Volleyball

Jackson junior Nadia Wasilewski committed to play Division I volleyball at Wichita State University. Wasilewski said her official visit to the campus sold her on the program. “The girls just work so hard,” Wasilewski said. “That’s what I was looking for in a program. I want to be a part of a program where they are hardcore. There was no question in my mind that Wichita State is where I wanted to go.”...

PORTAGEVILLE – There are some commonalities that you will notice when you look at the coaching staffs at Portageville High School. All six of the coaches are natives of the Bootheel of this state. All six of them have enjoyed success in their careers, and with the exception of first-year softball coach Kelsey Snider, have won a lot of games for the Bulldogs.

PORTAGEVILLE – Early in his tenure as the Portageville High School football coach, Ian Penrod noticed that the school “sort of had some fragmented kids,” which if you’re coaching at Jackson High School, and have over 1,300 students, perhaps that is fine. But if you are at Portageville, every coach, in every sport, needs the best of the 173 potential student-athletes that walk the halls of the school.

PORTAGEVILLE – Whatever your involvement in athletics has been throughout your life, be it a coach, an athlete, or simply a fan, it has become evident that success – or lack thereof – is often a roller coaster. When teams are struggling, it can seem like there is no end in sight, but when things are rolling, and in the case of Portageville High School athletics, the Bulldogs are rolling with ferocity of late, it can appear to be on cruise control.

FRUITLAND, Mo - Saxony Lutheran senior volleyball player Emma Hinze signed her letter of intent to play college volleyball at SUNY, Cobleskill in Cobleskill, New York Tuesday afternoon at Saxony Lutheran High School. Hinze said she has been waiting for this day to come for a long time...

The East Prairie volleyball team had its best season in program history, and four Lady Eagles were named to the MSHSAA All-Class 2 District 1 team Chayse Kavan, Katie Brewer, Lydia Valencia and Tori Stinnett. Kavan and Brewer earned first-team honors, while Valencia and Stinnett were named to the second team...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — After repeating as the Bootheel Conference and MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 Champions, the Portageville volleyball had several players receive postseason accolades. Senior Amiyah Saxton earned the award for Bootheel Conference Player of the Year for the second year in a row, while also garnering first-team all-district...

FESTUS, Mo. — Saxony Lutheran’s hopes of advancing to the state semifinals were crushed at the hands of the Jefferson Blue Jays in the Class 2 state quarterfinals in a five-set thriller Saturday at Jefferson High School. The game went down to the wire, even requiring a few extra points in the final set, before the Crusaders ultimately fell 25-23, 23-25, 17-25, 25-22, 15-17...

WILDWOOD, Mo. — The Jackson Indians' record-setting season came to an end in three-sets by Lafayette in a Class 5 state quarterfinal matchup on Saturday afternoon at Lafayette High School. The Indians fell 25-15, 25-18, 25-17 to the Class 5 District 2 champions...

Admittedly, when a team finishes with an 8-23-1 record, there are usually more things for a team to worry about than to revel in. For the Poplar Bluff volleyball team in 2022, head coach Aimie Parkin acknowledges this but also reminds fans and followers that there were also plenty of shining moments that could give the program something to build off of a year from now...

JACKSON, Mo. — Josey Wahlers earned kill 500 of her high school volleyball career in Saxony Lutheran’s straight-set win over Portageville in a MSHSAA Class 2 Sectional on Thursday, Oct. 27. The Maryville University commit finished the game with 13 kills and now had 506 total kills in just the past two seasons...

JACKSON, Mo. — Saxony Lutheran used an array of heavy hitters and a great all-around team effort to defeat Portageville in an MSHSAA Class Sectional at Saxony Lutheran High School on Thursday, Oct. 27. The Lady Crusaders (26-8-3) had nine different players record a kill and won in straight sets over the Lady Bulldogs (21-11-1) with scores of 25-11, 25-8 and 25-16...

