[November 20, 2009] Mount Vernon is to strong for PC at State Tweet Nov 20, 2009 (Pella Chronicle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Mount Vernon returned four starters from the 2008 Class 3A State runner-up team at the volleyball tournament in Cedar Rapids. The Mustangs dropped to Class 2A for the 2009 tournament and they drew the Pella Christian Eagles. Coach Evenhouse knew the task ahead was a big one. "We have a strong Class 2A field at state every year," Evenhouse said. "When teams like Mount Vernon drop to 2A, it just becomes one more hurdle everyone has to get by." The Eagles weren't able to get by Mount Vernon in the first round of state competition last Thursday. The Mustangs beat PC 25-7, 25-11, 25-9. The win improved Mount Vernon's record to 41-1 overall. "We knew they (Mount Vernon) were very good, we played them at Iowa City earlier this year," Evenhouse said. When you play a team with an imposing front-line like the Mustangs have, the Eagle coach said, "You can't hit into the block and you have to play well defensively. They certainly have the hitters." Three Mustang players have either signed or given verbal commitment to playing Division-1 Volleyball in college. The three are Ali Stark, to the University of Illinois, Courtney Kintzel, University of Northern Iowa and senior Brianna Strong to the University of Northern Colorado. Stark and Kintzel are both juniors on the Mustang team. The three all check in at 6'1" or taller. Strong is listed at 6'2". Sophomore Jenna Horstman is listed as PC's tallest starter at 5'11". In game one at the US Cellular Center, the Mustangs raced to a quick 5-1 lead. The score was 7-3 when Stark toed the service line. Four ace serves later and a run of 10 points gave Mount Vernon a 17-3 lead. Meredith Fopma and Paige Zylstra (two) had kills that brought the Eagles to within 18-6. A short time later the Mustangs had game one wrapped up 25-7 Game two again saw the Mustangs gain control early as Amanda Platte, Stark and Strong all had early kills to give Mount Vernon a 5-0 lead. The lead grew to 12-1 before PC settled down and started to play better. "Their front line is very good," replied PC senior Bekah Posthuma. She added, "Their defense is pretty good too." PC's Courtney Kroeze had back-to-back aces near the end of game two, but it wasn't enough as the Mustangs won 25-11. Game three again belonged to the fast starting Mustangs. Mount Vernon led 11-2 before the Eagles traded a few points before falling 25-9. Jenna Horstman had two of her three kills in the match in game three. Comments "This was a rebuilding year for us," Evenhouse commented. "We have a good nucleus back next year, but we'll miss Bekah (Posthuma) and the rest of our seniors." Evenhouse said the fun part of coaching is putting together a new team each season. "We aren't able to recruit, so you do the best you can. It would be nice to keep the whole team together," he added, "but that's normally not the case in high school." "Facing Mount Vernon was intimidating at times looking across the net at their height," replied PC junior Paige Zylstra. "We really came together as a team during the regional tournament," Posthuma said. "Our confidence level kept building as we faced Clarke and Mediapolis to get to state." Posthuma has committed to play volleyball at Dordt next year. Odds and Ends It was PC's third straight trip to state and the ninth time overall. PC finished the year with a record of 23-15. Seniors who will depart from the PC program include Bekah Posthuma, Courtney Van Kooten and Darci Jansen, along with Courtney Kroeze, Leah Vander Schel and Jackie Veenstra. Pella Christian 7-11-9 Mount Vernon 25-25-25 PC Leaders Kills -- Jenna Horstman 3, Meredith Fopma 3, Paige Zylstra 3, Hannah Ver Meer 2. Assists- Bekah Posthuma 8. Ace Serves -- Courtney Kroeze 2, Posthuma 1. Digs -- Jasmin Schelhaas 8, Ashley Van Kooten 7, Ver Meer 3. Mount Vernon Leaders Kills -- Amanda Platte 12, Ali Stark 8, Courtney Kintzel 8, Taylor Dicus 5. Assists -- Sarah Ryan 34. Ace Serves -- Stark 5, Brianna Strong 3. Digs -- Platte 8, Stark 8, Kylea Weber 8. To see more of the Pella Chronicle or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pellachronicle.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, Pella Chronicle, Iowa Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]