4A Championship Match Recap, Reaction

<!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/iXiI-K-rE1Q","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/iXiI-K-rE1Q </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://ighsau.org/upl/downloads/library/volleyball-2024-4afinal.pdf">Box Score</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/11/heelan-pella-4a-state-championship-match-photos/">Photo Gallery</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CORALVILLE, Iowa - </strong>Sioux City Bishop Heelan traveled east this week with intense determination. The Crusaders' mission was to show everybody at the state tournament that top-notch volleyball is being played along Iowa's western border. They accomplished it in grand fashion on Thursday, sweeping underdog Pella in the Class 4A state championship match. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I think it's a big statement," senior setter Maddie LaFleur said. "We're the best in the state at the moment, and I think it puts a lot of respect on our conference and our side (of the state)." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heelan dominated the field, winning all nine sets it played here. It took out Carlisle in the opening round and then dispatched of defending state champion North Scott in straight sets during Wednesday's semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They won their first state championship since claiming back-to-back crowns in in 2006-07. That's around the time when this Heelan senior class was born. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I think it means, Heelan volleyball, don't doubt them, and in the coming years I have confidence in them, too," said senior [player_tooltip player_id='217136' first='Maliyah' last='Hacker'], who was born in '07. "</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LaFleur was named the captain of the all-tournament team, which also included Hacker and [player_tooltip player_id='389834' first='Ava' last='Lloyd']. Pella's [player_tooltip player_id='389942' first='Katie' last='Scheckel'] and Emma Eekhoff also earned that honor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dutch opened eyes here as well, reaching the final as the fifth seed. It took down Clear Creek Amana in the opening round and Sergeant Bluff-Luton during the semifinals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We can definitely leave here with our heads held high," Pella junior [player_tooltip player_id='389942' first='Katie' last='Scheckel']. "It's been such a great season. I had so much fun playing with all these girls. Bishop Heelan was a very good team. They came ready to play today. We could have beat them another day. Today just wasn't our day." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/SkQ0Kn-5IZU","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/SkQ0Kn-5IZU </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4A All-Tournament Team<br></strong>[player_tooltip player_id='389834' first='Ava' last='Lloyd'], Bishop Heelan<br>Emma Eekhoff, Pella<br>McKenzie Moeller, North Scott<br>Bre VanDenTop, Sergeant Bluff-Luton<br>[player_tooltip player_id='217136' first='Maliyah' last='Hacker'], Bishop Heelan<br>[player_tooltip player_id='389942' first='Katie' last='Scheckel'], Pella<br>Maddie LaFleur, Bishop Heelan (captain)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa Pork Producers Top Producer of the Match<br></strong>[player_tooltip player_id='217136' first='Maliyah' last='Hacker'], Bishop Heelan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->