CORALVILLE − It may feel like Groundhog Day for some Iowa high school volleyball fans, as Western Christian has claimed another state title.

The No. 1-seeded Wolfpack swept No. 6 Cherokee Washington in three sets (25-20, 25-12 and 26-24) on Thursday. Nov. 5. That's Western Christian's 20th state title, tying it with Wahlert Catholic for the most Iowa state volleyball titles. They are one of four programs to have double-digit state titles alongside Wahlert Catholic, Dike-New Hartford (16) and Tripoli (11).

Morgan Kooiman, Maddyn De Jager, Josie Hall and Hadley Dekkers led the charge for the Wolfpack on Thursday. Kooiman led the team with 17 kills, while DeJager (14) and Hall (9) combined for 23 more. Dekkers set up the trio well with 38 total assists.

Western Christian and Cherokee traded blows in the first set. Cherokee led by as much as four early on, but the Wolfpack rallied to win 25-20. Kooiman had seven kills in the set, including the final two to close on a 10-4 run. Kooiman, Hall and De Jager combined for 14 of Western Christian's 15 kills in the frame. The Wolfpack started the second set with all the momentum and took an 11-1 lead following a handful of attack errors from Cherokee Washington. Western Christian never looked back on its way to a 25-12 set victory.

Cherokee Washington refused to go down without a fight, leading by as many as four points, 19-15, in the third set. It was inches away from claiming a set for itself at 24-23 to keep its championship hopes alive. However, Hall recorded a kill, followed by back-to-back kills from Kooiman to secure a 26-24 set win and Western Christian's 20th state title.

Western Christian prepared for tight moments like that all year, situations like being tied late and needing to score, or trailing in a set and needing to rally. Because of that, it was ready for a battle to the wire even in the high-pressure state finals.

"I just felt this group had a calmness, just a, 'We can do this together, we're not going to get rattled, (attitude)'" said Western Christian coach Tammi Verbeek. "They proved it."

Cherokee Washington's stellar year wraps up at 32-9, making a deep run despite their No. 6 seed. Deidra Doeden (12), Ellana Mortenson (8) and Addy Wolfswinkel (6) combined for 26 kills in their state finals effort. This was the school's third-ever state tournament appearance.

The Wolfpack end their season at 41-5, as Verbeek continues to cement her legacy as one of the greatest Iowa high school coaches ever, with 15 state titles to her name.

"Every team is special," Verbeek said. "There's never one that you value more than another one because these girls worked hard for it. They wanted it just as bad as anyone."