PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Carthage High School volleyball team earned a 3-0 non-conference victory at Pittsburg on Thursday night.
The Tigers defeated the Purple Dragons 25-9, 25-13, 25-13.
Senior outside hitters Brielle Cartwright and Abby Holderbaum led the Tigers with eight kills apiece, while sophomore Jaidyn Brunnert contributed 10 assists and six kills.
Senior setter Raven Probert had a team-high 11 assists, while junior defensive specialist Riann Schwartz led Carthage with 12 digs.
The win was Carthage’s third straight, as the Tigers recorded recent wins over Siloam Springs (29-27, 25-16, 23-25, 25-23) and McDonald County (25-16, 25-19, 25-11).
Carthage (3-5) will host Shiloh Christian on Monday night and travel to Cassville on Tuesday.
WEBB CITY, Mo. — The Webb City Cardinals earned a second straight clean sweep.
Webb City senior Kate Brownfield hits at the net on Thursday night. Photo by Israel Perez.
Webb City defeated Rogers Heritage 3-0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-15) on Thursday night in a non-conference clash inside the Cardinal Dome.
Kate Brownfield recorded 13 kills and four digs to lead the Cardinals, while Brenda Lawrence added 12 kills and six digs.
Kirra Long added six kills for the Cardinals, while Jaeli Rutledge had four kills and Aubree Lassiter chipped in three kills.
Kyah Sanborn handed out 35 assists from the setter position, while Sophia Crane had a team-high 10 digs.
The Cardinals also earned a clean sweep over Harrisonville last week.
Webb City (2-1) will compete at the Hillcrest Tournament this weekend.
CARL JUNCTION TOPS AURORA
AURORA, Mo. — For the second time this week, the Carl Junction Bulldogs recorded a 3-0 sweep.
Carl Junction defeated Aurora 25-14, 25-13, 25-17 on Thursday night.
Logan Jones handed out 31 assists and added seven kills for the Bulldogs.
Destiny Buerge compiled 10 kills, seven digs and five aces, while Kylie Scott added nine kills and two aces.
Jocelyn Brown led CJ with 11 digs.
The Bulldogs (2-1) host Rogers on Monday.
THOMAS JEFFERSON FALLS TO NEVC
A few close sets went the other way for the Thomas Jefferson Cavaliers.
Northeast Vernon County defeated Thomas Jefferson 25-18, 11-25, 25-22, 28-26 on Thursday.
The Cavaliers fell to 4-5.
Lannah Grigg led the Cavaliers with eight kills, four digs and three assists, while Alexis Stamps recorded six kills, three digs and two assists and Nico Carlson had 11 assists, five aces, four digs and four kills.
Also for the Cavaliers, Mary Nguyen had seven digs, three kills and three aces, Gabbi Hiebert compiled six digs, four kills and a block and Macie Shifferd had six digs, three kills and three aces.
Thomas Jefferson is at Lockwood on Monday.
SENECA BEATS DIAMOND IN FOUR SETS
For the first time all season, Seneca volleyball earned a win without needing a fourth set after beating Diamond 22-25, 25-13, 25-11 and 25-15.
Seneca improves to a perfect 4-0 on the season.
Brylee Sage had 32 assists, while Parker Long had 19 kills, one block kill and 10 digs. Tatum White had six aces, while Jera Jameson had eight kills and three block kills. Braxton Raulston added seven kills and four aces, while Ella Graham added 15 digs on the defensive end.
Seneca is at Crane on Monday.
Jenna Noel serves for the Webb City Cardinals on Thursday. Photo by Israel Perez.
College Heights volleyball improved to 6-1-1 on the season with a clean sweep of Pierce City on Tuesday.
The Cougars defeated the Eagles 25-13, 27-25 and 25-19.
Addie Lawrence led the way for CHC with 15 kills, while Lauren Ukena had 10 kills, four aces and 12 points in service. Maddy Colin had 25 assists and two blocks. Ava Masena had eight digs and 15 points in service, while Lindsay Griesemer finished with nine digs and nine service points.
The Cougars host Sarcoxie on Thursday.
SENECA RALLIES PAST MOUNT VERNON
SENECA, Mo. — After dropping the first two sets, Seneca rallied back for a third straight five-set win to open the season with a 3-0 start.
Mount Vernon earned 25-18 and 26-64 wins in the first two games before Seneca rallied with 2514 and 25-16 wins before finishing off the winner-take-all fifth set by the score of 15-11.
Seneca was led by Brylee Sage’s 32 assists, while Parker Long had 16 kills, 15 digs and three aces. Braxton Raulston had 18 digs, 11 kills and a block assist. Jera Jameson had six kills, two aces and a block assist, while Tatum White had four aces and Amber Garrison one block kill.
Seneca hosts Diamond on Thursday.
CARL JUNCTION EARNS ROAD WIN
ROGERSVILLE, Mo. — Carl Junction picked up its first win of the 2022 season by beating Rogersville 3-0 on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs beat the Wildcats 27-25, 25-21, 25-18 in the non-conference clash.
Destiny Buerge and Kylie Scott led the way for the Bulldogs. Both players recorded 16 kills and two aces apiece.
Logan Jones handed out 32 assists from the setter position for Carl Junction, while Jocelyn Brown had seven digs.
Aubreigh Fowler and Karissa Chase contributed three blocks apiece.
Carl Junction (1-1) is at Aurora on Thursday.
THOMAS JEFFERSON TOPS EXETER
Thomas Jefferson defeated Exeter 25-12, 23-25, 25-20, 25-15.
