Tourney-tested Mustangs fight off CPU

CEDAR RAPIDS — The tournament veterans had a little more at the end than the tournament newbies.

Fifth-ranked Mount Vernon flashed its state experience at the end of the last three sets and fought past No. 6 Center Point-Urbana, 24-26, 25-22, 25-23, 25-22, in a Class 3A state-volleyball quarterfinal between the Wamac Conference rivals Wednesday afternoon at the U.S. Cellular Center.

'We talked about emotional intelligence, staying steady,' said junior Wynne Vandersall, playing in her third state tournament. 'We stayed calm, but we also did a lot of celebrating, even when we were down.'

Last year's 3A runner-up, Mount Vernon (27-12) is at state for the fourth straight year. CPU (31-8), on the other hand, hadn't been here since 1998.

'We hadn't been here before, so we had to kind of take it all in,' said Arika Wooldridge, who signed a basketball scholarship with Winona State University earlier in the day.

The Stormin' Pointers were in the thick of every set, but more often than not, the Mustangs had the final say.

* In the second set, the Mustangs scored four straight points after CPU had rallied to tie the match at 20-all.

* Center Point-Urbana scored eight consecutive points in a mad dash to take a 23-22 lead in Game 3, but the Mustangs answered with the final three tallies. Katie Wycoff's kill put the Mustangs ahead, then Jenna Reimann's ace closed it out.

* Game 4 was a back-and-forth journey, with CPU scoring three in a row for a 22-20 advantage. Again, Mount Vernon spoke last.

After three straight CPU attack errors, Wycoff's kill got the Mustangs to match point. Then, Libby Ryan's ace put a bow on it.

'I was supposed to go to the opposite side of the court with it,' Ryan said. 'I missed my spot, but it worked out.'

Mount Vernon will face No. 1 West Liberty (37-4) in the semifinals at 2 p.m. Thursday.

'They look like a good team,' said Reimann, the Mustangs' setter. 'It should be a really good match.'

CPU posted a 55-36 advantage in kills, but that was erased by the Stormin' Pointers' 36 attack errors and 12 serving miscues.

'We made some errors and bad times because of our nerves,' said CPU's Abigail Weideman, who led all attackers with 18 kills.

Kaitlyn Volesky paced the Mustangs with 13 kills. Vandersall added 11. Ryan posted 33 digs.

'Mount Vernon is an incredible defensive team,' said CPU Coach Cathy Husmann. 'You think you have the ball down, and they pop it up off the ground.'

Haley Weideman accumulated 43 assists for the Stormin' Pointers, who captured the opener after trailing, 21-17.

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