The Mount Vernon volleyball squad opened their season by finishing runners-up as they hosted the Shirley Ryan Invite last Saturday, going 5-1 in the annual event honoring the longtime volleyball coach who retired in 2010.
“The Shirley Ryan Invite went great,” said Mustangs head coach Maggie Willems.
“Our team was gritty and cohesive in a rough field today. It was a great day,” the coach said.
The squad began in the Joy Jordan Pool. Each of the day’s pools were named after a different Mount Vernon legend. The team first defeated Waverly-Shell Rock 21-11, 21-2 before rolling over Columbus 21-10 and 21-17. Finally, they sent Des Moines Christian packing after winning 21-18 and 21-16.
The Mustangs next advanced to the Gold Bracket, where they knocked down Ottumwa in the quarterfinals, and later Center Point-Urbana in the semi-finals.
The championship game found Mount Vernon facing off with Dike-New Hartford, who triumphed over the Mustangs 25-14 and 25-17 to finish in first place.
Chloe Meester reached 1,000 career kills during the team’s semifinal game against CPU. The Mount Vernon junior has committed to play in Louisville when the time comes.
The Mustangs will next be in town Tuesday, Sept. 12, as they host West Delaware at 7:30 p.m.
MV VB Agate Saturday, Sept 2 Game One Mount Vernon vs, Waverly-Shell Rock 21-11, 21-2 Assists | Sydney Huber, JR AST 22 PER 11.0 Kills | Chloe Meester, JR KLS 6.5 PCT 61.1% PTS 7.0 Total Blocks | Jordan Bleile, SR BLK 2 PER 2.0 Digs | Jaden Rolland, JR DIG 8 PER 4.0 Serve Aces | Brooke Ellyson, SR ACE 1.5 ATT 5.5 PCT 1.0 Game Two Mount Vernon vs Des Moines Christian 21-18, 21-16 Assists | Sydney Huber, JR AST 26 PER 13.0 Kills | Chloe Meester, JR KLS 5.5 PCT 33.3% PTS 5.5 Total Blocks | Cali Whitaker, SO BLK 2 PER 1.0 Digs | Jaden Rolland, JR DIG 7 PER 3.5 Serve Aces | Jaden Rolland, JR ACE 1.5 ATT 3.5 PCT 0.9 Game Three Mount Vernon vs. Columbus Catholic 21-17, 21-10 Assists | Sydney Huber, JR AST 21 PER 10.5 Kills | Chloe Meester, JR KLS 5.0 PCT 60.0% PTS 6.5 Total Blocks | Sophia Meester, FR BLK 3 PER 3.0 Digs | Chloe Meester, JR DIG 9 PER 4.5 Serve Aces | Addison Gookin, SR ACE 1.0 ATT 3.0 PCT 1.0 Game Four Mount Vernon vs. Center Point Urbana 25-15, 25-21 Assists | Sydney Huber, JR AST 26 PER 13.0 Kills | Chloe Meester, JR KLS 6.5 PCT 33.3% PTS 8.0 Total Blocks | Chloe Meester, JR BLK 2 PER 1.0 Digs | Jaden Rolland, JR DIG 9 PER 4.5 Serve Aces | Jaden Rolland, JR ACE 1.5 ATT 5.0 PCT 0.8 Game Five — Quarterfinals Mount Vernon vs. Ottumwa 25-19, 22-25, 15-12 Assists | Sydney Huber, JR AST 17 PER 8.5 Kills | Chloe Meester, JR KLS 4.0 PCT 18.2% PTS 4.5 Total Blocks | Paige Schurbon, JR BLK 2 PER 1.0 Digs | Jaden Rolland, JR DIG 5 PER 2.5 Serve Aces | Addison Gookin, SR ACE 0.5 ATT 3.0 PCT 1.0 Game Six — Championship Mount Vernon vs Dike-New Hartford 14-25, 17-25 Assists | Sydney Huber, JR AST 39 PER 13.0 Kills | Chloe Meester, JR KLS 5.7 PCT 36.4% PTS 6.0 Total Blocks | Sophia Meester, FR BLK 2 PER 0.7 Digs | Jaden Rolland, JR DIG 16 PER 5.3 Serve Aces | Brooke Ellyson, SR ACE 1.0 ATT 6.0 PCT 0.9
Saturday, Sept 2
Game One
Mount Vernon vs, Waverly-Shell Rock
21-11, 21-2
Assists | Sydney Huber, JR AST 22 PER 11.0
Kills | Chloe Meester, JR KLS 6.5 PCT 61.1% PTS 7.0
Total Blocks | Jordan Bleile, SR BLK 2 PER 2.0
Digs | Jaden Rolland, JR DIG 8 PER 4.0
Serve Aces | Brooke Ellyson, SR ACE 1.5 ATT 5.5 PCT 1.0
Game Two
Mount Vernon vs Des Moines Christian
21-18, 21-16
Assists | Sydney Huber, JR AST 26 PER 13.0
Kills | Chloe Meester, JR KLS 5.5 PCT 33.3% PTS 5.5
Total Blocks | Cali Whitaker, SO BLK 2 PER 1.0
Digs | Jaden Rolland, JR DIG 7 PER 3.5
Serve Aces | Jaden Rolland, JR ACE 1.5 ATT 3.5 PCT 0.9
Game Three
Mount Vernon vs. Columbus Catholic
21-17, 21-10
Assists | Sydney Huber, JR AST 21 PER 10.5
Kills | Chloe Meester, JR KLS 5.0 PCT 60.0% PTS 6.5
Total Blocks | Sophia Meester, FR BLK 3 PER 3.0
Digs | Chloe Meester, JR DIG 9 PER 4.5
Serve Aces | Addison Gookin, SR ACE 1.0 ATT 3.0 PCT 1.0
Game Four
Mount Vernon vs. Center Point Urbana
25-15, 25-21
Assists | Sydney Huber, JR AST 26 PER 13.0
Kills | Chloe Meester, JR KLS 6.5 PCT 33.3% PTS 8.0
Total Blocks | Chloe Meester, JR BLK 2 PER 1.0
Digs | Jaden Rolland, JR DIG 9 PER 4.5
Serve Aces | Jaden Rolland, JR ACE 1.5 ATT 5.0 PCT 0.8
Game Five – Quarterfinals
Mount Vernon vs. Ottumwa
25-19, 22-25, 15-12
Assists | Sydney Huber, JR AST 17 PER 8.5
Kills | Chloe Meester, JR KLS 4.0 PCT 18.2% PTS 4.5
Total Blocks | Paige Schurbon, JR BLK 2 PER 1.0
Digs | Jaden Rolland, JR DIG 5 PER 2.5
Serve Aces | Addison Gookin, SR ACE 0.5 ATT 3.0 PCT 1.0
Game Six – Championship
Mount Vernon vs Dike-New Hartford
14-25, 17-25
Assists | Sydney Huber, JR AST 39 PER 13.0
Kills | Chloe Meester, JR KLS 5.7 PCT 36.4% PTS 6.0
Total Blocks | Sophia Meester, FR BLK 2 PER 0.7
Digs | Jaden Rolland, JR DIG 16 PER 5.3
Serve Aces | Brooke Ellyson, SR ACE 1.0 ATT 6.0 PCT 0.9

Gallery • 3 Photos

Trent Bowman

Mount Vernon’s Jordan Bleile (No. 7) taps the ball over the net in play Saturday, Sept. 2.