Volleyball

DONIPHAN — The wait is finally over as the high school sports season started around Missouri on Monday with the first day of fall practices. Doniphan student-athletes were at school bright and early as football, volleyball and softball all had their first official reps of the season...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — For the third consecutive year, Portageville claimed the Best Fans Awards at the 2022 Semoball Awards on Friday, July 8, at LaCroix Church in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Nearly 40,000 total votes were cast from May 2 to May 31, with all schools in the Semoball coverage area eligible. Each week, the list was narrowed down based on votes until the final five schools remained. The five finalists were Bernie, East Prairie, Poplar Bluff, Portageville, and Sikeston...

SIKESTON — The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs are in the process of hosting an All-American Volleyball Camp that began on Thursday, June 30 and will conclude on Saturday, July 2. It’s the first year the program has hosted the three-day All-America Camp for the high school team at the Sikeston Field House...

DEXTER, Mo. — A Rib City Classic Volleyball Tournament was held at the Bearcats Event Center at Dexter High School on Monday, June 27 and Tuesday, June 28. Tournament games were the best of three sets. Games started with a 4-4 score and concluded when one of the teams reaches 25 and led by two points. There was no scoring cap on any of the games...

If you really want to know the origins of Joe Baldwin passing judgment on pitchers’ accuracy throughout Southeast Missouri, you’d have to go all the way back to the dusty dirt fields of the Marston Little League in the early 1960s.

The Show Me Center will play host to the MSHSAA State Volleyball Championships in 2023-24 and 2024-25 according to a Missouri State High School Activities Association news release on Wednesday. The MSHSAA Board of Directors decided to put aside proposals to host the state volleyball tournament in 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 to allow staff members to visit the St. Joseph Civic Arena for consideration...

SIKESTON — New Madrid County Central standout Isis Ducker signed a national letter of intent to continue her athletic and academic career at Southwestern Illinois College. Ducker was the Lady Eagles’ Offensive Player of the Year, while also earning second-team All-Semo Conference honors...

Cape Central's Malayna McAllister recently signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Missouri. McAllister believed MAC was the best choice based on her needs. “When I was searching for a college that would suit me and my needs, I found Mineral Area was just that school,” McAllister said after visiting the campus. ...

Perryville volleyball standout Elli Martin recently signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at St. Louis Community College for Archers' head coach Geoff Davis. “When I reached out to Coach Davis at St. Louis CC, I instantly felt welcomed,” Martin said. “When I practiced at an open gym with their returning team, the atmosphere in the gym just felt incredible and the girls were communicating and motivating each other. I knew that is where I wanted to be.”...

Oak Ridge student-athletes Alex Seyer and Reagan Froemsdorf have decided to continue their volleyball careers at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis. Both Seyer and Froemsdorf have always had a deep love for playing volleyball, even though Oak Ridge does not have a boys volleyball team. Both athletes have played club volleyball for multiple years...

Leopold volleyball standout Paige Davis recently signed a letter of intent to continue her volleyball career at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri. Davis, an Academic All-State selection the last three years, felt at home during her visit to JeffCo...

Saxony Lutheran senior Kaden Meyer has been playing volleyball since the fifth grade. Now, he’s finishing up the Crusaders’ and his first season of varsity boys volleyball. Not only is Meyer one of Saxony’s best players, the Crusaders wouldn’t have a team if not for the Missouri Baptist commit...

FRUITLAND, Mo. — Behind a double-double from senior Brock Hulshof, Notre Dame swept Saxony Lutheran on the Crusaders' senior night. Hulshof recorded 20 assists and 10 digs to lead the Bulldogs (8-8) to a 25-13. 25-16, 25-17 victory on Tuesday night at Saxony Lutheran High School...

SIKESTON — There will be a shift within the administration at Portageville High School for the 2022-2023 school year, however, there shouldn’t be much of an adjustment period as everyone is a familiar face. The district recently announced Jason Irby will step down as the Bulldogs’ boys basketball coach and into the role of assistant principal at the high school, while baseball coach Tyler Trover will be the school’s new athletic director...

Oak Ridge senior volleyball standout Paige Glueck recently signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at Missouri Baptist University in Creve Coeur, Mo. Glueck, a three-year team captain for the Blue Jays, has made the All-District and Academic All-State team all four years and received Mississippi Valley Conference and Woodland Invitational Tournament All-Tournament honors the past three...

Rachel Margrabe, a talented multi-sport athlete at Eagle Ridge Christian Academy, recently signed to play volleyball and further her education at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo. A highly decorated four-sport athlete at Eagle Ridge, Margrabe has a laundry list of awards and records to her name in basketball, soccer and track and field, but none are as profound as her volleyball accolades...

Notre Dame volleyball standout Rylee McClintock recently signed a letter of intent to play volleyball for new Ohio Valley Conference member Arkansas-Little Rock. McClintock, a four-year starter at Notre Dame, had made her mind up several months before the announcement...

