Elite Mount Vernon’s offense wins over elite Mid-Prairie defense in state volleyball’s quarterfinal

The top-ranked Mustangs beat No. 8 Golden Hawks in the first round of Class 3A

CORALVILLE — It was a combination of strength and power.

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

The Golden Hawks put their hat on defense, which helped them reach the state field for the first time in 20 seasons.

Chalk one up for the Mustangs offense, but it certainly didn’t come easy.

Coach Maggie Willems’ team needed all its offensive skills to fend off the Golden Hawks, 25-22, 25-16, 25-16 at the Xtream Arena.

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

“Mid-Prairie is a disruptive team,” Willems said. “They have great ball control and they are going to return balls that other teams might not have, and not in a traditional way.

“We had trained for that and made sure we stayed calm. Even if we were outside the system or didn’t have an ideal pass, we could still pass and finish.”

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

“We knew coming in that their defense was really good,” Maue said. “We have DI players and they have a DI libero. We knew there were going to be long rallies and I think it was our grit that really got us through that game.”

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

“I think we played really well in spots,” Mid-Prairie co-coach Zeb Evans said. “I think sometimes we were just a few swings away from a good match.

“We were digging the ball, I mean we’re a defensive team, as everyone can see. We like to play fast and make things difficult for our opponents, but we just didn’t have enough today.”

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

“We didn’t let ourselves be fooled and that’s what you have to do to win state championships,” Willems said. “You can’t get upset in big moments, and you can’t get upset when you’re down. You just have to believe every time that you’re going to be the girl.

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