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. — The Notre Dame Bulldogs’ season came to an end with a five-set loss to Ste. Genevieve on Thursday at Ste. Genevieve High School. The Bulldogs held a 2-1 lead entering the fourth set, but ultimately fell 15-25, 27-25, 25-20, 20-25, 12-15 to the Dragons...

PERRYVILLE — Once again, the Advance Hornets have advanced to the Class 1 state quarterfinals. The Hornets swept Class 1 District 1 champion St. Vincent 25-20, 25-14, 25-15 on Thursday at St. Vincent High School to reach their fifth-straight quarterfinal...

CLARKTON – The Clarkton Reindeer hosted Holcomb Thursday night for the Class 1 State Sectional 1. After both teams claimed their own district championship titles, Clarkton powered past Holcomb in straight sets to advance to the quarterfinals. Clarkton, the Class 1 District 2 champion after defeating Richland, Bernie and finally Gideon, now sits at a 31-6 season record. ...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — The Portageville volleyball team overpowered East Prairie with its striking and was close to perfect everywhere else during the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 Championship at PHS on Tuesday, Oct. 25. The Lady Bulldogs (21-10-1) captured their second consecutive title with a straight-set win over the Lady Eagles (18-12-1). It was the first time since Portageville has won back-to-back crowns since 2014 when current coach Sasha Kellams was still a player...

FRUITLAND, Mo. — For the third straight year, the Saxony Lutheran Crusaders can call themselves district champions. The Crusaders swept Scott City 25‑20, 25‑14, 25‑21 to win the Class 2 District 2 championship on Tuesday at Saxony Lutheran High School...

ST. LOUIS — The Jackson Indians won their fourth-straight Class 5 District 1 championship with a 3-0 win over Northwest (Cedar Hill) on Tuesday night at Oakville High School. Jackson coach Dave Mirly credited the dedication of his team. “To win a tough district four years in a row means you have a bunch of great young ladies who are dedicated and committed,” Mirly said. ...

CRYSTAL CITY, Mo. — St. Vincent walked into the Crystal City High School gym as underdogs Tuesday and left as district champions. St. Vincent rallied from a two-set deficit to upset top-seeded Meadow Heights 12-25, 17-25, 25-17, 25-21, 15-12 and win its second straight Class 1 District 4 championship...

BELL CITY, Mo. — In a back-and-forth match that featured two evenly matched teams, it was the Advance Hornets who came away with the Class 1, District 3 championship, defeating Bell City 28-26, 25-20, 25-18 in Bell City Tuesday night. “That’s the way a district championship should be, is two really good teams just battling it out,” said Advance coach Erin Hoffman. “And Bell City is a very talented team.”...

No. 1 seed Notre Dame outlasted No. 2 Fredericktown Tuesday in the Class 2 District 1 championship, changing the game's momentum in the final stretch to advance to sectionals with a five set victory. “Honestly, people got their money's worth,” Notre Dame head coach Meridith Brinkmeyer said. ...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Despite not playing its best, the Portageville volleyball team advanced the MSHSAA Class 2 District Championship by orchestrating its way to a 3-1 win over Senath-Hornersville at PHS on Monday, Oct. 24. It was the third time the top-seeded Lady Bulldogs (20-10-1) have defeated the fourth-seeded Lady Lions (11-18-1) this season, winning this time with set scores of 25-16, 25-18, 22-25 and 25-23...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — The East Prairie volleyball team will compete for a district championship for the first school history after a 3-1 win over Malden in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 Semifinals at Portageville High School on Monday, Oct. 24. The second-seeded Lady Eagles defeated the third-seeded Green Wave (12-17-3) with set scores of 25-18, 23-25, 25-22 and 25-23...

BELL CITY — The Bell City Cubs clinched their spot in the Class 1 District 3 championship game with a 3-1 win over the Leopold on Monday night at Bell City High School. All three of the Cubs’ match wins came by the score of 25-19, but all featured slow starts...