The Notre Dame boys volleyball team defeated Saxony Lutheran Tuesday evening in straight sets, 25-17, 25-19, 26-24 at Notre Dame Regional High School. Brock Hulshof had 21 kills to go with 24 assists and Grant Pobst had six kills and 21 digs. Blake Scherer added 13 digs defensively for the Bulldogs in the victory...

The 2022 Semoball Awards, presented by SoutheastHEALTH, returns to its roots as the awards show goes back to a gala-style format following two years of alternative plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's event will take place on Friday, July 8, at LaCroix Church (3102 Lexington Ave.) in Cape Girardeau, Mo...

The Bernie High School softball squad opened its 2022 season on Friday with a commanding rout of Charleston. The victory shouldn’t be surprising to anyone that has followed the Mules through the years. And that isn’t limited to softball.

Woodland athlete Chloe Goodwin recently signed a National Letter of Intent to further her education and take her volleyball talents to Rend Lake College in Ina, Ill., in the fall. Goodwin, a senior with the Cardinals, helped Woodland finish the 2021 season with a 26-5 record. Chloe finished her high school volleyball career with 637 kills, 744 digs and 133 aces, earning first-team All-District and All-Conference honors...

Woodland's Addie Johnson capped off a historic volleyball career in 2021. The senior outside hitter was named to her third-straight Class 2 All-State team, producing nearly half of her career kills, a third of her career digs and a third of her career service aces in 2021 alone...

Two more Jackson athletes signed national letters of intent to continue their athletic careers. Senior volleyball player Mia Trankler and golfer Ella Overstreet both officially committed to their respective schools on Monday. Trankler signed with John A. Logan College, a school her coach Dave Mirly pointed her to early in her volleyball career...

Five high school athletes from Cape Central, Jackson and Notre Dame signed national letters of intent on Wednesday to play their respective sports at the next level. Notre Dame's Lexi Rubel — who averaged 16.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game last season — made her commitment to Tennessee Martin official, signing her letter of intent to play basketball for the Skyhawks...

With the last serve of the 2021 MSHSAA Volleyball State Finals having been boomed over the net over the weekend at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, the 2022 volleyball season has unofficially begun, as teams look forward to the future.

As the five starting seniors for Gideon High School volleyball walked off the court on Saturday at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau following the Bulldogs’ loss to Miller in the MSHSAA Class 1 State Final, it marked the end of an era in Bootheel volleyball for one of the most prestigious programs, not just in the area, but in the entire state. However, that moment also marked the start of an opportunity for the remainder of the programs throughout the region, and no program is in a better position to seize that moment than Clarkton.

CAPE GIRARDEAU – Those words were spoken by Gideon High School volleyball senior Hope Raymond on Saturday just moments following the Bulldogs’ three-set loss to Miller in the MSHSAA Class 1 State Final at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

Eight Jackson volleyball players earned Class 5 District 1 all-district honors. Senior Mia Trankler, junior Kamryn Link and freshman Katy St. John were each named to the all-district first team. Sophomore Holland Guilliams was the lone Indian named to the second team. Senior Alexa DeLuca and sophomores Ella Domian, Christa Vandeven and Nadia Wasilewski all received honorable mentions...

Several local volleyball players received SEMO Conference honors, including Cape Central senior Ella Vogel and Kennett senior Macy New who were named North and South Division players of the year. Vogel — who was also named the North division's hitter of the year — and senior Ava Nelson made the all-conference first team for the Tigers...

CAPE GIRARDEAU – The most successful Gideon High School volleyball season in 17 years came to a close on Saturday, as Miller was too big – literally – and too good for the Bulldogs to overcome in the MSHSAA Class 1 State Final at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

CAPE GIRARDEAU – Gideon High School volleyball coach Kristen Ashabranner has coached her daughter, Bulldog junior Kaylee Ashabranner, since she first picked up a volleyball, including the past three at the high school level. However, the elder Ashabranner made it perfectly clear, as her team competed this weekend at the MSHSAA Class 1 State Finals, that her affection spreads to all the players that wear black and yellow.

CAPE GIRARDEAU – When a volleyball program has won 32 of its 34 matches in a season, 63 of its last 68, and its senior class has won 87 percent (118-17) of its matches during its four-year career, one can assume that such a team often wins on talent alone and just showing up.

CAPE GIRARDEAU – No matter the sport and no matter the level of competition, when an athlete fills a key role on a team AND their parent is the coach, eyes can roll. However, watch the Gideon High School volleyball team play and it becomes obvious to everyone that Bulldog junior hitter Kaylee Ashabranner is on the court because of her ability, not her last name.

