Cedar Rapids Xavier sends its seniors, and its coach, out on top with state volleyball championship

CORALVILLE — He considered this, hard, two years ago.

But, “with this senior group, I just couldn’t,” Cedar Rapids Xavier volleyball coach Austin Filer said.

Now, the job complete, it is done.

Those seniors will go out as champions. And so will Filer.

Top-ranked Xavier prevailed in a pivotal third set and ended the Cinderella run by No. 8 Clear Creek Amana in four sets (25-18, 22-25, 25-23, 25-12) in the Class 4A state final Thursday at Xtream Arena.

“We wanted to win it for the seniors,” all-tournament captain Libby Fandel said. “We didn’t want them to lose their last match.”

This was the second time Fandel was so honored. She was the all-tournament 4A basketball captain last March. And she’s still just a sophomore.

The Saints capped a 33-4 season. And the match closed the book on Filer’s magical seven-year run with the Saints.

“Xavier is a really special place, but it’s time to focus on my job (as men’s coach) at Mount Mercy (University), and it’s time for me to start a family,” said Filer, whose record at Xavier was 214-45 with state appearances in all seven seasons.

Clear Creek Amana (34-11) knocked off No. 6 West Delaware in the regional finals, then upset No. 3 Marion and No. 2 North Scott here earlier in the week, both in five sets.

With the match tied at a set apiece and the Clippers up 15-12 in the third, it started to look like the run would continue.

“That’s the hardest-working team we’ve played,” Filer said. “I don’t know what happens if we lose that third set.”

Instead, Xavier called timeout, then went on a 9-2 run for a 21-17 lead. CCA rallied for a 23-23 tie, then the Saints got a kill from Fandel and an ace from Anna Shoger to take the set.

“Definitely a momentum-changer,” Beck said. “Once they got on a run, it was hard to stop.”

Game 4 was all Saints.

Xavier’s Maci Kadlec capped a brilliant week with 22 kills. Fandel added 21, Anika Ivester 14. Shoger tallied 53 assists, and Brooklyn Miller piloted the back row with 27 digs.

“I’m very shocked with myself,” said Kadlec, a senior who joined Fandel on the all-tournament team. “Coming into state, I knew this was my last week playing with this team.

“It’s bittersweet, but I’m so grateful.”

Bliss Beck (13 kills, 3 1/2 blocks) and libero Meg Berkland (30 digs) represented CCA on the all-tournament team. The rest of the unit consisted of Ella Meyer and Libby Lansing of Western Dubuque and Abby Hayes of North Scott.

Clear Creek Amana started five juniors and two freshmen, and for the Clippers, the best may be yet to come.

“We’re going to take this experience and this momentum into next season,” Berkland said.

Xavier’s time, on the other hand, is now.

“We knew (CCA) was a good team, and we had to work our hardest,” Fandel said. “We really wanted it.”

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