The Cavaliers are now 4-4 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Thomas Jefferson’s Lannah Grigg had eight kills to go along with four aces, three assists and two digs.
Macie Shifferd contributed six kills, two aces, one assist and one block, while Nico Carlson compiled eight assists, five kills, three digs and two aces.
Thomas Jefferson’s Leah Studer had seven assists and five aces, while Mary Nguyen chipped in four digs, four kills and an ace.
JOPLIN FALLS TO SPRINGFIELD CENTRAL
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Joplin went on the road and fell 25-18, 25-21 and 25-18 to Springfield Central on Tuesday.
Bailey Owens led Joplin (1-3) with nine kills and a block, while Paisley Parker had seven kills and 10 digs. Kaya Cooper and Abby Hembree each had 10 assists for the Eagles, while Jayla Hunter finished with 14 digs.
Joplin hosts McDonald County on Thursday.
MCAULEY TOPS NEVC
McAuley Catholic defeated Northeast Vernon County 25-18, 25-21, 25-18.
Lilly Black and Kloee Williamson had 10 kills apiece for the Warriors.
CENTERTON, Ark. — In the 2022 debut, Webb City won the opening set before dropping three straight in a non-conference setback at Bentonville West.
The Wolverines overcame the early set loss and defeated the Cardinals 12-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-15.
Brenda Lawrence led the Cardinals with 16 kills and eight digs, while Kate Brownfield compiled 11 digs and nine kills and Aubree Lassiter added 10 kills.
Setter Kyah Sanborn handed out 31 assists to go along with seven digs and five kills.
Libero Sophia Crane had a team-high 13 digs and three aces.
Webb City (0-1) hosts Harrisonville at 5:30 on Thursday night inside the Cardinal Dome.
The Webb City High School volleyball team returns a talented core from last year’s squad that captured a district championship.
The Cardinals feature six varsity veterans, four seniors and two juniors, who have extensive playing experience in the gauntlet that is the Central Ozark Conference slate. And with that, the expectations are set high in Webb City.
“I think one of our biggest strengths is our returning senior class,” Cardinals coach Rhonda Lawrence said. “Most of our seniors have played varsity for three years now and our juniors have played a lot, too. We’ve joined forces so we know each other really well and they love playing together. Their hearts are huge. They want to perform at their best for each other.”
Senior setter Kyah Sanborn leads the team’s 5-1 rotation. Sanborn surpassed 1,000 career assists last season and is the school record holder. As a junior, Sanborn compiled 863 assists, 222 digs, 51 kills, 25 aces and 11 blocks.
“She brings a lot of experience to the floor and is even surprising on the front row for her height,” Lawrence said.
Brenda Lawrence and Kate Brownfield are the team’s top returning hitters. Both are seniors who return with significant varsity experience.
An outside hitter, Lawrence recorded 240 kills, 84 digs, 33 aces and 12 blocks last season.
“She’s worked hard to get on the floor on the back row also, which adds to her intensity,” Coach Lawrence said. “Her game flow has been very effective this summer.”
Brownfield, a middle or outside hitter, compiled 201 digs, 189 kills and 55 aces last season.
“She’s super athletic,” Lawrence said. “She started last year and is one of the smartest players on the floor. Her court vision and multiple options to attack makes her hard to defend.”
Webb City’s Sophia Crane earned all-state honors at the libero position in 2021.
Junior libero Sophia Crane is back after earning all-state recognition last year.
“She keeps the consistency of our offense by passing at a 2+ average and she led us in defensive digs with 390 for the year,” Lawrence noted.
Senior defensive specialist Jenna Noel also returns with plenty of prior varsity experience. Noel recorded 164 digs last season.
“Jenna is always a great utility player whenever needed,” Lawrence said. “Her solid play and mental approach to the game make everyone more comfortable. She’s a trusted player at all times.”
Junior right side/middle hitter Aubree Lassiter also returns with varsity experience after contributing 123 kills, 52 digs and 23 aces last season.
“Aubree brings intensity and tons of positive energy to the floor,” Lawrence said. “She’s intense and celebrates her teammates even more than her own successes. She’s developed even more throughout the club season and makes our offense even more multifaceted and hard to defend.”
Lawrence expects 6-foot-1 freshman middle blocker/right side hitter Jaeli Rutledge to contribute nicely.
“She’s a good, solid player and has continued to get better each week throughout the summer,” Lawrence said. “With her size and height of touch, we’re excited to see her become a force.”
Webb City went 19-13-2 last fall, coming up one win short of the quarterfinal round of the state tournament. After winning a district title, the Cardinals fell to eventual state runner-up Rogersville in the sectional round.
The Cardinals had two seniors last season, Kearston Galardo and Makenzie Storm. Coach Lawrence noted both players will be hard to replace.
“Kearston led us in kills for the majority of our matches, and her tenacity on the court will be missed,” Lawrence said. “Kenzie Storm’s leadership and blocking are definitely something we’re working to adjust. She was a key part of our team’s success even if she didn’t lead in categories besides blocking. She was a huge part of our defense.”
Coach Lawrence, now in her 19th season in charge of Webb City’s volleyball program, said this year’s group is determined to put together a stellar season.
“Since we made it into the postseason last year, we feel we have something to prove,” Lawrence said. “This group is determined to leave their mark on Webb City Volleyball. The girls are super excited because they love to play and playing together is their favorite!”
For the Cardinals, the keys to success are simple.
