Bookend titles for Ellah Derrer: Davenport Assumption reigns in Class 3A

CORALVILLE — They’ve run this scenario in practice many, many times.

“We start as if we’re down 22-18,” Ellah Derrer said. “If we don’t execute, we have to run.”

The only running Thursday afternoon was toward their deserved championship trophy.

Second-ranked Davenport Assumption overcame a 21-18 deficit to the third set and closed out No. 5 Humboldt, 25-20, 25-17, 25-22 in the Class 3A championship match at the state volleyball tournament at Xtream Arena.

The title was Assumption’s second. The first came in 2022, when Derrer was a freshman.

“This one is definitely sweeter,” she said after earning all-tournament-captain honors. “Freshman year was awesome, but this was sweeter.”

Assumption finished 28-7 and denied a sequel to the story of the tournament.

Humboldt (33-7) shocked No. 1 Western Christian in the semifinals Wednesday, but couldn’t recapture the magic a day later.

“We fell short, and that’s OK,” Humboldt’s Adelynn Goodell said. “(The Western match) took a lot of energy, but (Assumption) outplayed us, and that’s OK.”

Derrer led all attackers with 16 kills. Bella Cotton added 11, including the one at match point, which capped a 7-1 run to end it.

Assumption’s Carsyn Kelley and Erin Roberts also made the all-tournament team, as did Goodell and Addie Waldorf from Humboldt. Carroll Kuemper’s Addy Anthofer and Western Christian’s Morgan Kooiman.

Goodell had 11 kills for the Wildcats.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com