Mount Vernon sweeps Wahlert, earns another opportunity at a 3A state volleyball title

CORALVILLE — Chloe Meester told us so.

“I told you guys last year that we’d be back,” Meester said in the Xtream Arena media room. “Here we are.”

Top-ranked Mount Vernon was simply surgical, particularly in the early stages of the match, and overwhelmed No. 4 Dubuque Wahlert, 25-12, 25-19, 25-17, in a Class 3A semifinal at the state volleyball tournament Wednesday afternoon.

The Mustangs hit an astonishing .600 in the first set and didn’t cool much after that. They were that good.

“That’s bonkers,” Mount Vernon Coach Maggie Willems said. “You don’t hit .600 at the state tournament, do you? Our ball control was so good.”

Mount Vernon (44-4) returns to the 3A championship match; it will face No. 2 Western Christian (33-13) for the title at 2:30 Thursday afternoon.

The majority of the Mustangs were here last year, when they lost to Western Christian in the final.

Sydney Maue, however, was not. She transferred from Center Point-Urbana last winter, and now is the Mustangs’ final piece, a left-handed leaper from the right side.

“She completes us, not just because of her hitting, but because she’s a phenomenal six-rotation player,” Willems said. “It’s just like Chloe. I love when people think they can pick on our big pins when they’re in the back row.”

Maue, who is headed to Arkansas next year, led the Mustangs with 13 kills.

“Sure, I love having kills and everything,” she said. “But more than anything, I want to bring energy.”

Mount Vernon’s final efficiency was a glossy .420: 43 kills in 88 swings, against six errors. The Mustangs didn’t have a single miscue in their first 29 attacks.

Meester added 11 kills, Paige Schurbon six, Sophia Meester five, Cali Whitaker and Sydney Huber four apiece.

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“Look up and down the net, and there are so many possibilities,” Huber said after distributing 28 assists.

Libero Eryn Jackson posted seven assists and 12 digs.

Mount Vernon didn’t allow Wahlert (26-9) a single service point in the first set. Willems called a quick timeout when the Golden Eagles took a 5-2 lead in Game 2, then the Mustangs quickly regained their balance.

At 13-13 in Game 3, Mount Vernon scored eight consecutive points — four on Maue kills, three on Meester aces — and that was the killer blow.

Anna Roling led Wahlert with 10 kills.

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Photos: Mount Vernon vs. Dubuque Wahlert in Class 3A state volleyball semifinals

Meester and Jackson have been played in four consecutive state tournaments. The Mustangs were quarterfinalists in 2021, semifinalists in 2022, runners-up to Western Chistian last year.

Their final chapter will be written Thursday.

“We’re going to have fun,” Meester said. “We want to go out and have fun in our last match.”

She paused.

“Plus, we want redemption.”

Mount Vernon 3, Dubuque Wahlert 0

(25-12, 25-19, 25-17)

Class 3A State Semifinal, at Coralville

Serving: Wahlert 40-50 (.800), Mount Vernon 68-73 (.932)

Aces: Wahlert 2 (Audrey Tschiggfrie, Claire Lueken), Mount Vernon 8 (Chloe Meester 5)

Kills: Wahlert 35 (Anna Roling 10), Mount Vernon 43 (Sydney Maue 13)

Assists: Wahlert 35 (Olivia Donovan 27), Mount Vernon 39 (Sydney Huber 28)

Blocks: Wahlert 1 (Brielle Benning), Mount Vernon 4 (Cali Whitaker 2)

Digs: Wahlert 36 (Kaylee Walter 9), Mount Vernon 39 (Eryn Jackson 12)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com