“We can never be good enough at serve and serve receive,” Lawrence said. “I’d like us to improve on points per rotation and first ball kill percentages. We need to keep pushing each other in practice and never be satisfied. I truly believe our mental toughness has to improve and that’s where our experience on the floor together in those moments has us heading in the right direction. Our young ones just love chiming in and helping whenever they need it. They’re ready too. We’re looking forward to the season.”
Webb City will begin the ’22 season at Bentonville West on Aug. 29. The team’s first home date is Sept. 1 against Harrisonville.
The Thomas Jefferson Cavaliers had no seniors on last year’s volleyball roster.
With that, the Cavaliers enter the 2022 season with a veteran lineup and high expectations.
“We are very excited for the upcoming season,” Cavaliers coach Dave Soetaert told SoMo Sports. “Returning a group with good varsity experience and adding two more athletes with good potential has us working even harder than usual.”
Carlson earned first-team all-Ozark 7 honors last season, while Grigg was an honorable mention all-conference performer.
The Cavaliers have two newcomers who Soetaert expects to contribute nicely — junior middle hitter Gabbi Hiebert and sophomore outside hitter Macie Shifferd.
With an experienced and battle-tested roster, and with the promising additions to the team, Soetaert is confident the Cavaliers have the pieces in place to put together a stellar season.
“I expect to compete with everyone,” he said. “Wins and losses will be settled on the court, but our program is now capable of giving everyone a run for their money. We have varsity game experience that we’ll need to transition into better decisions.”
Soetaert added overall team depth is a strength of the Cavaliers this fall.
“We have good balance at all positions,” he said. “We have 10 girls competing for six spots. That will help to push everyone to be their best every day.”
Soetaert noted the team’s key to success is simple.
“The key for us will be how fast we can gel as a group and how fast we can bring the newcomers up to speed,” he said.
The Cavaliers, who hope to top last year’s 13-15-3 record, open the season at the Verona Invitational on Aug. 27.
The team’s first home game is scheduled for Aug. 29 against Purdy.
WEBB CITY, Mo. — Utilizing a balanced attack at the net to gain the momentum early in each set, Webb City earned a 3-0 victory over Joplin on Tuesday night in a Central Ozark Conference volleyball matchup inside the Cardinal Dome.
Although the Cardinals pulled off the sweep, it was far from easy.
In what could be called an intense rivalry clash, the Cardinals defeated the Eagles 25-22, 25-20, 25-15.
Each set played out similarly, as Webb City gained the lead early, only to see the scrappy Eagles battle back.
In the end, the Cardinals were able to take advantage of their numerous weapons at the net while also making the most of the Eagles’ unforced errors.
“I liked that we stepped up out there, maintained control and remained pretty steady,” Webb City coach Rhonda Lawrence said. “There weren’t a lot of peaks and valleys. We knew even when it got tight that we had control of ourselves. We didn’t get down and just kept going after them. We were trying to push to the holes and really swing hard. I’m proud of them just because of the balance. And they were steady on the mental side of it. I think that’s huge in volleyball.”
Joplin coach Desiree Felker was pleased with her team’s effort, although she noted her squad could have performed better.
“We worked really hard tonight,” Felker said. “When things got hard I think we shot ourselves in the foot quite a few times. Unforced errors…that was kind of the story. In the second set we had 12 hitting errors. It’s hard to win volleyball games that way. I have to give credit to Webb City. They made things happen when they needed to. But I’m proud of my kids. I don’t think we showed what we’re capable of tonight.”
There was another storyline in this one. At this time last year, Felker was an assistant at Webb City.
“Joplin-Webb is always going to be a tough game,” Lawrence said. “And Coach Felker was my assistant the last six years before she went over there. Emotions were high for both sides. My kids played for her and she helped me train them. And she knows their faults and weaknesses, so we knew it was going to be a tough match. But it’s always fun. I felt like we really stepped up and did a good job of maintaining our play.”
With a fourth straight win, Webb City hiked its record to 9-4-1 overall and 1-0 in the COC. Joplin fell to 5-3-2 and 0-1 in conference action.
Webb City’s Kyah Sanborn is pictured setting up a teammate during Tuesday’s matchup with Joplin inside the Cardinal Dome. Webb City won the COC contest 3-0. Photo by Shawn Fower.
NAMES & NUMBERS
Junior outside hitters Brenda Lawrence and Kate Brownfield recorded eight kills apiece to lead the Cardinals’ balanced attack at the net. Seniors Kearston Galardo and Makenzie Storm contributed six kills apiece, while sophomore Aubree Lassiter added four kills.
“Looking at our stats, we were so balanced and that’s what I love about this team,” Coach Lawrence said. “There’s not just one person teams can shut down to take us out of our game. We didn’t have Kearston on the floor in the first set tonight, but we still maintained good, hard swings all in different positions. Jenna Noel is going to step up and be a leader wherever you tell her to go.
“Kearston and Brenda have really hard swings, but they’ve learned to be more strategic with them,” Coach Lawrence added. “Kate Brownfield tools any block that’s in front of her and knows where that hole is with perfect timing. Kenzie’s always going to put down a good ball too. The balance of the attack keeps everybody excited.”
Also for the Cardinals, junior setter Kyah Sanborn handed out 25 assists, while sophomore libero Sophia Crane had a team-high 17 digs.
Crane’s play stood out to Coach Lawrence.
“Sophia Crane…I can’t ask for a better passer,” Lawrence said. “She had 17 digs and that’s a lot for a three-set match. That’s pretty awesome for a sophomore. Her passes were nails.”
