Mount Vernon's state run comes to an end

VINTON -- Seventeen on her 18th.

Sarah Frisch celebrated her birthday with a match-high 17 kills, and fourth-ranked Grundy Center swept Mount Vernon, 25-17, 25-18, 25-16, in a Class 2A volleyball regional final Tuesday night at Garrison Fieldhouse.

And thus officially ended Mount Vernon's two-year reign as state champions. The Mustangs captured the 2A title in 2009, moved up to 3A and won another crown in 2010.

Grundy Center (41-1) is what Mount Vernon was. Very, very good.

"We knew we had a lot of potential if we executed," Frisch said. "This is probably the best we've played all season."

The Spartans advance to the state volleyball tournament for the fifth time. They'll face No. 7 Sheldon (36-3) in a quarterfinal Thursday, Nov. 10, at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

"We're ready to go back," Frisch said. "This is what we've wanted since the day we lost last year (in the semifinals to eventual champion Western Christian). We started working hard in June."

Mount Vernon closed at 17-20. The Mustangs have lost all the horses that led them to four straight trips to the state finals, but their new cast competed reasonably well with an elite club at times Tuesday.

"We had times that we played well, but we just strung together too many errors," said first-year head coach Maggie Willems. "We played a great team, and if you make errors against a great team, it's not going to turn out well."

Grundy Center collected 43 kills, compared to 20 for the Mustangs. Meghan Krausman and Samantha Meyers swatted eight apiece to go with Frisch's 17.

Heather Hook distributed 35 assists.

Mount Vernon's best hope came in Game 3. The Mustangs led it 11-10 on Emma Pisarik's kill, and were still within 15-14 when the run came.

The Spartans' block took over in an eight-point surge; Willems already had burned both timeouts and the Mustangs were unable to stem the tide.

"They went on a run, we started to struggle with our serve reception, and they blocked very well," Willems said.

Meyers made four blocks, all in the third set.

Jenah Vandersall led the Mustangs with six kills. Hannah Whitley added five. Freshman setter Morgan Melchert counted 15 assists.

"(Mount Vernon) had good, quality hitters," Frisch said. "They're not the tallest team, but they swing hard."

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