Semoball

SEMO Conference Tournament: Scott City volleyball earns No. 1 seed in South division

Scott City's Alyssa Dirden attacks the net against Oran during SEMO Conference Tournament pool play on Wednesday at the Cape Girardeau SportsPlex.
J.C. Reeves ~ jcreeves@semoball.com

The Scott City Rams dropped one set on the path to claiming the No. 1 seed in the South division of the SEMO Conference Tournament on Wednesday night at the Cape Girardeau Sportsplex.

The Rams beat Charleston (25-17, 25-13), Kennett (25-21), New Madrid County Central (25-8, 25-15) and Oran (25-12, 25-19).

Rams coach Cindy Henry thought her team played well over the course of its four matches.

“I think that we brought everything that we had,” Henry said. “The girls played hard and they deserve it. Locking up the one seed means everything to us.”

Henry credited sophomore Ramsey Spinks for setting the tone for the Rams.

“She’s got a great serve, she’s got a great set and she’s able to utilize all of our hitters,” Henry said. “Our middle hitter Lilyan Landis did a great job of hitting off of her and then so did our senior Avarie O’Brien.”

Kennett's Elle Vancil attempts to make a block against Charleston during SEMO Conference Tournament pool play on Wednesday at the Cape Girardeau SportsPlex.
J.C. Reeves ~ jcreeves@semoball.com

Kennett dropped just two sets and the Indians locked up the No. 2 seed in the South.

The Indians beat Charleston (25-21, 25-19), NMCC (25-23), Oran (25-14, 25-16) and Scott City (25-19).

Indians coach Gentry Vancil said her team came in playing up-and-down but she thought the performance tonight was better.

“I’m very pleased,” Vancil said. “We let New Madrid take a set from us and we shouldn’t have. We had a few mental mistakes that can’t happen but then we came back and played Scott City and took a set from them. I’m just proud of the way they played, they played up and with energy.”

Vancil felt like her team thrived off playing consecutive games.

“That’s what helped us, I thought,” Vancil said. “It’s usually the opposite.”

Vancil knows her team will have to take it up another level in order to continue their winning ways on Thursday.

“We want to compete in the gold bracket,” Vancil said. “That’s where I want to see Kennett.”

Henry thinks her team will have to empty the tank to win tomorrow.

“It’s going to take everything we have,” Henry said. “Anything can happen. There were a lot of upsets today, a lot of split games and I think it’s definitely possible.”

NMCC went 4-4 on the day to take the third seed, while Oran went 3-5 to take the fourth seed and Charleston will be the five seed after going 0-8.

Bracket play will begin with Oran playing Sikeston at 4 p.m. and Cape Central playing Charleston at 4 p.m.

Kennett will begin bracket play at 5 p.m. when the Indians battle Poplar Bluff and NMCC will begin bracket play at 5 p.m. when against Notre Dame.

Scott City will play the winner of Cape Central and Charleston at 5 p.m.

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