Mount Vernon sweeps Anamosa to return to the Class 3A state volleyball tournament

MOUNT VERNON — Death, taxes and Mount Vernon playing in the state volleyball tournament.

All seem inevitable and very easy to take for granted.

Despite graduating a wealth of talent from last year’s state championship, the Mustangs have a chance to defend the program’s title. Ninth-ranked Mount Vernon swept No. 14 Anamosa, 25-17, 25-22, 25-17 in the Class 3A Region 8 final Tuesday night at home. The Mustangs advance to the state tournament for the seventh straight season and 17th time in the last 19 seasons.

“I think sometimes people maybe misunderstand the work and the process that has to happen every season for this to happen,” said Maggie Willems, who is in her 15th season as Mount Vernon’s head coach. “We graduated three (NCAA) Division-I athletes last year. And these kids bought into this process, and that's why we're back at the state tournament again.”

The Mustangs (23-15) have progressed along with the season and they were determined to prove any skeptics wrong. The seniors don’t know anything different than playing at state.

“That's the Mount Vernon volleyball culture,” senior middle hitter CaliAna Whitaker said. “After we lost all those seniors last year, we were just 100-percent driven by all the doubt that everyone put on us. A lot of people didn't expect us to be here, but we're here and we fought for it all season.”

Mount Vernon was prepared for a challenge from a skilled and athletic team. The Blue Raiders hustled all over the court and didn’t concede a point.

Sophia Meester and Whitaker paced the Mustangs with 13 and nine kills, respectively. Whitaker also tallied a team-high three blocks. Madison Hoffert had 33 assists.

“We knew what was going to be across the net,” Willems said. “I think that makes a big difference. Then, you can know but not always execute. We were able to respond well.”

The match started as a back-and-forth affair with seven ties in the first set. The Mustangs experience helped close the opening set with nine of the last 10 points. Brynlee Bettcher had two kills, Meester added a block and Madeline Boren recorded two aces in the final four points, including the winner.

“It was definitely a momentum changer,” said Meester, noting the Mustangs witnessed Anamosa ability to rally in its regional semifinal win against West Delaware. “They were down and they came back in a lot of steps, so we just had to realize that can't happen with us. We have to stay strong throughout everything.”

The second set was similar but Mount Vernon took control with seven in a 10-point stretch for a 23-17 advantage. The Mustangs received aces from Mavrik Schweer and Isabelle Logue and kills from Hayden Gookin, Bettcher and Meester.

“I thought our service pressure was really good all night, too,” Willems said. “That's critical against a pretty offensive team. We were able to disrupt a little bit.

“They're really scrappy and sometimes that can be disorienting or disruptive. We just settled down and let them hustle and send the ball back. We stay disciplined on our side.”

The third set was all Mustangs, jumping to leads of 7-2 and 14-7. Whitaker had back-to-back kills in the third for an 18-11 advantage.

“I’m thankful for my passers and my setter for everyone getting a good ball for a team effort,” Whitaker said. “Just going up fearless, not being afraid to swing. Also making smart plays, tipping when I saw open things. It's all just about confidence when you're going up to swing.”

Anamosa reached the regional final for the third straight season but finished a victory shy of its first state berth. The Blue Raiders were the River Valley Conference tournament champions and close the season at 25-12.

Mount Vernon will face top-seeded Western Christian (37-9) in a 3A quarterfinal next Tuesday at Xtream Arena in Coralville, beginning at 10 a.m. It is a rematch of last year’s state title match.

“We just have to keep on pushing as a team,” Meester said. “We have to play together more as a team, which we did a really good job of this today.”

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