The Mount Vernon volleyball team had its best record since 2016, but on Oct. 20 the No. 12 Yellow Jackets (17-7, 11-3) were upset in the second round of the Division I Central 4 District/Sectional tournament, 3-1 by No. 31 Licking Heights.
The Yellow Jackets won the first round of the Division I Central 4 District/Sectional tournament last week over No. 35 Reynoldsburg in a sweep victory. The Yellow Jackets took opening round win with sets of 25-12, 25-16 and 25-19.
Emma Dean led the charge with 10 kills, three blocks and two digs. Tori Burdette had 22 assists, three kills, one ace and nine digs. Audrey Stuller put together a good defensive night with 20 digs to go with three kills and three assists. Ady Beaver and Avery Lasater had eight digs and six digs respectively.
Mount Vernon followed with a 3-1 loss to the Licking Heights Hornets. Licking Heights won 25-20 in the first set, but the Yellow Jackets woke up in set two for a 25-22 win to tie things up. The Hornets went on to win 25-15 in convincing fashion, and then completed the upset with a 25-23 win.
Burdette was the top performer with 29 assists, 10 digs and a pair of kills. Audrey Stuller was a force defensively with 30 digs and served an ace. Jurnie Gleason led the team in kills with 10, served two aces, had eight digs and a block. Dean had five kills, a block and an ace. Kaitlyn Thompson had eight kills and three digs. Madi Dudgeon recorded five kills and a block. Lasater had nine digs and one ace.
“I felt like we came prepared to take on Reynoldsburg,” said Coach Lauren Townley. “We were excited to get a home game in front of our crowd and we played really well. I believe we played really well against Licking Heights. They are a super solid team with great athletes. The outcome is obviously unfortunate but I am very proud of how hard each girl played up until that final point. There were times where they could have said they were done and quit fighting, but they didn't do that and they pushed through until the very end.”
Coach Townley spoke highly of the team’s performance in the playoffs despite the early exit. She praised the team for the strong play this season, as well.
“This, by far, has been the best season I have had as a head coach, not only record-wise but leadership-wise and buying into the culture of the program,” Townley said.
