Elite Mount Vernon offense prevails against elite Mid-Prairie defense in state volleyball quarterfinal

Top-seeded Mustangs sweep No. 8 Golden Falcons in first round of Class 3A

CORALVILLE – It was strength matched with strength.

top ranked Mount Vernon She came into Tuesday’s Class 3A state volleyball quarterfinal against No. 8 Mid-Prairie with one of the best offensive attacks in the state.

The Golden Falcons hung their hat on defense, which helped them make the state field for the first time in 20 seasons.

Make one explanation for the Mustangs’ offense, but it certainly hasn’t been easy.

Coach Maggie Willems’ team needed every ounce of offensive prowess to defeat the Golden Hawks 25-22, 25-16, 25-16 at Xtream Arena.

The Mustangs (43-4) are looking to capture the school’s first state title since 2019. With all six players returning from last year’s state runner-up squad, the task was clear against Mid-Prairie.

“Mid-Prairie is a devastating team,” Willems said. “They have tremendous control of the ball and will perhaps return the ball where other teams cannot, and not in a traditional way.

“We had trained for this, we just made sure we stayed calm. “Even when we were out of system or didn’t have the ideal pass, we were able to pass and finish the game.”

The game featured Division I talent on both sides of the net. Mount Vernon’s spikers Chloe Meester (Louisville) and Sydney Maue (Arkansas) will continue their volleyball careers, along with Mid-Prairie’s libero Dakota Mitchell (North Texas). Mount Vernon setter Sydney Huber will play basketball at Evansville.

“We knew coming in that their defense was really good,” Maue said. “We have DI players and they have DI freedom. We knew there would be long rallies and I think what really kept us going in this match was our courage.”

The Mustangs fell behind early in the first and third sets, as Willems said Mid-Prairie got them out of their system.

“I think we played really well in spots,” Mid-Prairie Assistant Coach Zeb Evans said. “I think at times we were just a few hits away from being in the game.

“We were digging the ball, so as everyone can see, we are a defensive team. “We like to play fast and make it difficult for our opponents, but today we didn’t have enough strength.”

The Hawks took an 8-2 lead in the third set. Mount Vernon battled back to tie the game at 10-10 and then took the lead for good.

“We’re not surprised, and that’s what you have to do to win a state championship,” Willems said. “You can’t be shaken in big moments, and you can’t be shaken when you’re down. You just have to believe that you will always be a girl.

Meester led the Mustangs’ offense with 14 kills. Laue scored 10 points. Jovi Evans had 12 kills and 11 digs for Mid-Prairie (33-9).