College Soccer SIUE 3, SEMO 0 College Volleyball SEMO 3, Murray State 1 High school football Jackson 59, Mehlville 7 Seckman 35, Poplar Bluff 34 Kennett 45, Dexter 9 New Madrid County Central 44, Kelly 3 Scott City 49, St. Vincent 14 Hayti 52, Caruthersville 13...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Gideon High School volleyball team held its final practice session on Thursday at the Southeast Missouri State Student Recreation Center before competing in the MSHSAA Class 1 State Finals on Friday. The Bulldogs (31-1-1) will face South Iron (26-8-1) at 6 p.m. Friday at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau in one semifinal, while Miller (32-3-1) and Santa Fe (25-0) play in the other semifinal...

A figurative circus has come to the town of Gideon this week and Bulldog volleyball coach Kristen Ashabranner has done her best to serve as the ringmaster and keep every one of her athletes focused on what they need to be zeroing in on.

The Woodland Cardinals have five players named to the Class 2 District 3 all-district volleyball team. Addie Johnson, Ally Whitener and Chloe Goodwin all earned first-team honors for the Cardinals, and Hailey Brotherton and Riley Massa received second-team honors...

It defies logic as to just how tiny Gideon High School has become an MSHSAA volleyball power. Yet it has.

GIDEON — The last time the Gideon volleyball team advanced to the final four current coach Kristen Ashabranner was pregnant with her daughter, Kaylee. The coach fondly remembers 2004 when the Bulldogs finished second to Lockwood in the state tournament...

Only a handful of Gideon High School volleyball players were even alive when the Bulldogs made their last trek to the MSHSAA Final Four in 2004. The team has the opportunity to make that historic journey once again today, as Gideon hosts three-time defending state champion Advance in the Class 1 Quarterfinal at 3 p.m., and the Bulldog fans have “Faith” and “Hope” that their favorite team can end the Hornets’ reign of supremacy.

PIEDMONT - There are 10 volleyball district championship banners hanging in the Clearwater gym. The Tigers are about to add their first since 2002. Clearwater lost to Jefferson 25-17, 25-17, 25-9 in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 quarterfinals Saturday, marking the end of the program's most successful postseason in nearly 20 years...

PERRYVILLE — On the rare occasion Perryville pitcher Alyson Stortz is getting shelled, she can expect a trot to the circle from her catcher. Encouragement typically follows, but so do words of constructive criticism. Kylee Stortz — Alyson’s sophomore sister and fellow All-District talent — has a candid approach...

JACKSON, Mo. — Jackson looked strong in the first set Thursday night, taking Cor Jesu Academy to the wire before falling 25-23. Then the Chargers flipped a switch. The Indians continued to show signs of life but were ultimately swept by the Chargers 25-23, 25-15, 25-19, ending their season in the sectional round for a third straight year...

PORTAGEVILLE — Clearwater coach Lisa Ayers had her team ready for Portageville’s loud crowd. The Tigers practiced with loud music to simulate what they expected Thursday night in the MSHSAA Class 2 sectional playoff. “We couldn’t hear each other so we were definitely used to it, but it was very surreal in person,” said Clearwater senior Jaylin Street, who added her ears were ringing after the match...

CARDWELL – The Southland High School volleyball program had never advanced out of the MSHSAA Class 1 District Tournament in the lifespan of any of the Rebel players (1998), and it realized quickly in its Sectional match Thursday against Bootheel powerhouse Gideon that success becomes much more difficult with each step of the journey.

For Notre Dame, it was a season-ending blow. For Valle Catholic, it was further evidence that it belongs in a higher weight class. Valle Catholic — a former Class 2 power who moved up to Class 3 this season — downed the Bulldogs 25-22, 16-25, 25-21, 25-18 on Thursday night in a state sectional match at Notre Dame...

College volleyball SEMO 3, Austin Peay 2 High school basketball SEMO Prep 99, West Kentucky C & T 82, preseason High school boy’s soccer Rockwood Summit 3, Jackson 0 Cape Central 4, DeSoto 0 State High school softball Perryville vs. Chillicothe – Postponed to 10 a.m. Saturday...

JACKSON, Mo. — The high school volleyball season can be full of ups and downs, something Saxony Lutheran coach Emily Wahlers and the Crusaders experienced first-hand this season. The hopeful Crusaders played one of the most well-rounded teams in the state in Jefferson out of Festus, Mo., ultimately falling to the Blue Jays in Thursday night’s state sectional match at Saxony Lutheran High School...

The Cape Central volleyball team fought valiantly against Farmington on Tuesday in the Class 4 District 1 championship. But it wasn't enough. Farmington had its work cut out, but the Knights would ultimately sweep Central 25-16, 25-22, 25-18 for the district crown at Cape Central High School...

CLARKTON – The Clarkton and Gideon High School volleyball programs sit less than three miles apart and have won a combined 206 matches over the past four seasons. So, one would think that the Reindeer and Bulldogs would have some intensity to the matches when they battle each other. And they do.