This fall is proving to be a historic season for Mount Vernon volleyball. So why not add a little more?
The top-ranked Mustangs participated in the first-ever outdoor volleyball match in state history on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at Brown Field in Manchester. They survived an upset bid from then-No. 9 West Delaware, 21-25, 19-25, 25-23, 25-17, 15-9.
“They were ridiculously underrated prior to the match, and I knew that from scouting them,” Mount Vernon coach Maggie Willems said. “Their ball control and pace of the game is always a challenge.”
The IGHSAU agreed with the underrated part, and moved the Hawks up to No. 4 in the 3A rankings a few days later. The court was assembled on the football field and the weather cooperated with a calm, warm night.
“Playing outside was both exhilarating and overwhelming at the same time,” Willems said. “It gave us that football stadium feel and experience while also providing some spatial challenges thatwe do not experience inside.”
The strangeness may have contributed to the Mustangs dropping the first two sets, but Willems said West Delaware also blocked very effectively.
Mount Vernon regrouped, and won the next three sets.
“We started to play like we were capable of playing,” Willems said.
Chloe Meester led the attack with 26 kills and Sydney Maue had 18 kills. Paige Schurbon added eight kills and Sophia Meester had six. Sydney Huber had 54 assists and Eryn Jackson led with 24 digs.
Mount Vernon then took the long, fourhour bus ride to the other side of the state for the Red Oak Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21.
“We go there in order to see opponents we do not see here,” Willems said.
The Mustangs went 6-0 on the day beating Tri-Center (21-13, 21-10), Murray (21-10, 21-2), Council Bluffs St. Albert (21-7, 21-7), and Underwood (21-13, 21-11) before taming No. 7 (4A) Glenwood 21-12, 16-21, 15-6, and No. 6 (3A) Sioux Center 25-19, 25-17.
“Our semifinal and final wins were against rated teams, both really good teams,” Willems said. “Those were high-quality wins.”
On a day with 13 sets, Chloe Meester and Maue led the way with 50 and 41 kills, respectively. Also attacking were Schurbon (20 kills), Cali Whitaker (17), and Sophia Meester (25). Huber had 133 assists.