Elite Mount Vernon offense wins out against elite Mid-Prairie defense in state volleyball quarterfinals

CORALVILLE — It was a matchup of strength vs. strength.

Top-ranked Mount Vernon came into Tuesday’s Class 3A state volleyball quarterfinal against No. 8 Mid-Prairie with one of the best offensive attacks in the state.

The Golden Hawks hang their hat on defense, which helped them make the state field for the first time in 20 seasons.

Chalk one up for the offense of the Mustangs, but it certainly did not come easily.

Coach Maggie Willems’ team needed every bit of its offensive skill to fend off the Golden Hawks, 25-22, 25-16, 25-16 at Xtream Arena.

The Mustangs (43-4) are looking to capture the school’s first state title since 2019. With all six starters returning from last year’s state runner-up squad, the mission against Mid-Prairie was clear.

“Mid-Prairie is a team that is disruptive,” Willems said. “They have tremendous ball control and they are going to return balls that maybe other teams wouldn’t, and not in a traditional way.

“We had trained for that, just making sure we remained composed. Even when we were out of system or didn't have an ideal pass, we could still pass and terminate.”

The match had Division I talent on both sides of the net. Mount Vernon hitters Chloe Meester (Louisville) and Sydney Maue (Arkansas) along with Mid-Prairie libero Dakota Mitchell (North Texas) will continue their volleyball careers. Mount Vernon setter Sydney Huber will play basketball at Evansville.

“We knew coming in that their defense was really, really good,” Maue said. “We have D-I players and they have a D-I libero. We knew there would be long rallies and I think it was our grit that really got us through that match.”

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Photos: Mount Vernon vs. Mid-Prairie in Class 3A state volleyball quarterfinals

The Mustangs trailed early in the first and third sets as Mid-Prairie did, as Willems said, get them out of their system.

“I think we really played well in spots,” said Mid-Prairie Co-Coach Zeb Evans. “I think we were just a couple of swings away from being right in the match at times.

“We were digging the ball, I mean we are a defensive team as anybody can see. We like to play fast and make it tough on our opponents, but we just didn't quite have enough today.”

The Hawks bolted to an 8-2 lead in the third set. Mount Vernon battled back to tie the match at 10-10, then took the lead for good.

“We didn't get rattled and that is what you have to do to win state championships,” Willems said. “You can't get rattled in big moments and you can't get rattled when you are down. You just have to believe every time you are going to be the girl.”

Meester led the Mustangs offense with 14 kills. Laue had 10. For Mid-Prairie (33-9), Jovi Evans had 12 kills and 11 digs.