose and when she goes up against Bliss every day she has to work extra hard.”

Schrage has been impressive from the start this season posting a career-best 170 kills on .251 hitting.

She ranks second on the team in blocks with 75 behind the 4A block leader Beck who has 115.

“I’m really happy for all my teammates and all the attention that they are getting and they 100 percent deserve it,” Schrage said. “It’s nice not have teams scouting me as much and I am able to swing away more when teams are focusing on other players.”

Schrage credits hitting against the block of the 6-foot-2 Beck in practice for helping craft her offensive arsenal.

“It’s helped me a lot going up against a big block and knowing what I have to do to get around it,” Schrage said. “It’s been really helpful and it’s pushed me a lot.”

That work has showed this season.

Schrage had five kills and a block in a quarterfinal sweep of Norwalk on Monday.

Clear Creek Amana will face a semifinal rematch with fourth-ranked North Scott (27-4) on Wednesday at Noon as they chase the first state title in program history.

“Our motto has been ‘do it for us’ because we want to keep playing as long as we can,” Schrage said. “We don’t want to stop playing together because our team is so tight-knit and we’ve been best friends forever.”

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