McKenzie Moeller’s 32 kills help send North Scott to the 4A crown

CORALVILLE — Two years ago, McKenzie Moeller won a state championship in a supporting role.

This time, she was the lead character. The result was the same.

Moeller swatted 32 kills and led fifth-ranked North Scott past No. 2 Sioux Center in a four-set Class 4A championship match Thursday afternoon at Xtream Arena.

Set scores were 23-25, 25-22, 25-21 and 25-19.

“I’m so excited. This is so surreal,” Moeller said. “I’m so lucky, the last time we were here (in 2023), I had Abbey (Hayes) to look up to. It feels good to keep working hard and get back with this bunch of girls.”

North Scott (27-10) prevailed despite a first-set defeat, fighting back from a 19-13 deficit in Game 3. The Lancers scored 12 of the final 14 points of the set.

“We’ve been in that position a lot. We know we still have time, even if the other team is in the 20s,” Moeller said. “We tell ourselves, ‘This (set) isn’t over,’ and we were able to find a groove.”

And they maintained it, leading throughout Game 4.

Bound for Southern Illinois University, Moeller fittingly was the all-tournament captain; she also collected 13 digs and terminated at a .352 rate.

Teammate Addison Allen also earned all-tournament honors, along with Courteney Schmidt, Adison Brantsen and Maryn Franken of Sioux Center, Katie Scheckel of Pella and Averie Lower of Clear Creek Amana.

“After we won, I couldn’t do anything other than smile and scream,” Allen said after a 42-assist performance. “We lost that first set, we knew we had four left, let’s wash it.”

Schmidt led Sioux Center (30-5) with 18 kills.

Brantsen (12 kills) is one of four Warriors starters that return for 2026.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com