Chloe Meester’s all-around game propels Mount Vernon to state volleyball first-round sweep of Dubuque Wahlert

CORALVILLE — Jaden Rolland said getting to play with Chloe Meester is “insane.”

“I really enjoy having her on my team,” Rolland said following Mount Vernon’s 25-21, 25-21, 25-21 sweep over Dubuque Wahlert in a Class 3A state volleyball tournament quarterfinal match Tuesday at Xtream Arena. “I just have so much trust in her.”

Meester’s “insane” match propelled the top-ranked Mustangs (34-4) into a Wednesday semifinal match at 2 p.m. Wahlert closes its season at 18-13.

The Golden Eagles made Mount Vernon work throughout the match, but had no answer for Meester. The 6-foot-3 junior was a difference maker no matter where she was on the court. At the net, she had 22 kills. On defense, she had a team-high 19 digs and behind the serving line, she had three aces.

The numbers Meester posted on Tuesday were not possible last season. Meester was strictly a front-row player as a sophomore for a Mustangs team that lost in the state semifinals.

She was determined to be a six-rotation player this season.

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“During club season, I played all the way around,” she said. “I only played three rotations my freshman and sophomore years and that was a bummer because I wanted to play all the way around, but I knew I wasn't totally ready yet.

“When I played club last year and played all the way around, it really helped me with my confidence. I saw that I could get to a ball with one step.”

The development of Meester's all-around game was evident on Tuesday. Wahlert never had a lead until the third set, but the Golden Eagles made numerous runs in all three sets, only to be turned away.

“I think there were periods in the match where you could look back and see that it was Chloe turning the momentum around,” said Mount Vernon Coach Maggie Willems. “Whether it was her defensive play in the back row or the way she picks up her teammates.

“Obviously we like it when she gets her swings. She takes really good care of this team with intangibles that aren't just related to her skills.”

Willems was proud of the way the Mustangs stuck to their plan throughout the match.

“We knew Wahlert was incredibly well coached,” she said. “We had an idea this would be a tough match. We wanted to make sure we didn't get lost during the match because sometimes these moments can get too big. I thought the kids did a really good job of that today.”

Paige Schurbon added seven kills for Mount Vernon and Rolland had nine digs. Anna Roling led the Golden Eagles offense with nine kills.