The 2023 Gazette all-area volleyball team

You see the ball come off Chloe Meester’s swing, that downward trajectory filled with velocity.

You offer a quick prayer for the safety of the opposing player on the other side of the net who happens to be between that missile and the floor.

That’s the easy part.

The other is more subtle, a nuance that someone more versed in volleyball can see, but is foreign to the casual viewer.

Meester is a complete player now. A six-rotation standout who is far from a defensive liability.

“Of course, she’s terminal as an attacker,” Mount Vernon volleyball coach Maggie Willems said. “Now she has developed into a serve-receive and defensive ability that is equal of any of the best liberos in the area.”

Scary stuff. The stuff worthy of an elite college program such as, say, the University of Louisville.

“There were times during practice at the beginning of the season that I wanted to give up on it,” said Meester, a 6-foot-3 junior outside hitter and The Gazette’s 2023 area player of the year.

“But Willems said she was putting me back there because she trusted me. Playing six rotations in club ball helped me a lot preparing for school ball.”

Meester averaged 5.32 kills with a .365 efficiency as Mount Vernon (35-5) reached the Class 3A state final; the Mustangs were beaten in four sets by Western Christian.

Her 3.38 digs per set were second on the team, just a shade behind libero Jaden Rolland.

She was honored by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association as the 3A player of the year, and was one of eight players named to the Elite all-state squad.

Asked to disclose her next step of development, Meester didn’t hesitate:

“I probably wasn’t as vocal as I should have been this year,” she said. “I have to continue to become more of a leader.

“All of my skills — hitting, passing, serving — they can all get bumped up another notch. I still have more potential to grow, to hit more shots.”

Three teams have multiple players on The Gazette’s 12-player honor roster.

Mount Vernon’s Sydney Huber joins Meester. Clear Creek Amana (Bliss Beck and Meg Berkland) and Union Community (Gracie Klima and Avery Knoop) also have two players aboard.

The rest of the team consists of Ava Czarnecki of Lisbon, Libby Fandel of Cedar Rapids Xavier, Michaela Goad of Marion, Asta Hildebrand of Iowa City Liberty, Dakota Mitchell of Mid-Prairie and Kate Passmore of Linn-Mar.

Seven of those players were first-team all-state selections.

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Jackie Clubb, who piloted Clear Creek Amana to a 46-1 record and a spot in the 4A semifinals, was selected as the area coach of the year.

The Clippers were a surprise 4A finalist last year, were No. 1 all season and defeated by eventual champion North Scott in the semis.

“That doesn’t negate everything these girls accomplished throughout the season,” Clubb said. “It was a history-making year that made a difference in our community, a big impact.”

Clubb, 41, is a Williamsburg native (she played on the Raiders’ 1999 state-tournament team alongside the great Molly O’Brien). She has assembled a 276-124 record in 10 seasons at CCA.

“I’m a huge believer of being prepared,” she said. “Whether it’s a loud gym, somebody goes down in a match ... how are you going to respond? I’ve probably seen an unhealthy amount of (film).

“I once asked (Dike-New Hartford Coach) Diane Harms how to make my team better, she said, ‘If you were playing your team, how would you try to beat it?’”

The 2023 Gazette all-area volleyball team

MH Bliss Beck, 6-2, sr., Clear Creek Amana — Averaged 3.89 kills and 0.90 blocks per set with a .464 kill efficiency and .966 service accuracy as the Clippers (46-1) reached the Class 4A state semifinals. IGCA 4A first-team all-stater and a Drake University signee.

L Meg Berkland, 5-3, sr., Clear Creek Amana — Averaged 4.91 digs per set as the Clippers (46-1) reached the Class 4A state semifinals. IGCA 4A first-team all-stater.

OH Ava Czarnecki, 5-7, sr., Lisbon — Averaged 5.68 kills and 2.04 digs per set with a .463 kill efficiency as the Lions (28-7) reached the Class 2A regional semifinals. IGCA 2A second-team all-stater.

OH Libby Fandel, 6-0, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier — Averaged 4.99 kills, 2.57 digs and 0.43 aces per set as the Saints (24-7) reached the Class 4A state quarterfinals. Posted a .238 kill efficiency. IGCA 4A first-team all-state.

MH/OH Michaela Goad, 6-2 sr., Marion — Averaged 3.85 kills, 2.65 digs and 0.75 blocks per set as the Wolves (26-13) reached the Class 4A state quarterfinals. Posted a .267 kill efficiency. IGCA first-team all-state. Intends to play volleyball and softball at Truman State University.

S/OH Asta Hildebrand, 6-0, sr., Iowa City Liberty — Averaged 3.17 kills, 3.43 assists and 2.62 digs per set, with a .940 service accuracy, as the Lightning (19-22) advanced to the Class 5A regional finals. IGCA 5A second-team all-stater.

S Sydney Huber, 6-0, jr., Mount Vernon — Averaged 10.40 assists, 1.30 digs and 0.41 aces per set as the Mustangs (35-5) reached the Class 3A state final. Posted a .354 kill efficiency. IGCA 3A first-team all-stater.

OH Gracie Klima, 5-8, sr., Union Community — Averaged 4.29 kills and 2.31 digs per set with a .258 kill efficiency as the Knights (39-12) reached the Class 3A state semifinals. IGCA 3A second-team all-stater.

S Avery Knoop, 5-8, jr., Union Community — Averaged 9.67 assists, 0.83 kills and 1.87 digs per set as the Knights (39-12) reached the Class 3A state semifinals. IGCA 3A second-team all-stater.

OH Chloe Meester, 6-3, jr., Mount Vernon — Averaged 5.32 kills, 3.38 digs and 0.44 blocks per set as the Mustangs (35-5) reached the Class 3A state final. Posted a .365 kill efficiency. IGCA 3A player of the year and member of the Elite all-state team, as well as first-team all-state in 3A. University of Louisville commit.

L Dakota Mitchell, 5-5, jr., Mid-Prairie — Averaged 6.02 digs and 0.52 aces per set as the Golden Hawks (31-11) reached the Class 3A regional finals. IGCA 3A first-team all-stater. University of North Texas commit.

OH Kate Passmore, 5-11, jr., Linn-Mar — Averaged 3.58 kills per set with a .291 kill efficiency and .952 service accuracy as the Lions (19-14) reached the Class 5A regional finals. IGCA 5A first-team all-stater.

Player of the year — Chloe Meester, jr., Mount Vernon

Coach of the year — Jackie Clubb, Clear Creek Amana

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com