Portageville VB has worked to put itself in this position

Portageville volleyball coach Sasha Kellams speaks to her players against Senath-Hornersville in the championship game of the Bootheel Conference Volleyball Tournament earlier this season at Caruthersville High School.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

Portageville High School volleyball coach Sasha Kellams knows a thing or two about postseason success.

When Kellams was wearing a Bulldog uniform in 2013 and 2014 as a junior and senior, not guiding the program, as she is today, Portageville won a pair of District titles. However, that was the last time the Bulldogs have done so.

But Kellams’ girls have a good shot at ending that streak this week.

“This group of girls,” Kellams said recently of her squad, “is one of the hardest working groups that I have ever been a part of.”

The Bulldogs (17-10-3) have won the most games in three seasons and recently claimed the Bootheel Conference Tournament championship for the first time in anyone’s memory.

Portageville opened postseason play Monday with a 3-0 sweep of East Prairie (4-15-1) in the Class 2 District 1 tournament at Portageville.

Kellams said her team has done what it can to prepare for this moment.

“It is nothing for the girls to stay after practice to get extra reps in,” Kellams said. “They are motivated all of the time. They want to get better. They want to improve their skill.”

Kellams held open gyms during the summer and the Portageville gym was filled with driven athletes.

“I’ll have 20 girls in there for open gym,” Kellams said. “They just show up. They want to get better.

“I am never having to force them and beg them to get into the gym. They are just there and that makes a huge difference.”

The Bulldogs have the only winning record of the four remaining District teams. However, Malden (8-15-2) beat Charleston 3-0 on Monday and will battle the Bulldogs tonight at 6 p.m. for the District title.

The Green Wave got past Portageville 3-1 during the regular season.

Surprisingly, Portageville is a youthful squad, despite its success this fall.

Akiyah Jordan is the only senior on the 2021 roster, but Kellams does rely on four juniors (Amiyah Saxton, Grace Long, Hailey Tipler, and Libbie Priggel) to contribute, as well.

“These girls want to be held to a higher standard,” Kellams said. “If we play bad, but still come out with a win, we’re not satisfied.”