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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Muscatine volleyball team’s tournament run ended in the opening round Monday night.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson, winless during the season in Mississippi Valley Conference action and 8-28 overall, upset Muscatine in a Class 4A regional match, 25-23, 7-25, 25-17, 25-21.

The Muskies, who won 21 consecutive matches at one point this fall, saw their season end at 29-7.

“I think we started off playing a little tired,” Muscatine coach Laura Proffitt said. “An hour and 20-minute bus ride didn’t help. We played to the atmosphere at Jefferson, which was very quiet.”

After dropping the opening game, senior Haylie Franklin’s serving sparked the Muskies to a win in Game 2. Franklin finished with a triple-double (20 kills, 15 digs and was 23-for-23 serving with 10 aces).

“She had a wicked serve going on, and they couldn’t do much with it,” Proffitt said.

Jefferson rebounded to take the next two games.

“You could see (Jefferson) pick it up defensively in that third game,” Proffitt noted. “They were playing real phenomenal defense.

“Our major hitters weren’t getting the kills they normally do.”

Proffitt was pleased with how her team played in Game 4, rallying from a 17-11 deficit to close within two.

“They fought hard,” she said. “It wasn’t the result we wanted, but I’m really proud of them.”

Despite its record, five of Jefferson’s eight conference losses came to teams ranked in the top 10. In fact, seven of the top 10 teams in the last 4A poll hail from the MVC.

“They are playing lots of good competition,” Proffitt said. “I’d like to improve our schedule in the future; maybe switch up our tournaments and get in a tournament at Iowa City or Cedar Rapids. Right now in that Cedar Rapids and Iowa City area, there is a lot of good volleyball going on.”

Emily Hasken had 17 kills, while Julie Wunder compiled 41 assists and 12 digs.

The match marked the end for eight Muscatine seniors, including Franklin, Hasken, Wunder and libero Jordan Walgren.

“I really hope the seniors are proud of what they did this year,” Proffitt said. “We had a great team last year and this group had a lot of weight on their shoulders.

“I love those eight girls to death. They are all great people, on and off the court. I’m really proud of this season and the way they played the entire year.”

Jefferson advances to play Iowa City High in a regional semifinal on Thursday night.

Jefferson 25-7-25-25

Muscatine 23-25-17-21

Muscatine statistics

Kills – Haylie Franklin 20; Emily Hasken 17. Assists – Julie Wunder 41. Digs – Franklin 15, Wunder 12, Jordan Walgren 11. Serving – Franklin 23 of 23, 10 aces; Hasken 16 of 16, ace; Wunder 12 of 12, ace; Ashley Hogenson 11 of 11, ace.