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VBC takes 4th at SEISC finals
Warriors, W-MU represent Union schools in knockout competition
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
BURLINGTON — Van Buren County volleyball placed fourth at the Southeast Iowa Super Conference Tournament finals Saturday. The Warriors achieved their highest finish since reaching the championship game in 2019.
VBC took down Mediapolis 2-0 (25-17, 25-19) in the quarterfinals. Senior Ashlynn Huff led the side with 11 kills. Marlee Mertens had eight and Sophia Jirak tallied 11 assists.
The Warriors would fall in the semifinals to Holy Trinity Catholic Fort Madison. The Crusaders went on to win the tournament with a 2-0 win over Burlington Notre Dame.
In the third place match, VBC split the first two sets against Wapello losing 17-25 in the first and winning the second 25-19. The Arrows were able to sneak away with a win after a 12-15 battle in the third set.
VBC’s performance is the best its fared in the SEISC Tournament since Warriors coach Salena Sayre was a senior on the team. In her second season, Sayre has so far helped the Warriors to a 15-9 record and a sweep in the pool play section of the SEISC Tournament on Thursday. The Warriors defeated Lone Tree (2-0), Hillcrest Academy (2-0) and West Burlington (2-1) to win their pool.
“It feels good coming from Van Buren and such a successful season myself to see my girls succeed,” Sayre said Thursday. “It’s always a good feeling as a coach to have them go out and win games and see them excited to win games on the court.”
Along with a 3-0 result in SEISC pool play, VBC also avenged a narrow five-set loss to the Falcons earlier this season. The Warriors have three regular season matches remaining, along with a final tournament in Davis County before postseason play.
Winfield-Mt. Union also made it to Saturday’s final stage after a 2-1 showing in pool play Thursday. The Wolves lost 0-2 (15-25, 12-25) in the quarterfinals the tournament’s other finalist, Burlington Notre Dame.
In pool play, the Wolves gave Holy Trinity Catholic a tough battle in the final match. W-MU flirted with stealing the first game before falling 21-16, 21-10. The Wolves won a three-set nail-biter against Danville 21-15, 10-21, 15-10 and then swept New London 21-11, 2-11 to earn a spot in Saturday’s dance.
“Our main problem this season has been serving, and it’s not that we’re not capable, it’s between our ears,” said Winfield-Mt. Union head coach Ashlei Venghaus. “We came out, served tough and served well today.”
The Wolves have five regular season matches remaining along with a tournament in New London on Oct. 4.
