Early in the third set Thursday, Oct. 24, in a Class 3A Region 1 semifinal win over PCM, Mount Vernon senior Chloe Meester smashed one of her floor-denting kills.

And immediately afterward, you could hear the sound of thunder boom outside the gym.

Mount Vernon went on to win, 25-14, 25-15, 25-14 and move one step closer to a return to the state tournament.

Meester — who earlier in the week surpassed 2,000 kills for her career in a regional quarterfinal win over West Marshall (25-15, 25-16, 25-10) on Tuesday, Oct. 22 – took another step towards repeating as the 3A Player of the Year.

And while the weather outside has been pretty dry most of the fall, Meester has brought the thunder inside.

“We’ve had some pretty prolific players,” Mount Vernon coach Maggie Willems said. “She truly is probably the best to ever come through our program. And she is an even better kid and teammate.”

Her kill total now sits at 2,015 and she long ago broke the school career mark.

She ranks third in the state, all classes, with 519 kills, but is only 36th in kill attempts (883). So, she does more with fewer swings, and has a kill efficiency of .472.

And, in addition to being a feared hitter, Meester has worked hard to become a back-row player.

“She’s worked on it a lot,” senior setter Sydney Huber said. “She’s improved a lot. She’s as great as some liberos. She can be such a great hitter and also such a great passer.”

“My freshman year, I was really scared (to play back row),” Meester said. “I didn’t know how to read or play defense. Now, I’m better at reading. And I’m lengthy enough I can get to more balls.”

Her coach said having a 6-foot-3 player in the back row has its advantages.

“Her range is bonkers,” Willems said. “She is long and lean and she has enough quick-twitch muscles that she can get from baseline to baseline and get a lot of touches on balls.”

Opponents sometimes target Meester in the back row, either to test her defensive chops, or throw off her offensive game.

“I think there’s that narrative … we’re just bringing this kid around (the rotation) so she can take swings out of the back row,” Willems said. “No, we’re bringing this kid around because we want her to touch the ball. So please do send the ball her way.”

“If you want to come at me, you can,” Meester said. “At the end of the day, I’m doing to give it my all.”

Against PCM, senior libero Eryn Jackson led the Mustangs with 10 digs, but Meester was second on the team with seven. She also led the team with three ace serves.

Mount Vernon (41-4) is ranked No. 1 in 3A and is the only ranked team in its region.

“We know there is pressure on us,” Huber said.

“We are the No. 1 team. Everyone wants our best, and we want to give them our best.”

And for the seniors, the clock is running out on their season.

“We only have a max of … I guess four games now, left,” Meester said. “If you lose, you’re done. So just have fun and enjoy it while you can.”

PCM (16-11) certainly didn’t roll over, but just weren’t on the same level as Mount Vernon.

The Mustangs hit .558 as a team against, well, the Mustangs (of PCM). Sydney Maue led the team with 13 kills and Meester added 12 kills. Cali Whitaker had nine kills, Sophia Meester had six and Paige Schurbon added five. Huber had 40 assists and added two kills. The senior setter has added more offensive “dump” attacks, where she uses her set as a sneak attack to try and send the ball to an open spot in the defense rather that up to a hitter.

“So, Syd Huber is pretty judicious, you would say,” Willems said. “We truly most matches are like, Syd, dump some more. Because even if it doesn’t score, it makes the defense uncomfortable.

“We’ve encouraged her to be more aggressive with her dump in the postseason.”

It is just another thing opponents have to prepare for.

Mount Vernon faced Nevada (30-11) in a 3A regional final on Tuesday, Oct. 29.

The state tournament would begin with a morning or noon match on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The 3A semifinals are at 2 or 2:25 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, and the championship is 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7. All matches are at Xtream Arena in Coralville, for those making plans.