Storm added nine digs, while Brownfield had eight, Sanborn chipped in seven and Noel had five.
Senior outside hitter Angelina Schramm led Joplin’s attack at the net with six kills. Abby Edwards added five kills, while Emma Floyd and Allie Lawrence contributed four kills apiece and Bailey Owens had three.
Junior setter Kaya Cooper had 12 assists, while classmate Abby Hembree added seven assists.
Junior defensive specialist Paisley Parker had a team-high 17 digs, while Lawrence had nine digs and Cooper added eight.
The Eagles had 24 attack errors, 10 more than the Cardinals.
MATCH RECAP
Joplin’s Emma Floyd and Angelina Schramm block at the net against Webb City’s Kate Brownfield. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
The first set was tied at nine when Webb City pulled away with a 5-0 surge. Lassiter had two aces during the run.
A kill from Lawrence extended Webb City’s lead to 20-15, but the Eagles showed a lot of fight, pulling within a point at 23-22. But the Cardinals scored two straight to take the opening set.
Webb City led 15-8 in the second set but the visitors were able to tie it up at 17 after an ace from Parker.
However, Webb City responded with five straight points. Joplin stopped the run but two late kills from Lawrence and a Joplin attack error gave the set to the hosts.
Webb City scored the first eight points of the third set to gain all of the momentum. Sanborn served seven straight points during the surge.
As they did all night, the Eagles fought back and pulled within three at 12-9.
The Cardinals re-took control by utilizing their firepower at the net, using an 8-2 spurt to take a 20-11 lead en route to victory.
Felker noted her Eagles can take some positives away from the setback.
“I’m extremely proud of my kids,” Felker said. “They hung in there when things got tough. They didn’t go away. They kept working hard. And that’s not always easy. It just didn’t go our way tonight.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
Webb City is at Ozark on Thursday night, while Joplin travels to Branson on Thursday.
Joplin’s Paisley Parker serves during Tuesday’s match at Webb City. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
The Webb City Cardinals celebrate a point against Joplin on Tuesday inside the Cardinal Dome. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
The Joplin Eagles celebrate a point against Webb City on Tuesday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
Emma Floyd of Joplin hits at the net while Makenzie Storm of Webb City attempts to block. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
The Seneca High School volleyball team defeated Neosho 3-1 (15-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-23) on Tuesday.
Seneca’s Rylee Darnell compiled 26 digs, 11 kills and four aces, while Braxton Raulston had 11 kills and two aces.
Also for the Indians, Parker Long had 23 digs to go with five kills, Ellie Barnes had 19 digs and four kills, while Jera Jameson contributed 17 digs and six kills.
Tatum White added five kills, while Brylee Sage served four aces. Seneca coach Rachel Ayo noted that setters Darnell and Sage combined for 42 assists in the match.
Seneca (1-0) is at Reeds Spring on Thursday. Neosho (0-1) hosts East Newton on Thursday.
After contributing to a sectional championship in 2020, four juniors and a sophomore are expected to lead the way for the College Heights Christian volleyball team this fall.
College Heights coach Mary Colin is confident juniors Lauren Ukena, Addie Lawrence, Lindsay Griesemer and Ava Masena and sophomore Maddy Colin give the Cougars a solid core.
“Lauren, Addie, Lindsay, Ava and Maddy are powerful players who love to play and have fun,” Coach Colin said. “They will all serve aggressively, hit hard, dive for balls, block balls and maintain strong team chemistry. They’ll be fun to watch.”
All five of those players gained valuable experience during the Cougars’ memorable ‘20 season.
College Heights went 24-4 overall and 6-0 in conference play a year ago. It was the third consecutive season the Cougars went undefeated in conference action.
College Heights won district and sectional titles last year. The Cougars have five key performers back from last year’s team. File photo.
College Heights captured district and sectional championships before concluding the season with a loss in the quarterfinal round of the Class 1 state tournament to eventual runner-up Lesterville.
The Cougars lost seven seniors to graduation and will feature no seniors this fall.
Ukena and Lawrence are expected to lead CHC’s attack at the net.
Ukena, a defensive specialist last season, will be an outside hitter this year, while Lawrence returns at right side hitter.
“We are expecting to see offensive points from Lauren and Addie,” said Coach Colin, who is now in her 10th year as CHC’s head coach. “They both bring power and experience. They are also very aggressive from the service line. Lauren will contribute solid defensive play as well.”
Colin noted Griesemer is another outside hitter who possesses power.
Masena will be College Heights’ starting libero.
“She’s a great defensive player, as well as being a great communicator and a team leader,” Colin said.
Maddy Colin will run the team’s 5-1 offense from the setter position.
“She dishes up a nice ball, can be an offensive threat and is aggressive from the service line,” Coach Colin said.
In addition to the five returning performers, junior Marley Woodford, sophomore Katie Moss and freshman Libby Fanning are other players who could make an impact at the varsity level this fall.
“All three are working hard, love to play and are looking for varsity time,” Coach Colin said.
The keys to success for the Cougars are simple, Colin noted.
“Consistency,” she said. “Honestly, that’s the goal for most teams. We aren’t a team full of six footers, but if we continue to gain consistency, our opponents will feel like they’re playing six footers.”
Colin added there’s a lot to like about this year’s squad.
“The team is very well-rounded,” Colin said. “We have state champions in track (Lawrence, Ukena) and a conference player of the year in softball (Maddy Colin). They love this game and they get better everyday. Ultimately, in volleyball, we need to kill the ball, serve some aces and dig and block. These girls can do these skills.”
