The secret’s out: Mount Vernon volleyball is a force once again

TIFFIN — All summer long, Maggie Willems sat on a happy little secret.

Sure, Mount Vernon had lost 10 seniors — including five starters — from a squad that had reached two straight Class 3A state finals (including a title in 2019).

Turns out, her new crew can play, too.

“As we went through summer workouts, two things were apparent,” said Willems, the Mustangs’ coach. “We have skilled underclassmen, and we have amazing chemistry.”

The 3A 10th-ranked Mustangs unveiled both Thursday, and the result was two matches of destruction. They swept 4A No. 8 Clear Creek Amana (25-17, 25-11) and Center Point-Urbana (25-12, 25-13) at a Wamac Conference quad at Clear Creek Amana High School.

“We just want to prove how good we are,” junior setter Madeleine Miller said. “We can go far. We have high goals. We’re going to keep working every day.”

For now, Willems is relishing life under the radar. Continue like this, and it will be fleeting.

“The kids are enjoying playing with and for each other,” she said. “They have the skill to go a long way.”

A couple hundred were in attendance and will be able to say they saw the first career kill of freshman Chloe Meester.

“She’s going to be a dandy,” Willems said. “She really is.”

Meester finished with 15 kills (12 against CPU) and posted a .354 kill efficiency. Not a bad start, not at all.

And she’s not the lone force at the net.

Sophomores Vail Telecky and Brooke Ellyson and junior Parker Whitham are additional heavy hitters, and senior Sara Rhomberg will add to the wealth as a six-rotation player when she returns from a hamstring injury.

In the night’s headline match against CCA, Mount Vernon took control midway through the first set. Another freshman, Jaden Rolland served three straight aces in a nine-point run that gave the Mustangs a 17-5 cushion.

The Clippers led 9-7 in the second set before the Mustangs tallied five in a row to take the lead for good.

At 19-16, Mount Vernon busted it open with four straight points, three on kills from Ellyson. Miller’s dump kill ended the match.

In the other early encounter, Solon swept Center Point-Urbana, 25-16, 25-20. CCA swept Solon, 25-16, 25-15 in the finale.

PREP VOLLEYBALL: CLEAR CREEK AMANA QUAD

At Tiffin

Mount Vernon def. Clear Creek Amana, 25-11, 25-17

Solon def. Center Point-Urbana, 25-16, 25-20

Mount Vernon def. Center Point-Urbana, 25-12, 25-13

Clear Creek Amana def. Solon, 25-16, 25-15

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com