The Union Knights volleyball team pictured Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Charles City Middle School following their sweep of Lake Mills for both the Class 2A Region 5 championship and a return trip to the state tournament. PHOTO COURTESY OF UNION BOOSTER CLUB

CHARLES CITY – The Union Knights volleyball team has earned a return trip to the state tournament!

Last week Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Charles City Middle School, the Class 2A No. 5 Knights dominated the No. 12 Lake Mills Bulldogs, sweeping in sets of 25-16, 25-11 and 25-20 for both the Class 2A Region 5 championship and an 11th return trip to the state tournament. The Knights last qualified for state in 2023.

Union led Lake Mills Wednesday evening for the entirety of the first two sets. In the third, the Knights trailed at the beginning before taking over at 10-9. Lake Mills managed to tie it up 17-17, but, following a Union timeout, the Knights retook the lead and never looked back.

Against the Bulldogs, senior Bianca Grimm and junior Caitlyn Schneider led the offense with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Senior Abbie Estling tallied six kills, senior Taylen Smith five, and senior Laikyn Ewoldt four. Senior setter Hinley Mast racked up 34 assists (out of a team 40).

On defense, junior Chloe Sadler had 16 digs. Contributing to the final count were Ewoldt with 13, Mast with 11, Grimm with six, freshman Avery Foulk with four, and senior Taylen Smith with one.

Smith led the block count with five out of a team total 18.

At the service line, Union recorded five aces, including three from Estling who was 17-for-18.

Lake Mills ended the 2026-27 season with a 30-7 record.

Coralville

This week, No. 5 seed Union (44-7) is scheduled to face the No. 4 seed, the undefeated Riverside Bulldogs (39-0), on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 4 p.m. on Court 1 in the Class 2A state quarterfinals played at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The winner of the match will face either No. 1 Hinton or No. 8 Hudson on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Union previously qualified for the state tournament in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023, according to Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union records. Prior to consolidation with La Porte City, Dysart-Geneseo qualified for state in 1982.

Ahead of Tuesday’s match, the Knights enjoyed a local sendoff that included first responders escorting the team through Dysart while on their way to the elementary and middle school buildings.

Editor’s Note: This story is publishing online ahead of the Friday, Nov. 6 print edition of the Telegraph.