If you missed it, KCRG’s Jack Lido (@ JackLido) posted some great video footage on X.
The first clip is from the state volleyball tournament in 2023, after Mount Vernon had lost to Western Christian in the 3A championship. Chloe Meester hugged Eryn Jackson, both of them with tears in their eyes.
The second clip is from Thursday, Nov. 7, after No. 1 Mount Vernon swept No. 2 Western Christian, 25-17, 25-17, 25-18, in a return trip to the Class 3A championship at Xtream Arena in Coralville. In this clip, Meester hugs Jackson, and both are smiling from ear to ear and full of joy. What a difference a year makes.
“This year we knew what came for and we knew we wanted revenge,” Meester said. “We came with all of our pride and effort and gave it our all.”
Mount Vernon (45-4) was a different team. Most of the players were the same, but they were older, wiser, and ready for the pressure of winning a title.
“The two things we wanted to be were: fearless and joyful,” Mount Vernon coach Maggie Willems said. “And we did that all week long.”
Facing the team that stunned them a season ago, the Mustangs were methodical in taking them apart this time around.
“This year we wanted it more; a lot more,” senior setter Sydney Huber said. “We knew what it felt like to lose, and we didn’t want that again.”
Early on, it looked like it would be a knock-down, drag-out fight every step of the way. The Wolfpack tied it up 12-12 on a kill by junior Scarlett Winterfeld.
But the Mustangs strung together some kills, including a pair by Sophia Meester and one each for Sydney Maue and Paige Schurbon to go ahead 18-14. That prompted a Western Christian time out.
When Eryn Jackson nailed two ace serves, it was almost over. Cali Whitaker finished the first set with a kill.
That stretch was symbolic of why the Mustangs were able to sweep the Wolfpack.
“They have great size and power pin to pin,” Western Christian Coach Tammi Veerbeek said. “When you have Meester up there, and Maue on the right … and then their role players are good, too.
“It’s not just a two-headed monster. It is like a two-headed monster with three little siblings. And then a great setter.”
Mount Vernon got out to a 13-4 lead in the second set. Western Christian was a little scrappier in the third set, and pulled within one, 14-13, on a Shea Reitsma kill.
But the Mustangs countered with a quick, 3-0 run with a Maue kill, a Huber dump kill and a hitting error by the Wolfpack.
“We worked a lot as a team of staying clam, and mistake recovery,” Huber said. “If you make a mistake, move on right away, because that is not going to help us.”
Mount Vernon closed it out with two kills by Maue, and one by Whitaker.
Maue has been a welcome addition since arriving from Center Point-Urbana last year. The Stromin’ Pointer also lost to Western Christian during the 2023 state tournament.
“So, it was a little bit of a revenge game for me, too,” Maue said.
Maue, Huber and Chloe Meester were named to the Class 3A all-tournament team. Meester was the captain.
In the championship, Meester had 16 kills and hit at .371 efficiency and Maue had 14 kills and a .423 efficiency. They are heading to Louisville and Arkansas next fall to continue their volleyball careers.
Huber had 38 assists and four kills in the championship. Schurbon added f ive kills, Sophia Meester had four, and Whitaker had three.
Jackson led the way with 15 digs. As a team, the Mustangs were perfect in serve receiving (47 for 47).
“Our level of execution was great,” Willems said. “At the end of the day, that goes back to focus.
“State is a very stimulating environment. Your schedule is thrown off. You’ve got a great team across the net. We were able to manage external factors. We always talk about control. What you control. And we did. We took care of each other. We were focused, and were able to follow our plans.”
And the Mustangs swept their way to the title.
In the quarterfinal Tuesday, they beat No. 8 Mid-Prairie 25-22, 25-16, 25-16. Then they topped No. 4 Dubuque Wahlert 25-12, 25-19, 25-17, in the semifinals Wednesday.
They finished the season with 45 wins and four losses after being hunted all fall.
“We talked about pressure a lot,” Huber said. “You feel it, then move past it.”
“It was heavy,” Willem said of the No. 1 ranking. “To be really honest, I don’t think it was easy, at times. At different times, it was harder for different players. We had to embrace the idea of being hunted.
“And it was a gift. That we got everybody’s best, all season. It didn’t always feel like that in the moment. But it got us here, to play at this level.”
And Mount Vernon did complete its ascension. From quarterfinals as freshmen, to semifinals as sophomore, to runners-up as juniors, then champions as seniors.
“Before we started the match, we said this is our last game we’re all playing together,” Chloe Meester said. “Nine seniors. We just need to have fun and enjoy it.
“When we have fun, nobody can stop us.”