The Union Knights volleyball team pictured following their Class 2A state quarterfinal match at Xtream Arena, Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Coralville. Front row (from left): Chloe Sadler (20), Taylen Smith (10), Laikyn Ewoldt (3), Hinley Mast (9), Bianca Grimm (13), Abbie Estling (8), Kenley Hoover (11), and Ivory Weisert (7). Back row (from left): Taryn Petersen (22), Caitlyn Schneider (21), Maddie Schmitz (15), Natalie Craft (manager), Avery Mullen (6), Peyton Brown (5), Paige Pipho (4), Brynlee Davis (manager), Avery Foulk (2), head coach Brian Jesse, assistant coach Beth Harting, assistant coach Rachael Kennedy, and assistant coach Barry Jesse. PHOTOS BY GRETA VOGELER/UNION COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

CORALVILLE – In their 11th appearance at the state volleyball tournament – 12th, if Dysart-Geneseo’s 1982 qualification is considered – the No. 5 seed Union Knights fell, 3-1, to the undefeated No. 4 Riverside Bulldogs in a Class 2A state quarterfinal match played on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

That afternoon, Riverside took the first set, 27-25, after Union forced the game into extra points. In the second set, the Knights dominated, racking up an 8-0 run at one point and driving home the 25-15 win thanks to a masterful defensive performance. Union lost the third set 25-14, and the final set 25-22.

Lilli Reed had a match-high 16 kills to lead Riverside.

The Knights closed out the 2026-27 season with a 44-8 record, while the Bulldogs advanced to the 2A state semifinal round where they lost, 4-1, to the eventual runner-up, Hinton. Third-seeded Beckman Catholic won the 2A state championship, bringing home a state title for the first time with a 3-2 win over Hinton.

Against Riverside – which had accumulated 39 wins in succession heading into the state tournament – senior Bianca Grimm led the Knights offense with 15 kills out of a team 45. Junior Caitlyn Schneider had eight kills, senior Taylen Smith had seven, seniors Hinley Mast and Abbie Estling both had six kills apiece, and senior Laikyn Ewoldt contributed three. Mast tallied 31 assists out of a team 42; junior Chloe Sadler had five assists and freshman Avery Foulk had four.

On defense, Sadler made 14 digs, while Grimm had 11. Estling and Ewoldt both had six digs apiece. At the net, Smith was a machine with a game-high nine blocks out of her team’s 20. Estling and Mast both had three blocks apiece.

The Knights totaled three aces – Schneider was 17-for-17 with two, and Estling was 23-for-24 with one ace.

Following the completion of the 2026 State Volleyball Tournament, setter Mast was No. 3 statewide across all classes in total assists with 1,098 (No. 2 in Class 2A). Schneider and Smith were No. 11 and No. 13, respectively, in total blocks with 108 and 105 (No. 3 and No. 5 in Class 2A).