Western Christian takes on Humboldt in a class 3A semifinal during the 2025 Iowa High School State Volleyball Championships hosted by the IGHSAU at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Photo by Afton Putney/MP Media)

CORALVILLE — The queens of high school volleyball in Iowa were knocked from their pedestal here Wednesday by upset-minded Humboldt.

Playing in the state semifinals for the first time in program history, the Wildcats stunned No. 1 and 19-time champion Western Christian in a thrilling five-set battle inside the Xtream Arena.

Scores were 16-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-19 and 15-13.

Fifth-ranked Humboldt (33-6 overall) will now face No. 2 Davenport Assumption (27-7) for its first state volleyball title back here on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. The Knights eliminated Carroll Kuemper in four sets to advance.

Adelynn Goodell had 21 kills, Mia Schluter added 11 and Addie Waldorf recorded 42 assists with 15 digs for Humboldt, who went undefeated in winning the North Central Conference title earlier this year.

Like they did in the opening set of the quarterfinals vs. Cherokee, the Wildcats were at their best in important situations and sets. They pounded out 10 kills to just three errors, limiting the Wolfpack (38-9) to only six kills during the fifth and decisive set.

Morgan Kooiman had 20 kills, Bentley Bliek and Scarlett Winterfeld each added 10, and Maggie Van Schepen recorded 40 assists. Western Christian has advanced to the final four 25 consecutiave seasons, making the finals in all but three of those trips now.

“We came in with nothing to lose,” said Waldorf, a sophomore who had the match-winning point. “But we wanted it so, so bad.”

Down 2-1 after three sets, the Wildcats rallied, winning the fourth, 25-19. They had 12 kills against just four errors in the fourth.

Kendall Works contributed seven kills, Alivia Goodell had six and Jazzie Dodd five. Claire Dieleman had a team-high 19 digs, Dodd and Schluter each had 12, and Gracie Johnson recorded 11.

Humboldt finished with nine aces, including three from Schluter and two each by Dieleman and Adelynn Goodell.

“I don’t know how much more of this my heart can take,” Humboldt head coach Kara Waldorf said. “It will be interesting to see how we come back. We’ll take care of ourselves and get ready; these kids are so dialed in.”

Most of Western Christian’s success over the years came in 2A, as the Wolfpack moved up to the 3A ranks in 2023 and promptly won a state title. They made the finals last season, falling to Mount Vernon, who they knocked out in the quarters this year.

“Give all the credit to Humboldt,” Western Christian head coach Tammi Veerbeek said. “I was hopeful that their youth would eventually show up, but it didn’t.”

Last year, the Wolfpack knocked off the Wildcats in Hull in a regional final.

Humboldt has captured three girls state team titles previously, with all three coming in golf.

Davenport Assumption, who has a previous state volleyball title on its resume, has qualified for the elite eight 11 times since 2012. They lost the first set to Carroll Kuemper before taking the next three.

Ellah Derrer had 19 kills, Belle Cotton 11 and Karsyn Kelley 39 assists with 11 digs to lead the Knights, who tied with 2024 5A state champion Pleasant Valley and fellow finalist (4A) North Scott for the Mississippi Athletic Conference title.