Xavier Volleyball

Saints spiked by May & Wahlert

The Xavier Saints loved playing in the Class 4A state volleyball tournament this week and they plan to be back next year and do even better.

With a young team, they have every reason to think they'll be able to return to the U.S. Cellular Center in 2017.

And if they make it back to the state meet next year, they won't have to face Mackenzie May again. The Dubuque Wahlert All-American will be playing for UCLA by then.

May was as good as advertised Thursday as Wahlert topped Xavier, 25-20, 25-21, 25-15, in the semifinals of the state tournament in downtown Cedar Rapids.

The 6-foot-3 phenom blasted kill after kill against the Saints, collecting 27 for the match. And for good measure, she finished the contest with two ace serves.

"Our coaches always say she's one of the best-known players in the country. She's very good," said Xavier star Charlotte Richards. "She has a lot of skills."

Xavier Coach Austin Filer helped tutor May on the Adrenaline club volleyball team last year and knew what the Saints would be facing in the semifinals. Short of having one of his players get into a fight with May so both of them would be ejected (just kidding), there's not much anyone can do to stop her.

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Young Saints roll to state volleyball

Austin Filer does not show a lot of emotion during Xavier volleyball matches, but the first-year head coach had to battle back some tears after the young Saints earned a spot in the Class 4A state tournament Monday night with another impressive performance.

Filer sat alone on the Xavier bench while his players celebrated on the floor at Ron Thillen Gymnasium, his face a little flushed and some moisture around the eyes.

The sixth-ranked Saints swept eighth-ranked Clinton, 25-11, 25-12, 25-22, to claim the fifth trip to the state tournament in school history and the first since 2012.

"It's been a great season," Filer said after collecting his thoughts. "It's great to know that it's not over, but it's always fun to hit goals. I'm really, really proud of my group tonight."

Xavier (31-9) will face Marion (34-9) in the quarterfinals of the state tournament next Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids. The semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 10 at noon and the finals are Friday, Nov. 11 at 12:15 p.m.

Filer inherited a club that finished with a 15-22 record last season and completely turned things around despite having only two seniors on the varsity.

"It's a great feeling to have, just knowing that our team put everything out there and gave everything we have," said Charlotte Richards, the kills leader for the Saints as a junior. "Knowing that we're going to state now is a great feeling that I'll never forget."

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Saints sweep into 4A regional finals

The Xavier High School volleyball team has been working since August to reach the Class 4A state tournament at the U.S. Cellular Center next month.

Now they are only one step away.

The sixth-ranked Saints swept Fort Madison, 25-17, 25-23, 25-16, in the regional semifinals at Ron Thillen Gymnasium Tuesday night.

Xavier (30-9) will host eighth-ranked Clinton (22-13) in the regional finals Monday night, with the winner earning a trip to downtown Cedar Rapids for the state meet.

The Saints should be filled with confidence when they face Clinton. They whipped the River Queens in two matches at the North Scott tournament Sept. 10, winning both contests 2-0 by a combined count of 92-57.

The Saints will be confident, but not over-confident.

"They have something in the back of their heads, but they know it's not promised," said Xavier Coach Austin Filer. "They have to work hard for it."

In fact, the Saints had to work hard against Fort Madison before pulling out a victory in straight sets. The Bloodhounds led 23-21 late in the second set, but the Saints rallied and won the last four points for a 25-23 victory and a 2-0 lead.

Filer appeared to stay calm in the second set, even when his club trailed 10-5 early.

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Saints win consolation title in MVC tourney

The Xavier Saints topped Jefferson, 25-16, 25-23, to win the title in the consolation bracket of the Mississippi Valley Conference volleyball tournament Saturday at Kennedy.

The Saints compiled a 1-2 record in pool play and failed to reach the championship playoffs. The Saints lost to Cedar Falls, 21-11, 20-22, 15-8, and to Prairie, 21-11, 21-18, in pool play, and defeated Waterloo West, 21-9, 15-21, 15-5.

Xavier beat Waterloo East in the consolation semifinals, 25-18, 25-17, before beating the J-Hawks.

Linn-Mar defeated Dubuque Wahlert for the MVC title.