Volleyball

Prior to the MSHSAA Class 4 Boy’s Soccer state championship game last November in Springfield, Jackson senior goalkeeper Luke Mirly wasn’t exactly feeling great.

The Semoball Cup is presented to the school with the most successful season based on a formula that takes into account the combined winning percentage of all sports teams (WIN) plus bonus points for advancement in postseason play for both teams (POST) and individuals (IND). The bonus points are divided by the number of teams a school fields. Here are the standings with previous rankings from 2020:...

Spring sports and top award finalists for the 2021 Semoball Awards presented by SoutheastHEALTH will be announced Friday, along with the final wave of tickets going on sale. The announcement of finalists can be heard at 9 a.m. Friday on SEMO ESPN Radio and on the Semoball.com Facebook page. A story recapping all the finalists will publish later Friday online at semoball.com and in your local newspaper...

For a variety of reasons, the athletic programs at Meadow Heights haven’t always been at the top of the area conversation. However, that will likely be changing, as the volleyball and baseball programs have turned the corner under the tutelage of the husband and wife duo of Bailey and Cody Kennedy, who coach those programs, respectively.

SIKESTON — Growing up in Perryville, Missouri, Chelsea Holifield knows what it is like to be part of a “volleyball town.” Now the new head coach of the Bulldogs’ volleyball team wants to turn Sikeston into a “volleyball town” as well. “I’m excited to have a hand in helping build success within our girls’ sports and building a volleyball program that develops well-rounded student leaders and great athletes,” Holifield said. ...

Meadow Heights senior volleyball player Gracie Cook signed to play for Lewis and Clark Community College during a recent ceremony at the school. Shown with Gracie (front, center) are (front, from left) her father, Dave Cook, mother, Amy Cook, (back, from left) Panthers’ coach Bailey Kennedy, and Cook’s grandmother, Marge Besher...

Sierra Sievers has heard plenty of stories about Jefferson College volleyball coach Aida Steiger, so the Poplar Bluff senior was happy to get an offer. “She is amazing and I’m so excited to play for her,” said Sievers, who recently signed her National Letter of Intent to play for Steiger’s Vikings...

The Notre Dame's Boys junior varsity volleyball team won first place in the St. Francis Borgia tournament Wednesday. The Bulldogs defeated Lutheran St. Charles 25-17, 25-18, the Lutheran St. Charles C Team, 25-10, 25-11, and defeated Borgia 25-12, 25-22 to win the championship...

Following a year of missing out on gathering with friends and family due to the COVID pandemic, everyone, including sports fans, is anxious to spend time with those closest to us once again.

Woodland senior Emma Brown signed a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at Greenville University in Illinois.

Jackson volleyball coach Dave Mirly wasted no time – none – in allowing Hannah Shinn to get a taste of varsity volleyball action.

SIKESTON — There are more opportunities for area volleyball players to enhance their skills. The Sikeston Volleyball Club has increased from one team to five, leaving founder and director Samira Taylor more than excited, knowing that athletes are interested in growing the culture around the Sikeston area...

Home Sweet Home That’s exactly what a college visit to Greenville University felt like for Kennett senior Anna Beth Vancil in November. “I loved the atmosphere,” she said. “It was so welcoming. I went on a couple other college visits but I didn’t feel at home like I did there. Plus they have a great volleyball coaching staff and I love their campus.”...

It remains unclear as to what the intentions of the late (and oh, so great) Johnny Cash were in heading to “Jackson,” but one thing is for certain if he would have visited the town of that name in Southeast Missouri he had better have been prepared to see something victorious (and to fight traffic on a Friday night).

Advance High School senior volleyball player Alyssa Miles signed to compete next season at Missouri S&T in Rolla. Miles (seated, center) was joined by family, friends, and Hornet coaches at a ceremony at Advance High School recently. (photo courtesy of Advance Athletics)...

The 2020 SEMO Conference South Division Volleyball Awards have been announced. Kennett senior Anna Beth Vancil is the South Division Player of the Year and Hitter of the Year. Anna Beth Vancil finished with 36 ace serves, 219 kills, 28 blocks, 112 digs, and 180 assists...

The stakes were as high as they could be for area athletes throughout Southeast Missouri last week, as they competed in various MSHSAA postseason competitions.

The 2020 Bootheel Conference Volleyball Awards have been announced. Campbell’s Macy Hendrix and Caruthersville’s Mallory Faulkner have been selected Bootheel Conference Co-Players of the Year. Hendrix collected 206 digs, 296 assists, 221 kills, and 64 ace serves while serving at a 96 percent rate her senior season...