The Cougars begin the season on Sept. 2 at Lockwood. The team’s first home date is Sept. 13 against Marionville.
For the first time in a decade, the Joplin High School volleyball program has a new head coach.
Desiree Felker has officially taken the reins of the Eagles for the 2021 season.
Felker replaced Staci Saunders, who resigned at the conclusion of the 2020 season after spending the last 10 years in charge at JHS.
“The transition has been great,” Felker said. “I’ve really enjoyed making the transition. The girls have been excellent with the things we’ve asked them to do. They let us set the bar really high and they’re working hard to reach it. So that’s been exciting.”
Felker is no stranger to the area. She’s a Carl Junction graduate, where she was a standout player for the Bulldogs. Felker had a head coaching stint at Seneca and she’s been an assistant coach at both Carl Junction and Webb City.
With her prior coaching experience, Felker is well aware of what a season in the always-tough Central Ozark Conference is like.
“It makes me more comfortable that I know what we’re up against,” said Felker, who was at Webb City last year. “I know the teams we’re going to play and I know the style of volleyball in the COC. Having experience coaching in the COC has helped me prepare for the season and has helped me prepare our players for what we’re going up against.”
Felker has inherited an experienced group of returners from last year’s team that went 15-15-1 and finished as the district runner-up.
“We have a great group of upperclassmen who have done a great job of setting high expectations,” Felker said. “We have six seniors, six juniors and a strong group of sophomores who continually work to raise the bar.”
Seniors Allie Lawrence, Angelina Schramm, Kacy Coss and Emma Floyd all return after earning significant varsity action a year ago.
An outside hitter, Lawrence recorded 142 kills last fall. Schramm, a middle blocker/outside hitter, had 105 kills in ’20. An outside hitter, Coss contributed 76 kills, while middle blocker Floyd compiled 61 kills and 33 blocks.
Other seniors on the roster who are vying for varsity playing time are Logan Bruggeman (MH/OH) and Sydney Walker (DS).
Junior Paisley Parker also returns with plenty of varsity experience, and she’s expected to anchor Joplin’s defense from the libero position.
Other players who could contribute at the varsity level this season are setters Abby Hembree and Kaya Cooper, outside hitters Abby Edwards and Serafina Auberry, middle blocker Bailey Owens and defensive specialist Jayla Hunter. All of those players are juniors except Owens, who is a sophomore.
Playing with consistency and with confidence are keys to success for the Eagles, Felker noted.
“We have to work to get a little bit better everyday,” Felker said. “If we do that, the confidence and the consistency will take care of themselves.”
Felker is assisted by Brandi Shoemaker (varsity assistant), Lindsay DeWelt (JV coach) and Molly Hoover (freshman coach).
The Eagles will compete at Carthage’s jamboree on Aug. 24 and then kick off the regular season with a home date against Rogers-Heritage on Aug. 31.
Until then, the Eagles will continue to prepare for the ’21 season under the direction of their new head coach.
And if you ask Felker, there’s a lot to like about the Eagles.
“Practices are going well,” Felker said. “We’ve had a lot of growth since we’ve started. I love that the girls are willing to do whatever we ask them to do. They’re open-minded. They’re willing to get in the gym and work hard everyday and that makes my job easy. And they hold each other accountable at practice. I’m really excited to get the season going.”
The Thomas Jefferson volleyball team will feature a young group of athletes this fall.
David Soetaert’s Cavaliers have no seniors on this year’s roster.
“We are very young,” Soetaert said. “Only three players can drive themselves to practice.”
Junior outside hitter Nico Carlson, junior libero Yasmina Mokhtar, sophomore outside hitter Alexis Stamps and sophomore setter Mary Nguyen are the team’s top returning players in 2021.
Soetaert listed junior Tannah Grigg (MH), sophomores Sydney Holm (MH) and Nayab Rehman (DS) and freshmen Mayson Solum (S), Lannah Grigg (MH) and Maggie Sutton (DS) as newcomers who could contribute at the varsity level.
Soetaert noted teamwork, communication and patience are going to be the keys to success this fall.
The Cavaliers went 12-14 overall in 2020, finishing as a district runner-up. The program lost five seniors to graduation.
Thomas Jefferson will compete at the Jasper jamboree on Aug. 26. The Cavaliers begin the regular season on Aug. 28 at the Verona Invitational.
The Webb City High School volleyball team returns five key performers from last year’s squad that went 24-8-1 and was the district runner-up.
Webb City coach Rhonda Lawrence noted there’s a lot to like about this year’s team.
“Our girls love to compete,” Lawrence said. “They’re definitely going to make teams work for it. I feel like we’re going to be more balanced this year. They’re going to be fun to watch because they’re scrappy. And I think it will be fun to watch people underestimate us.”
Seniors Makenzie Storm and Kearston Galardo and juniors Brenda Lawrence, Kyah Sanborn and Kate Brownfield all return with prior varsity experience.
Makenzie Storm will once again be a key performer for the Webb City volleyball team.
And those five players are expected to lead the way in 2021.
A middle blocker/middle hitter, Storm recorded 168 kills and 70 blocks last year. Coach Lawrence expects more of the same this year.
“Makenzie brings the hardest work ethic in the room and she touches more balls than a lot of people and that helps out our defense tremendously,” Lawrence said. “She’s hard to hit around.”
A pair of outside hitters, Lawrence contributed 157 kills last fall, while Galardo compiled 134 kills to go with 41 aces in ’20.
