Liberty sweeps Xavier, claims MVC Mississippi Division volleyball title

NORTH LIBERTY — It was Senior Night at Liberty High School. And the senior starters wanted to get the senior reserves on the court.

“I know how much their teammates mean to these girls,” Coach Allie Kelly said. “I knew the starters would do everything they could to get everybody a chance to play.”

Not an easy task against Cedar Rapids Xavier. But the Lightning pulled it off.

Led by four-year contributors Cassidy Hartman (15 kills) and Shelby Kimm (13 more), Class 5A top-ranked Liberty avenged a Saturday loss to 4A No. 1 Xavier in an MVC Mississippi Division-deciding volleyball sweep, 26-24, 25-21, 25-19, Tuesday night.

“We were really smooth,” Hartman said. “We played our game the whole time. We were really scrappy on defense, and we were able to use all of our weapons. Our middles were good at being a decoy.”

Liberty (25-8 overall, 6-0 division) and Xavier (26-2, 4-1) will compete in the championship pool of the MVC tournament here next Tuesday, along with Western Dubuque and Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

Xavier defeated Liberty in the championship match of the Waverly-Shell Rock Invitational three days earlier. But the Lightning came from behind in the first two sets, then pulled away from a 10-10 deadlock in the third.

Down 24-23 in the opener, the Bolts scored the final three points on a pair of Kimm kills and one by Lauren Ramspott.

Xavier held a 15-10 advantage in Game 2, but Liberty zoomed back with a 9-1 run, which was aided by five Saints miscues.

At 10-10 in the third, the Lightning went on a 12-5 rush, enabling Kelly to get the senior reserves in. A kill by Jasmine Barney got the Bolts to match point, then another by Sydney Stratton closed it out.

“We had a lot of energy because it was Senior Night,” Kimm said. “We used Saturday’s loss as a way to get ready for tonight. We were so hyped up.”

Libby Fandel led Xavier with 12 kills. Anika Ivester posted 11 kills and five blocks.

Meanwhile, in the Wamac ...

Mount Vernon and Clear Creek Amana claimed winner-take-all matches to earn Wamac Conference divisional titles Tuesday.

At Mount Vernon, the Class 3A third-ranked Mustangs (25-3, 4-0) overcame a 23-21 deficit in Game 2 to sweep 4A No. 3 Marion, 25-19, 25-23, 25-20 for the East Division title.

“We’re really great at playing a point at a time under pressure; that’s a huge advantage for us,” Mustangs Coach Maggie Willems said. “The kids take care of each other. They believe they can win, even when they’re down.”

At Tiffin, 4A No. 12 CCA (25-8, 5-0) handled 3A No. 13 Center Point-Urbana to win the West, 25-16, 25-12, 25-17.

Iowa City Liberty 3, Cedar Rapids Xavier 0

(26-24, 25-21, 25-19)

AT NORTH LIBERTY

Serving: Xavier 56-64 (.875), Liberty 71-75 (.947)

Aces: Xavier 2 (Anna Shoger, Carley Jonker), Liberty 8 (Lilah Van Scoyoc 3)

Kills: Xavier 37 (Libby Fandel 12), Liberty 38 (Cassidy Hartman 15)

Assists: Xavier 34 (Shoger 29), Liberty 36 (Asta Hildebrand 19)

Blocks: Xavier 5 (Anika Ivester 5), Liberty 5 (five with 1)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com