CRYSTAL CITY, Mo. — Meadow Heights is headed to its third straight district championship, and hopes to avoid a repeat of last year's result. The Panthers — who fell to Advance in the Class 1 District 3 championship in 2021 — beat Oak Ridge in straight sets, taking down the Blue Jays 25‑20, 25‑19, 25‑22 in a Class 1 District 4 semifinal Monday at Crystal City High School...

ST. LOUIS — For the fourth straight year, Jackson is headed to the Class 5 District 1 championship. Despite a tight first set, the Indians were able to settle in and roll to a 26‑24, 25‑17, 25‑17 win over Lutheran South in the C5D1 semifinals Monday at Oakville High School...

No. 2 seed Fredericktown fought to secure a straight set win over No. 3 seed Dexter Monday at Kennett High School to advance to the Class 3 District 1 championship. “It was a big night for us,” Fredericktown head coach Billie McFadden said. “It feels really good, especially to go in three. It was a long drive down and a long drive back, but being able to do it in three is really motivational for us.”...

KENNETT – The four-year tenure of Megan Myers as the New Madrid County Central volleyball coach has been pretty consistent but has ridden a slight rollercoaster.

CLARKTON, Mo. — They say it's hard to beat a good team three times. That was the case on Monday night as second seeded Clarkton upended top seeded Gideon in four sets 25-22, 25-15, 25-17, 25-22 to win the Class 1, District 2 Tournament. “These girls have been in the weight room since November. They set a goal last year to be district champs and to see all of their hard work pay off. That's all on them I couldn't be more proud,” said Clarkton coach Amy Cowart...

No. 1 seed Notre Dame ended No. 4 seed Kennett's post season run in three sets with unrelenting offense Monday to advance to the district championship. Having defeated the Lady Indians exactly one week prior, the Bulldogs took a straight set victory by force to win 25-16, 25-16, 25-10...

FRUITLAND, Mo. — For the first time in 11 years, Scott City will play for a district volleyball championship. The Rams were able to sweep Woodland 25-15, 25-20, 25-16 in the Class 2 District 2 semifinals on Saturday at Saxony Lutheran High School. "My team played some of their best volleyball they've played yet," Scott City coach Cindy Henry said. "They came out focused and ready to take care of things."...

FRUITLAND, Mo. — Saxony Lutheran dispatched Greenville in straight sets in search of its third-straight Class 2 District 2 championship. The Crusaders defeated the Bears 25-10, 25-8, 25-12 on Saturday at Saxony Lutheran High School to advance to Tuesday's district championship game...

CLARKTON- For the second time in as many years Clarkton is returning to the Class 1, District 2 finals. The Reindeer defeated the Bernie Mules in the semifinals Saturday, the same team they defeated in the semifinals a year ago. Clarkton won the match in three sets 25-16, 25-19, 25-13...

Jackson (29-4-4) opened the Class 5 District 1 tournament with a three-set win over Mehlville (2-19) in set wins of 25-22, 25-22, 25-17. “Mehlville played a great game against us and made us work really hard,” Jackson coach David Mirly said. “We had many chances to lose tonight and every time we needed a point we found a way to get one. We survived and advanced. That’s the main thing in postseason play.”...

KENNETT – After the opening set of the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 volleyball match between No. 3 seed Dexter and No. 6 seed Doniphan on Thursday at Kennett High School, there wasn’t a soul in the gym who didn’t believe with certainty how the match was going to play out.

FRUITLAND, Mo. — Woodland dominated Charleston in the Class 2 District 2 quarterfinals on Thursday night at Saxony Lutheran High School. The Cardinals won 25-13, 25-6, 25-17 to advance to the semifinals to take on second-seeded Scott City. “I felt like the girls really acted like they enjoyed the sport tonight,” Woodland coach Emily Johnson said. “I thought we passed the free balls really well and overall we serve-received very well too.”...

FRUITLAND — Greenville took control of the match early and never looked back en route to a 3-0, 25-20, 25-22, 25-14 win over Clearwater in the Class 2 District 2 quarterfinals on Thursday night at Saxony Lutheran High School. “I thought they did everything I asked them to do yesterday in practice,” Greenville coach Alex Hahn said. “They followed it to a T, so, as a coach, I definitely have no complaints there.”...