“Brenda and Galardo both have a heavy arm,” Lawrence said. “They’ve both gained experience and they know how to find the kill. They’ve gotten a little more crafty.”
Sanborn will be the team’s starting setter.
“Kyah played a ton last year,” Lawrence said. “She’s another athletic kid who will do whatever we need her to do for the team. She brings a lot of trust on the floor. Our girls know they’ll get the best ball they can with Kyah. They know she gives it everything she’s got. She makes it look easy at times.”
Brownfield is another option at outside hitter.
“Kate gained experience playing multiple positions last year and she’s an athletic kid,” Lawrence said. “We’re going to rely on her more this year.”
Sophomore Sophia Crane and juniors Jenna Noel and Madison Graves are candidates for the libero/defensive specialist position.
“Sophia has a great platform and is going to be pivotal,” Lawrence said. “Jenna has stepped it up with her defense and passing. Madi is back with the squad after not playing last year. She passes a good ball. Those three girls are pushing each other in practice right now.”
The Cardinals must overcome the loss of a pair of all-state players in Maddy Peeples and Sage Crane.
Peeples was a standout outside hitter who led the team in kills, while Sage Crane was a defensive specialist who led the team in digs.
Webb City will compete at Mount Vernon’s jamboree on Aug. 26.
The Cardinals host Bentonville West on Aug. 31 in the season opener.
VERONA, Mo. — A year ago, the College Heights Christian volleyball team suffered a heartbreaking setback in the district championship match.
This year, the Cougars made sure history did not repeat itself.
Top-seeded College Heights Christian earned a 3-0 victory over third-seeded Thomas Jefferson in the championship match of the Class 1 District 8 volleyball tournament on Tuesday night at Verona High School.
With a solid overall performance, the Cougars defeated the Cavaliers 25-16, 25-18, 25-13.
College Heights (23-3) advanced to Saturday’s sectional round of the state tournament with the win. A year ago, the Cougars were upset by Diamond in the district finale.
“That upset last year was so disappointing that I didn’t gear the season towards this match like I did last year,” College Heights coach Mary Colin said as her team celebrated behind her. “Last year, the whole season was geared towards that moment and Diamond played awesome against us. It was such a disappointing loss. This year was much different because you never knew if you were going to get to play tomorrow. This season has been about each day. And now we get another day. I’m proud of them. They’re a great group of kids with great chemistry and they rally together.”
Thomas Jefferson knocked off second-seeded McAuley Catholic 3-1 (25-16, 22-25, 26-24, 25-15) in the semifinals. But the Cavaliers (12-14) were unable to pull off a second upset and the season came to an end.
“I am so incredibly proud of them,” Thomas Jefferson assistant coach Britanie Wacoche said. “They came together as a team and worked extremely hard. This is the best I’ve seen them play. For them to do that in the district championship and in the semifinals is awesome. I’m so proud of them.”
Wacoche, who was leading the Cavs with head coach David Soetaert out sick, said she was pleased with how the team pulled out a hard-fought win over the Warriors (13-17) in the semifinals.
“We weren’t favored to win any of these matches, so to get a win in the semifinals and give them a battle in the championship is a win in itself,” Wacoche said.
College Heights advanced to the title match without taking the court for the semifinals, as fourth-seeded Wheaton forfeited due to COVID-related issues.
“Having the forfeit before, I was a little nervous with us coming in ice cold,” Colin said. “At the same time, they (TJ) had to play a four-set match, so it’s kind of a wash.”
The first set of the championship match was close early, but an ace from Kaynahn Burk gave College Heights a 13-8 advantage.
Moments later, Lainey Lett slammed back-to-back kills from the left side and Sarah Painter served an ace, giving the Cougars a 21-13 lead.
The Cavaliers stayed within striking distance, as Sonia Carlson slammed a kill and Winni Hiebert recorded a block, but CHC’s Catie Secker slammed three late kills to finish off the set.
The intense second set was back and forth most of the way. The score was tied at 18, but College Heights gained the momentum late. College Heights rattled off seven straight points with Secker serving to close out the set.
“We had some unforced errors earlier in the set,” Colin said. “But the momentum off the service line was nice.”
College Heights never relinquished the momentum in the third set, as the Cougars led 11-4 and 20-9 en route to victory.
“I felt they (TJ) returned the ball well and forced us to play offense, which is good and fun,” Colin said. “We were really aggressive. We served well. We played pretty well defensively.”
A senior outside hitter, College Heights’ Secker compiled 21 service points with eight aces to go along with 18 digs and eight kills.
Also for the Cougars, Lett had 15 kills, while Avery Good had 22 digs and Burk added 17 digs. Painter handed out 29 assists, while Layne Jackson had two blocks. Thomas Jefferson’s stats were unavailable.
After her squad posed for pictures with the district championship plaque, Colin noted it was a great night for her program.
“I thought we had a great crowd,” Colin added. “Lots of fans showed up, so that was fun. And this new gym is really nice. It’s big and beautiful and fun to play in. Verona hosted a great tournament.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
College Heights takes on District 6 winner Summersville (10-10-6) on Saturday in the sectional round at Blue Eye, the champion of District 7. The start time was not yet released. On Saturday, the quarterfinal match will follow the sectional contests.
The College Heights Cougars pose with the district championship plaque on Tuesday night in Verona. Photo by Jason Peake.
NEOSHO, Mo. — Carthage earned a straight-set win over Neosho on Tuesday in Central Ozark Conference volleyball action.
