3, 3 and 3: Heelan sweeps its way to the 4A state volleyball championship

CORALVILLE — You get three minutes between sets to hash things out and make adjustments.

Between the second and third sets Thursday, Sioux City Heelan huddled for about 30 seconds.

There wasn’t much to say.

“I think (Coach Lauren Boatman) was a little speechless,” Maliyah Hacker said. “Everything we were doing, was working.”

So the Crusaders went back on the court, and waited. Victory seemed inevitable.

“We were soaking up the moment, to be honest,” setter Maddie LaFleur said.

Within minutes, second-ranked Heelan wrapped up a week of dominance, sweeping No. 5 Pella (25-10, 25-13, 25-17) in the Class 4A championship match at the state volleyball tournament at Xtream Arena.

The Crusaders (44-3) won all three of their matches here in straight sets and claimed their fourth championship, their first since 2007.

A four-year starter, LaFleur was selected the all-tournament captain. She finished her career with more than 2,500 assists, more than 1,000 digs.

“This is so satisfying,” she said. “I’m so proud.”

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Photos: Sioux City Heelan vs. Pella in Class 4A state volleyball championship

Three Crusaders made the seven-player all-tournament team; LaFleur was joined by Hacker and Ava Lloyd.

Pella’s Emma Eekhoff and Katie Scheckel, Sergeant Bluff-Luton’s Bre VanDenTop and North Scott’s McKenzie Moeller rounded out the honor squad.

Heelan led virtually the entire match and wrapped it up in 65 minutes. Hacker posted 20 kills, Lloyd 14. LaFleur distributed 36 assists.

Brooke Schulte paced Pella (41-8) with 10 kills.

Sioux City Heelan 3, Pella 0

(25-10, 25-13, 25-17)

Class 5A State Final, at Coralville

Serving: Pella 38-42 (.905), Heelan 69-73 (.945)

Aces: Pella 1 (Emma Eekhoff), Heelan 5 (Ava Lloyd 3)

Kills: Pella 28 (Brooke Schulte 10), Heelan 45 (Maliyah Hacker 20)

Assists: Pella 27 (Katie Scheckel 13), Heelan 44 (Maddie LaFleur 36)

Blocks: Pella 3 (three with 1), Heelan 4 (two with 1)

Digs: Pella 42 (Claire Smock 11), Heelan 59 (Lloyd 15)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com