Mount Vernon back at state

Mount Vernon made it six trips to the state volleyball tournament in the last seven seasons with a straight-sets victory over Mediapolis Tuesday night in a Class 3A regional final at West Liberty, 25-12, 25-16, 25-20, that featured semifinalists from last year's state tournament.

The eighth-ranked Mustangs jumped to an 8-3 lead in the first set and cruised from there. In the second set, Mediapolis led at 4-3 before Mount Vernon took control. Mediapolis again led early in the third set, 7-5, but the Mustangs scored eight of the next 13 points and eased to the regional championship from there.

Mount Vernon takes a 25-10 record to the state tournament next week in Cedar Rapids. The Mustangs open against second-ranked Sheldon (34-4) at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Mediapolis closed its season at 34-9.— Taylor Rasmussen, The Gazette

HEMPSTEAD 3, KENNEDY 2 — Fifteen minutes after leaving the court to speak with her team, Cedar Rapids Kennedy volleyball coach Michelle Goodall emerged still dabbing tears from her eyes.

It was an emotional defeat for the young Cougars who took Class 5A No.?8-ranked Dubuque Hempstead (34-5) to the limit before falling in five sets, 25-14, 23-25, 23-25, 25-18, 15-13, at Dubuque Senior.

Sophomores Macy Anderson and Brinley Millbrath led the Cougars with 14 and 10 kills, respectively. Millbrath added 11 blocks and sophomore setter Anna Fluent recorded 36 assists.

'Looking at our roster, no one is going to expect us to be in this heated battle to go to state,' Goodall said. 'We were unranked all year and just kind of flying under the radar. But this group was tested in so many five-set matches. I couldn't be more proud of them.'

Kennedy closed its season with a 20-15 record.— Telegraph Herald

PLEASANT VALLEY 3, JEFFERSON 0 — The fifth-ranked Spartans were nearly flawless in overpowering the J-Hawks, 25-23, 25-16, 25-16, in a Class 5A regional final at Davenport Central.

The victory sends the Spartans (28-6) to the state tournament for the second straight season.

PV dominated play at the net and kept Jefferson's best hitter, Amanda Ollinger, in check with an outstanding defensive effort.Ollinger, coming off a 44-kill performance in a regional semifinal against Iowa City West, finished with 12 kills. Six of those came in Game 1.

'Their digging was tremendous,' Jefferson Coach Mary Kay Van Oort said. 'Amanda still had good swings but they were there every time.'

Jefferson closes after a strong postseason run with a 19-22 record.

Quad-City Times