The Tigers beat the Wildcats 25-15, 25-19, 25-21.
Sydnee Dudolski led Carthage with 16 kills, while Chloe Black had 28 assists and Olivia Bourgault had 37 digs. Grace Pickering had three blocks and two aces.
Carthage is now 14-8-1 and 3-0 in the COC.
Savannah Merriman did a little bit of everything for the Wildcats, as the senior compiled 11 assists, nine service points, eight kills, six blocks and two aces.
Also for Neosho, Abby Jarvis had seven kills and two aces, while Shelby Roberts had 10 service points and five kills.
Rylee Amato had 15 service points, while Melia Robertson contributed 12 digs. Lexi Laney had 12 assists for the Wildcats (13-10-1, 0-5 COC).
Carthage hosts Willard on Thursday, while Neosho hosts Branson on Thursday.
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The Carl Junction Bulldogs had plenty of extra motivation ahead of Saturday’s prep volleyball showdown with the Webb City Cardinals.
“They got us three times last year,” Bulldogs coach Cheryl Sharples said. “Mentally, that was in our head.”
In fact, the Bulldogs could only watch a year ago when the rival Cardinals celebrated with the CJ Classic’s championship plaque.
The tourney hosts made sure history didn’t repeat itself.
Finishing strong with an inspired effort, Carl Junction earned a 2-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-16) come-from-behind victory over Webb City in the championship match of the annual invitational named in honor of Dr. Jeffrey Knutzen.
It’s the first CJ Classic title for the Bulldogs in three seasons.
“Webb got us in this match last year, so we got a little payback,” Sharples said. “I think we had a really solid day of volleyball. We took care of business in every game. I thought we played a little tight in the first set against Webb City. When we stopped and refocused on the process of the game, we were able to do what we wanted to do.”
Webb City coach Rhonda Lawrence noted the championship match was a hard-fought and well-played affair.
“We’re pretty evenly-matched,” Lawrence said. “The kids know each other well. They’ve played against each other for years. Obviously the rivalry from last year is big, so I’m sure that gives them a good boost. We had opportunities, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out.”
For the tournament, Carl Junction senior standout Salma Lewis slammed 53 kills. A Drury recruit, Lewis recently set Carl Junction’s career kills mark. Junior outside hitter Jessa Hylton added 42 kills, while senior middle hitter Jillian Kennedy had 16 kills. Sophomore setter Logan Jones handed out 91 assists.
“We had several kids that had great days,” Sharples said. “I thought Salma and Jessa both took really great swings. Logan Jones did a great job of getting us 1-on-1 and making our hitters successful. And our middles (Jillian Kennedy and Maggie Brown) were very active and Des (Destiny Buerge) took some good swings on the right side. Our passers put us in system and let us play the game.”
Senior outside hitter Maddy Peeples led Webb City with 51 kills, 39 digs and four aces on the day. Sophomore outside hitter Brenda Lawrence compiled 32 kills, seven aces and four blocks. Also for the Cardinals, Anna Hettinger handed out 67 assists, while Avery Westhoven had 40 assists and 25 digs.
Sophomore outside hitter Kyah Sanborn had 37 digs and seven aces, while senior libero Sage Crane recorded 62 digs. Kearston Galardo had 20 kills, 14 blocks and 10 aces, while Makenzie Storm contributed 22 kills and 11 blocks. Galardo and Storm are both junior middle blockers.
“Maddy carries us in every match and I thought Brenda stepped up and did a lot of good things,” Coach Lawrence said. “Kenzie Storm’s blocking and presence at the net has been huge all season. She just keeps getting better. She’s already had more blocks herself that our leading blocker last year. Sage and Kyah made some huge digs.”
In the first set, the Cardinals led 19-11 after a Peeples kill, but the Bulldogs came charging back, pulling within two at 24-22 after a kill from Lewis. But Peeples recorded a kill on the next play to give the Cardinals the opening set.
The Bulldogs grabbed the momentum from the start of the second set. Carl Junction stormed out to an 11-3 advantage, with Lewis and Hylton leading the attack at the net. The Cardinals trimmed their deficit to four late in the set, but the Bulldogs finished it off with a kill from Hylton.
“We started building momentum towards the end of the first set,” Sharples said. “We minimized some errors, stayed aggressive and passed a little better in the second and third sets.”
The deciding and intense third set was back and forth early, and the score was tied at 12. Carl Junction then rattled off six straight points to take control for good. An ace by Jones and a kill from Hylton helped the Bulldogs seal the deal.
“It was serving,” Sharples said of the difference in the third set. “We served them out of system and kind of got them frustrated. We stayed real aggressive. We wanted to control the net and make them out-swing us at the net.”
“We played a little smarter in the first set,” Lawrence said. “In the second set, we butt-puckered a little bit. We didn’t play like we should have. In the third set, we came out a lot more smart. But they’re a tough team and they do a lot of good things. We made a run of about five unforced errors and you can’t do that against a good team. That was like five points in a row where we killed ourselves. You can’t give away five points.”
In the semifinals, Carl Junction beat Aurora 2-0 (25-10, 25-14) and Webb City topped Joplin 2-1 (23-25, 25-14, 25-15).
Webb City earned wins earlier in the day against Carthage, Aurora, Carl Junction’s junior varsity and Pittsburg.
“We lost one game all day, so that’s a good day and you have to be proud of that,” Lawrence said. “We had a lot of great performances, but you hate to lose the championship. But I want our girls to have a competitive spirit and to not like to get second place.”