KENNETT – It’s misleading to state that the Kennett High School volleyball squad is a young group, after all, the Indians do have eight seniors on their 2022 roster. However, several freshmen are getting an opportunity to compete at the varsity level, which bodes well for the future, and was a positive in Thursday’s MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 win over New Madrid County Central.

It’s that time of year for the Ellington Lady Whippets volleyball team and it can be scary and exciting all at once. The Class 1 District 6 volleyball tournament is set to be played at Ellington beginning Friday, as the host and No. 4 seed Lady Whippets (11-14-2) will tip-off against No. 5 Bismarck in one of three win-or-go-home scenarios...

What do the Poplar Bluff Mules volleyball players have to lose today when the playoffs start? Absolutely nothing, so they will go into Friday’s Class 5 District 1 quarterfinal against No.3 Seckman (19-15-2) at Oakville with a breath of fresh air, a chance at renewed purpose, and an 0-0 record in the postseason...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — The Charleston volleyball celebrated senior night and proved to be superior in a straight-set win over Cooter on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at CHS. The Lady Bluejays (8-20-1) recognized seniors Khilra Bogan, Jimmy Hudson, Danisha Jackson, Claire Nichols, Akydra Rivers and their families before the team’s final home game of the season...

PUXICO – It remains to be seen as to just how far the Puxico High School volleyball squad will advance in the very challenging MSHSAA Class 1 District 3 Tournament at Bell City over the next week. However, what won’t be up for debate will be just how hard the Indian players compete, and sixth-year coach Hannah Douglas has A LOT to do with that moxie.

PUXICO – Late in this 2022 volleyball season, veteran Dexter High School coach Starla Pulley felt pretty good about her squad and how it was performing as it headed into the final weeks of its season.

PUXICO – There have been moments throughout this volleyball season in which the Bloomfield High School squad could feel a sense of positivity, though those haven’t occurred in abundance.

Notre Dame defeated Dexter 25-14, 25-14, 25-18 on Wednesday at Notre Dame Regional High School. The Bulldogs' offense was led by senior Kristin Anderson with 15 kills along with freshman Claudia Jones who had 21 assists. On the defensive side of the ball, senior Anna Garner added 23 digs while freshman Kate Rubel and sophomore Courtney Tatum each had two blocks...

To say Dexter and Doniphan volleyball has a good understanding of each other would be a massive understatement. The two programs have knocked heads twice this year as Dexter has swept its way to two wins (25-17, 25-9) at the Dig for Life tournament and (25-13, 25-13, 25-14) in a regular season tilt...

It is a nice way to get the postseason volleyball tournaments started with a good-ole fashioned rematch — especially one that could offer some drama. Clearwater, who defeated Greenville in four competitive sets only recently, will get a chance to ward off the Lady Bears when the two square off in a 4-5 match at Saxony Lutheran 5 p.m. Thursday in Class 2 District 2 action...

CLARKTON — Sikeston’s five-game winning streak came to a close Tuesday Night when the Bulldogs fell to (24-6) Clarkton in four sets winning the first set 25-22 then dropping the next three sets 25-21, 25-10, 26-24. Sikeston came out of the gates running as they jumped out to a 13-7 lead but let Clarkton back in as they got as close as 23-22 when Montanna Pearson rose up with a kill to put the Reindeer within one point...

Woodland (7-17-1) won a three-set matchup with Richland (1-24) in its final match of the regular season, winning sets 25-13, 25-14, 25-8. Senior Caroline Rhodes’ 20 kills and junior Rhodie Long’s 26 assists led Woodland on offense, while senior Hailey Brotherton led with 12 kills on defense...

DONIPHAN — What an ideal way to go into the postseason. Both Doniphan and Ellington will head into district tournament play on the heels of a nip-and-tuck five-set thriller at the home of the Donettes, as the hosts held on for a 20-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 15-7 win...