Dubuque Wahlert’s head coach, Lindsey Beaves, was clear about her feelings as the season came to a close.
“I want one more day with this group,” Beaves said after her team’s straight-set loss (25-12, 25-19, 25-17) to top-seeded Mount Vernon in the Iowa Class 3A semifinals on Wednesday at Xtream Arena.
“This is the largest senior group I’ve coached, and we’ve built a strong connection with them since their sophomore year,” Beaves added. Beaves returned to Wahlert in 2021 after a two-year break, having previously led the team to three consecutive state titles from 2016 to 2018. “They’re a fun group, they challenged me as a coach, and I just wanted one more day.”
Fourth-seeded Wahlert, making their 33rd appearance in the state tournament, battled through the final two sets but couldn’t recover from a rough start. They were eliminated by Mount Vernon for the second consecutive year in Coralville.
Mount Vernon (44-4) had previously defeated Wahlert (26-9) in last year’s 3A quarterfinals. This year, the Mustangs are set for another title shot and will face Western Christian, aiming to avenge last year’s championship loss.
“They’re a great team,” said Wahlert senior Anna Roling. “We knew that going in. Credit to them—every player performed well.”
Senior setter Olivia Donovan reflected on the progress she witnessed during her time with Wahlert. “I’ve seen this program grow so much,” Donovan said. “We’re leaving a good legacy and something special. There’s a lot of potential here, and we worked hard to reach this point.” Donovan led the team with 27 assists on Wednesday, just 15 shy of 900 for the season. Roling contributed 10 kills, while fellow senior Audrey Tschiggfrie added nine, including five early in the third set that briefly shifted the momentum.
Tschiggfrie acknowledged how far the team had come. “We went from an 8-18 record to the state semifinals. We changed this program for the better,” she said.
Mount Vernon’s dominant attackers, led by Louisville recruit Chloe Meester and Arkansas-bound Sydney Maue, took control from the start, winning the first set with a strong performance.
“They hit us hard in that first set,” Beaves said. “They’re one of the top teams, and when you start out tentative, it’s tough to go on a scoring run.”
In the second set, Wahlert fought to stay in the game, with Roling and Tschiggfrie contributing key plays. The set was tied nine times before Mount Vernon pulled away to take a two-set lead.
Tschiggfrie’s five kills, followed by three from Roling, tied the third set at 13-13. “We came into that third set with a new mindset, hoping to take it, but things didn’t go our way,” Tschiggfrie said. Mount Vernon responded with an 8-0 run to go up 21-13, sealing the match shortly after.
Though they fell short of adding to their state-record 20 championships, Wahlert’s senior class took pride in revitalizing the program. “I’m so grateful to be part of this program, especially with its history,” Tschiggfrie said. “Being part of this journey was an amazing opportunity.”
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