The Bulldogs also picked up wins over West Plains, Joplin, Carthage’s junior varsity and Carl Junction’s JV.
And this year, the Bulldogs were the team celebrating with the championship plaque.
“Hopefully this gives us some confidence going forward,” Sharples said. “That’s what we hope. We hope to build momentum and keep it going.”
Notes: West Plains defeated McDonald County in the Silver Bracket championship. Neosho went 6-2 on the day.
Dr. Jeffrey Knutzen CJ Classic
Carl Junction results
Carl Junction 22-25-25, Webb City 25-20-16 (Championship match)
Carl Junction 25-25, Aurora 10-14
Carl Junction 25-25, West Plains 19-21
Carl Junction 25-25, Joplin 18-19
Carl Junction 25-25, Carthage JV 15-10
Carl Junction def. Carl Junction JV (score unavailable)
Webb City results
Carl Junction 22-25-25, Webb City 25-20-16 (Championship match)
Webb City 23-25-25, Joplin 25-14-15
Webb City 25-23-25, Carthage 12-25-20
Webb City 25-25, Aurora 19-16
Webb City 25-25, Carl Junction JV 19-11
Webb City 25-25, Pittsburg 15-12
Carl Junction’s Salma Lewis hits a kill at the net against Webb City. Photo by Peter Edwards.Carl Junction’s Logan Jones and Jillian Kennedy block at the net against Webb City’s Maddy Peeples. Photo by Peter Edwards.The Carl Junction Bulldogs pose after winning the CJ Classic on Saturday. Photo by Peter Edwards.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — In a final tune-up before conference play arrives next week, the Joplin High School volleyball team earned a 3-0 non-conference win over Springfield Central on Thursday night.
The Eagles topped the Bulldogs 25-20, 25-11, 25-16.
Joplin hiked its record to 7-3.
Kacy Coss compiled 16 service points, six kills and two blocks for the Eagles, while Angelina Schramm recorded 17 service points and two blocks.
Aubrey Ritter totaled 12 service points, 10 digs, six kills and two blocks, while Addison Saunders contributed 19 assists and seven kills.
Emma Floyd recorded nine kills and three blocks, while Allie Lawrence contributed eight digs and five kills. Baileigh Riley had 11 assists and seven digs.
The Eagles host Webb City on Tuesday and Branson next Thursday.
SENECA, Mo. — Webb City grabbed the momentum in the opening set and never relinquished it in a quick 3-0 non-conference volleyball victory over Seneca on Tuesday inside the Seneca High School gymnasium.
The Cardinals defeated the shorthanded Indians 25-13, 25-17, 25-13.
Fresh off a Hillcrest Invitational championship, Webb City simply took care of business right from the start.
“We just wanted to stay focused on keeping our level of play up,” Webb City coach Rhonda Lawrence said. “That’s my big challenge in every match we play. We have to be ready for conference play. It’s coming next week.”
After winning the first two sets, the Cardinals rolled in the third set, as aces from Avery Westhoven and Maddy Peeples, along with two kills from Peeples, gave the visitors a comfy 8-1 lead. Webb City led 18-8 en route to victory.
“Once you get the momentum, you have to stay on top,” Lawrence said. “That’s volleyball. We got into a pretty good groove this past weekend too. It’s been encouraging to see the young ones step up. And our older girls are leading like they need to.”
Sophomore outside hitter Brenda Lawrence slammed 10 kills and served three aces, while Peeples had 12 digs and seven kills.
Westhoven had 11 assists, six digs and four aces, while Kyah Sanborn contributed 16 assists. Makenzie Storm and Kearston Galardo recorded five kills apiece. Senior libero Sage Crane had 11 digs and four aces.
Webb City played without starting setter Anna Hettinger, who was recently struck with appendicitis.
Webb City’s Makenzie Storm blocks Seneca’s Jera Jameson during Tuesday’s matchup at Seneca High School. All photos by Derek Livingston.
Seneca coach Rachel Ayo said her team should benefit from playing a talented squad like Webb City.
“We play these good teams to get better,” Ayo said. “We play these good teams to see good hitters and to work on our defense. Playing teams like Webb City will help us with our conference and district play. We are seeing high-caliber teams so we’ll be ready when we play teams in our conference.”
Seneca played without seniors Kendyl Petty, Myla Hembree and Rylee Nesvold. All three are starters.
“A couple of younger girls definitely stepped up tonight and did a good job against a hard team,” Ayo said.
The Indians received 13 assists from junior setter Rylee Darnell and two aces from sophomore outside hitter/defensive specialist Nevaeh Neal.
Seneca’s Jera Jameson hits at the net against Webb City.
Sophomore outside hitter Parker Long compiled 11 digs, five kills and two aces for the Indians, while Jera Jameson added five kills. Ellie Barnes had three blocks.
“Ellie Barnes did a good job at the net tonight,” Ayo said. “She had a lot of touches and three stuff-blocks. That was a good night for her.”
Webb City is at Joplin next Tuesday, while Seneca hosts College Heights on Thursday.
The Cougars improved to 5-0 with a 3-0 (25-11, 25-7, 25-11) win over Jasper on Tuesday night.
Webb City’s Kearston Galardo goes up for a spike during Tuesday’s matchup with Seneca.Webb City’s Brenda Lawrence hits at the net against Seneca.
Seneca’s Ellie Barnes is pictured during Tuesday’s match against Webb City.
Carlson earned first-team all-Ozark 7 honors last season, while Grigg was an honorable mention all-conference performer. 
