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Iowa high school state volleyball tournament: What we learned from the Class 3A quarterfinals

joe randleman, des moines register
·4 min read

Day two of the 2023 state volleyball tournament began with the Class 3A quarterfinal matches on Tuesday at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

The opening matches of the day pitted No. 1 Mount Vernon against No. 9 Wahlert Catholic and No. 2 Cherokee against No. 8 Union. The afternoon matches featured No. 4 Davenport Assumption versus No. 5 Des Moines Christian and No. 3 Western Christian against No. 7 Center Point-Urbana.

Des Moines Christian falls to Assumption in three sets

Davenport Assumption players celebrate a point during their win over Des Moines Christian in the Class 3A state quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Davenport Assumption players celebrate a point during their win over Des Moines Christian in the Class 3A state quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Des Moines Christian had trouble slowing down Assumption in their quarterfinal match.

The Lions hung around in the first set but fell by a 25-21 score. Then Assumption found another gear and rolled past DMC by a 25-15 score in the second set.

DMC put up a better fight in the third set, but the Lions suffered their second 25-21 defeat to lose the match and end their season.

Des Moines Christian's Hadley Hardersen (6) bumps the ball during a state volleyball tournament match against Davenport Assumption on Tuesday. DMC lost in three sets.
Des Moines Christian's Hadley Hardersen (6) bumps the ball during a state volleyball tournament match against Davenport Assumption on Tuesday. DMC lost in three sets.

DMC finished with a 37-8 record. Assumption had a 26.3% hitting efficiency compared to just 6.5% for DMC and the Knights totaled eight blocks to four from the Lions.

Gabby Lombardi paced the Lions with 12 kills, and she also had 10 assists. Hadley Hardersen and Andrea Linebach each had six kills and Hardersen chipped in 12 assists and digs apiece.

Des Moines Christian's Gabby Bartek hugs teammate Finley Schelhaas (2) after their loss to Davenport Assumption during the IGHSAU state volleyball tournament Tuesday
Des Moines Christian's Gabby Bartek hugs teammate Finley Schelhaas (2) after their loss to Davenport Assumption during the IGHSAU state volleyball tournament Tuesday

Assumption takes a 28-7 record into Wednesday's semifinals against No. 1 Mount Vernon (34-4). Maggie Johnson had 16 kills and Ellah Derrer posted 11 for the Knights.

Ellie Schubert contributed 31 assists and 11 digs and Dru Dorsey chipped in 13 digs and six kills for Assumption.

Chloe Meester helps Mount Vernon sweep Wahlert Catholic

Meester sparked Mount Vernon to a 25-21, 25-21, 25-21 sweep of Wahlert Catholic in the opening 3A quarterfinal match Tuesday.

The Louisville recruit went off for 22 kills in the match. She had a hitting percentage rate of 44.4%.

Meester also had 19 digs, three ace serves and one solo block.

Paige Schurbon added seven kills, Brooke Ellyson had five and Caliana Whitaker posted four for the Mustangs. Sydney Huber dished out 36 assists and Jaden Rolland chipped in nine digs.

Mount Vernon will take a 35-4 record into the semifinals. Wahlert finished its season at 18-13.

Anna Roling had nine kills, Alicen Bainbridge posted eight while Audrey Tschiggfrie and Claire Lueken chipped in seven apiece for the Golden Eagles. Olivia Donovan handed out 28 assists and Kaylee Watler finished with 14 digs.

Union upsets Cherokee behind a balanced attack

Union stunned No. 2 Cherokee in the second match of the 3A quarterfinals.

The Knights won in impressive fashion. They pulled off a 25-21, 25-21, 25-15 sweep to advance to the semifinals with a 39-11 record.

Union finished with 26.1% hitting percentage compared to just 13.3% for Cherokee. The Knights also had a 6-3 advantage in blocks.

Gracie Klima had 16 kills, Dena Robb posted 11 and Sydney Schmuecker added seven for Union. Klima also had 16 digs, Robb chipped in four solo blocks and Schmuecker contributed three solo blocks.

Avery Knoop handed out 35 assists, Reagan Glenn had 12 digs and Emily Anton posted 10 digs for the Knights.

Cherokee finished its season at 29-7. Laney Wolfswinkel had 11 kills and 10 digs, Jada Timmerman added seven kills and five digs, Addy Wolfswinkel and Deidra Doeden posted six kills apiece, Keylee Gregg had 14 digs and five kills while Ava Anderson posted 21 assists and nine digs for Cherokee.

Western Christian holds off CPU

Western Christian got off to a hot start, struggled in the third set then rebounded to take the fourth in a 3A quarterfinal victory over Center Point-Urbana.

The Wolfpack cruised to 25-14 and 25-19 victories in the first two sets. CPU came back to earn a 25-22 victory in the third set, but Western Christian did enough to turn the tide back in its favor in the fourth, winning by a 25-22 score to advance to the semifinals with a 30-13 record.

Shayna Van Dyken had 18 kills and Bentley Bliek added 13 plus nine digs for Western Christian. Scarlett Winterfeld tacked on 12 digs and nine kills, Keana Wynja had seven kills and four solo blocks, Breya Van Kley had 26 assists, Maggie Van Schepen posted 13 assists and Haley Wielenga chipped in 19 digs.

CPU finished its season at 27-10. Addy Tupa had 13 kills and seven digs, Sydney Maue had 11 kills and three block assists, Logan Keller had 22 assists,10 digs and three aces and Gracie Hoskins had 21 digs for the Stormin' Pointers.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Iowa high school volleyball state tournament 3A quarterfinals roundup