CORALVILLE – Sioux City Bishop Heelan brought a balanced, talented team to the state volleyball tournament and left with a state championship.

The second-ranked Crusaders dominated from the start and swept No. 5 Pella to capture the Class 4A title at Xtream Arena on Thursday, winning 25-10, 25-13 and 25-17. 

It’s the fourth state championship for Heelan (44-3) and the first since IGHSAU Hall of Famer Carli Tritz led the Crusaders to consecutive 3A titles in 2006 and 2007.

All-tournament captain Maddie LaFleur set the stage for the winners with 36 assists while adding two kills and 13 digs. Maliyah Hacker hammered a team-best 20 kills and added 13 digs, while Ava Lloyd put together a strong line with 14 kills, 15 digs and three assists. 

Hacker and Lloyd also were selected to the all-tournament team along with Pella’s Emma Eekhoff and Katie Scheckel, Bre VanDenTop of Sergant Bluff-Luton and McKenzie Moeller of North Scott. 

Scheckel had six kills, eight digs and 13 assists to lead the Dutch (41-8), while Eekhoff racked up eight kills, seven digs and seven assists. Clare Smock added 11 digs for Pella.

The Dutch, who reached the finals for the first time, toughened up for tournament play through a schedule that included 21 different ranked teams, including 10 that made it to the state tourney in various classes.

But Bishop Heelan had too much strength throughout its lineup and closed out the season with victories in 33 of its last 34 matches, including 2-0 win over Pella in mid-September. Pella had defeated the Crusaders 2-1 a week earlier.

When the rubber match finally came, it was all Bishop Heelan.