The 2020 Tri-County Conference volleyball awards have been announced. Holcomb senior Bailey Cupples is the 2020 Tri-County Conference Volleyball Player of the Year. Cupples compiled 221 kills, 45 blocks, and 44 aces while serving at 97 percent rate her senior season...

There was no shortage of intense moments on the athletic fields and courts throughout Southeast Missouri last week, as area athletes were immersed in their postseason competition.

ADVANCE - Advance Hornets volleyball coach Erin Hoffman felt her squad needed to display its energetic characteristics if it was going to find a way to outlast the Gideon Bulldogs in a Class 1 state quarterfinal Saturday evening at Advance High School...

WASHINGTON, Mo. — When Dave Mirly left his job as volleyball coach at Perryville High School four years ago to take over in the same capacity at Jackson, he knew he was inheriting a program trending upward.

WASHINGTON, Mo. — When opposing volleyball teams walk into the gymnasium at St. Francis Borgia High School, the west wall can prove to be quite intimidating.

For the Woodland Cardinals, the 2020 volleyball season ended the same way as the 2019 season, with a Class 2 state sectional loss to Valle Catholic in five sets on Saturday at Saxony Lutheran. Woodland coach Melissa Rinacke described the match as a “roller coaster.”...

Saxony Lutheran’s magical season came to an end at home on Saturday in the Class 2 state quarterfinal round after being swept 25-12, 25-22, 25-17 by Valle Catholic. Since 2009, the Crusaders have had only five winning seasons. Their best season during that span was in 2017, when they went 24-11...

The Saxony Lutheran volleyball team’s magical season continued to reach new heights on Saturday. The Crusaders defeated the Malden Green Wave in a three-set sweep to claim their first sectional win in school history. “We made history at Saxony,” Saxony Lutheran head coach Emily Wahlers said. “We won districts for the first time. We won sectionals for the first time. So it’s nothing but up from here.”...

ADVANCE - A veteran Advance volleyball squad isn’t looking past anyone as it continues its quest for a rare third straight state championship. “Our girls have a goal and they are ready for every game,” Advance coach Erin Hoffman said. Advance moved one step closer to another state title as it beat the North Pemiscot Mustangs 25-11, 25-5, 25-5 in the first Class 1 sectional played Saturday at Advance High School...

ADVANCE - Gideon volleyball coach Kristen Ashabranner encouraged her players to let loose during timeouts of a closely contested first set against the Meadow Heights Panthers Saturday afternoon. “I told them they were making me look like a psycho in front of all these people,” Gideon coach Kristen Ashabranner said. ...

The Jackson volleyball team has won 30 of its 35 games this season but don’t think for a minute the journey has been a cruise for the Indians.

WARDELL - Several weeks ago North Pemiscot Mustangs volleyball coach Brook Hutchison made the decision to combine her varsity and junior varsity teams and play a varsity-only schedule the rest of the way. “We started the season strong,” Hutchison said. ...

There was no shortage of intense moments on the athletic fields and courts throughout Southeast Missouri last week, as area athletes prepare for the looming postseason competition.

When Mallory Perkins rose for the kill that would win the district championship, it was in her home gym, in front of a big crowd, with few people wearing masks. “I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me? We’re trying to keep the season going,’” Perkins said. Doniphan football canceled its final two regular-season games, and with no guarantee players could return to practice, chose on Oct. 19 to cancel its season. Cape Central and Perryville forfeited its playoff games because of its COVID-19 issues...

The Eagle Ridge Christian School volleyball team won the Missouri Christian School Athletic Association Division 2 state tournament Saturday in Joplin, beating Heartland Christian Academy from Belton, MO. in two straight sets, 25-21 and 25-15. This is Eagle Ridge's fifth straight MCSAA championship, winning from 2016-2020...

DEXTER, Mo. — It is the last hoorah for five Dexter volleyball seniors, and they made sure not to have their season end in the district finals on their home court. After the ball touched the floor for the 15th point of the fifth set, students rushed the court, mobbing the Lady Bearcats after a thrilling, five-set win over Notre Dame in the Class 3, District 1 Tournament Finals at the Bearcat Event Center Tuesday evening...

Two years ago, none of the players that suited up for East Prairie in its MSHSAA Class 2, District 3 volleyball match against host Saxony Lutheran Tuesday had a clue as to what they were doing.

Sports Writer MALDEN ­— With a healthy front row, Malden has picked up its third district title in five years. “Everybody was saying that they were going to come out on top, and I think it made us want it 10 times more,” Malden senior Alissa Olson said...

Scott City volleyball coach Christy Riley felt her athletes had a case of the nerves in their MSHSAA Class 2, District 3 match against St. Vincent Tuesday at Saxony Lutheran.

PERRYVILLE – The Perryville Pirates’ volleyball season comes to an end after falling at home to the Black Knights of Farmington 3-1 in the championship round of the Class 4, District 1 Tournament. The Knights jumped out to a 3-1 lead early in the first set. The Pirates quickly turned that small deficit into an 8-4 lead and soon grew it into a 22-14 lead...

JACKSON — Once they were able to shake off some nerves, Jackson was able to shake off a pesky Poplar Bluff volleyball team Tuesday in the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 semifinal. The defending district champions advanced to the final for a fourth straight year with a 25-21, 25-16, 25-18 over the Mules...

GIDEON - The first two sets came down to the wire but the Gideon Bulldogs volleyball squad found a way to secure a straight-set victory and its first district title since 2017 Tuesday night. No. 2 seeded Gideon closed out all three sets strong as it edged the No. 1 seeded Bernie Mules 26-24, 25-23, 25-19 in the Class 1, District 2 volleyball championship at Gideon High School...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. — There was no lack of energy or emotion between Perryville and Cape Central Monday night. From the very point to the last, players from both teams — especially the host Lady Pirates — celebrated a little more than usual with a lot more at stake. Perryville defeated Cape Central in straight sets 25-8, 25-21, 25-16 in the second semifinal of the Class 4, District 1 Tournament...

WOODLAND, Mo. — Bloomfield was one point away from winning its seventh straight district title. Top-seeded and host Woodland, playing tight early, rallied to win the final three sets Tuesday to repeat as MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 championship 19-25, 21-25, 25-14, 25-12, 17-15...

The Meadow Heights volleyball team advanced to the championship game in the C1,D4 district held at Bismarck High School, beating Valley 25-16, 25-23, and 25-14. For the Panthers, it is the first time since 2006 they have advanced to the district championship game...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. — Practice started for the Sikeston volleyball team later than most of their opponents. The Lady Bulldogs had a positive COVID-19 case, shutting down team activities for the first two weeks of the season, leaving the team cautious of if there was even going to be a season at all...

MALDEN — After overcoming a 21-12 deficit that included four straight game points in the second set, the Malden volleyball team couldn’t complete the comeback Monday in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 semifinal. But the Green Wave didn’t let the momentum they built fade, instead leading the entire next set before closing the match with a long run to beat Caruthersville 25-16, 27-29, 25-11, 25-17...

GIDEON, Mo. - The top-seeded Bernie Mules and No. 2 seeded Gideon Bulldogs are set to collide in the Class 1, District 2 volleyball championship after both squads won their respective semifinals in straight sets Monday. Bernie was the first to punch its ticket in the title game. The Mules led most of the way in each set as it eliminated No. 4 seeded Clarkton 25-12, 25-16, 25-15 in the first semifinal...

The fifth-seeded Indians had to survive one last push to earn the upset win. Having brought its JV up to fill the roster, Puxico won 21-25, 26-24, 25-22, 11-25, 15-13 in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 quarterfinals Monday at Woodland. “I’m so proud of them coming together as a team,” Puxico coach Hannah Douglas said, adding that the team was playing with two varsity level athletes. ...

Defending district champion Twin Rivers is the top seed heading into the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 tournament Monday, but the team’s atmosphere has shifted some this year. Just two years ago, the Royals won only one game. They went into 2019 knowing they would be better but ended up sweeping the tournament, beating New Madrid Central, East Prairie and Senath-Hornersville all 2-0. It was the Royals’ third district title since 2012...

A veteran Jackson volleyball squad is no stranger to putting together big comebacks. “Last year in the conference tournament we were down 11-0 to Notre Dame in a semifinal and we were able to come back from that deficit to get to the championship,” Jackson middle hitter Hannah Shinn said. “We as a group can get down early but we stay calm, cool, and collected, and bounce right back.”

It took a big rally for Jackson to earn a shot to defend their title in the championship game of the SEMO Conference Volleyball Tournament Thursday at the Cape Girardeau SportsPlex.