Seckman’s girls volleyball team reached a district championship match last season for the first time in more than a decade.
The Jaguars finished 18-9-3 after losing to St. Louis Suburban Association Red pool rival Oakville in the Class 4 District 2 final.
This year, despite all of the disruptions of COVID-19 and the restrictions it has placed on athletes, Seckman has raced out to a 4-0 start, including a four-set win against perennial Class 2 state powerhouse St. Pius X. Girls volleyball matches this year are now best-of-five sets instead of best-of-three.
“We have extremely high expectations for this season,” said Ahna Kasper, who co-coaches the Jaguars with Paula Baechle. “This is one of the most talented groups we have had in awhile and we want them to go a long way. They are all so hungry to take this program to the next level, and I believe they can do that.”
Senior Taylor Beaven plays outside hitter and defensive specialist for the Jaguars and returns with a handful of conference and district accolades after leading her team with 228 kills and 220 digs last season. She’s joined on the outside by junior Taylor Neal, who dealt with injuries a year ago.
“(Beaven) has an infectious positivity that makes everyone around her match her intensity,” Kasper said. “(Neal) has the right mindset and is ready to play on the outside. She is also excelling in the back row. She is known for her presence on the court. They both have explosive swings and are extremely versatile on the front line.”
Junior Erin Treis returns at setter after recording 213 assists in 2019. Senior Savannah Bandy will back up Treis at setter. Kasper said Bandy is always working to get better.
“The way (Treis) commands a court and spreads the sets around to keep our opponents guessing is a great skill that she makes look easy,” Kasper said.
Seniors Lydia Smith (middle blocker) and Cate Casey (defensive specialist) return to their starting roles. Smith has gotten faster and more confident this year. Casey collected 155 digs last year and made only 15 errors on 190 serves.
“She is closing on blocks and making plays,” Kasper said.
Riley Howdeshell is a lefthanded hitter on the right side, and Kasper said she’s a force to be reckoned with there.
Kasper said the Jaguars’ offensive style will be faster this season. She said that was necessary after losing to Oakville in districts.
“We decided right then that our speed needed to be our priority,” Kasper said. “The team’s defense remains scrappy and tries to pick up every ball.”
Owls return after state final four appearance
A year ago, Windsor rocketed from a 5-7-3 record in mid-September to a spot in the Class 3 state final four at Cape Girardeau.
The Owls lost both state matches and finished fourth, but they earned their first state trophy after 20 years of battling under head coach Stephany Dueker-Richmond.
Dueker-Richmond said without the opportunity to scrimmage over the summer because of coronavirus restrictions, she hasn’t been able to get a clear picture of where all of the players fit.
“As we find some definite rotations, I would expect our chemistry and our play to be much improved,” she said. “We are skilled but we are very, very small and doing all the little things correctly is a must for us. We have great potential but we have to keep working in order to develop it.”
Windsor finished 1-2 at its tournament last month and is 9-2-1 after beating St. Pius X in the championship of the North County Invitational on Saturday.
The coach said her team’s offense is improved this year and is more well-rounded, but the Owls are still very much a defensive-oriented team.
The outside hitters are juniors Madison Heaghney, Lexi Menne and Lidiya Sokolic and sophomore Colleen Griffaw. In the middle are Sydnie Kube, Madelyn Mancuso and Emma Lawson.
After two seasons away from the sport, Sydney Williams returns and she can hit from all three spots as can freshman Sydney Green. Defensively the Owls return Madison Ealey and Grace Lowery and add freshman Katie Moore. The setters are Griffaw, Madison Williams and Alayna Green. Menne and Williams will play all six rotations.
“I expect all of my girls to be contributors when called upon,” Dueker-Richmond said. “Sokolic and Kube have been on the varsity for three years and their roles are bigger now as seniors. Ealey has improved drastically and Lexi and Grace have only gotten better.”
The “Mad” group of Ealey, Heaghney, Madison Williams and Mancuso are naturally-gifted athletes with great speed and explosiveness.
“Alayna adds consistency as she does everything well,” Dueker-Richmond said. “Sydney and Emma give us a little height and depth. Katie adds a defensive spark.”
Hawks off to 5-2 start
Hillsboro is 0-2 against Northwest but 5-0 against other opponents early this season.
Last year, the Hawks were 18-13-1 and beat Poplar Bluff in the first round of the Class 4 District 1 tournament before falling to eventual district champion Jackson in the semifinals.
Hillsboro head coach Erin Boss doesn’t want to jinx a potentially special group of Hawks this fall, but with their returning players, a couple of additions from the JV and a new transfer student, she likes what she sees.
“Once we get into shape and used to each other we will be stronger and more competitive than ever,” said Boss, in her fifth season. “We need to try and come out and redeem ourselves because there were (a few matches last year where) we just fell flat and didn’t portray who we were as a team.”
Seniors Sophia Marchetti (outside hitter), Mackenzie Baker (middle blocker), Evelyn Roland (setter) and Bella Lewis (setter) and junior Maya Wright (middle blocker) form the nucleus of Hillsboro’s returners. Baker and Marchetti were the Hawks’ two kills leaders last year. Roland had 386 assists and Lewis had 273, giving the team some dynamic setting ability.
“Sophia, Mackenzie and Evelyn have been on the varsity since they were sophomores, so I can say my expectations of them may be a little higher because they know what to expect from the game and from me,” Boss said. “They also know I need strong leaders on and off the court and I think they are filling that role just fine.”
Marchetti is a huge asset in the front row, but Boss said her true passion is playing defense. Baker is strong in the middle and Roland will run the offense with Lewis. Wright is Baker’s competition in the middle.
“I (love) to see them push each other every day at practice,” Boss said.
Eagles look to be strong at the net
With senior Lanie Dierker and junior Natalee Moore each playing both outside hitter and middle blocker, Grandview has a formidable presence in the front row this year.
Dierker led the Eagles in multiple statistical categories last season and is a strong hitter at the net. She’s also solid defensively in the back.
“She is one of our best passers and continues to improve each day,” Grandview head coach Madeline Rotter said.
Moore is an all-around good player who Rotter said is vital to the program.
Junior Lillian Long is the Eagles’ lone setter. Seniors Molly Gearhart (libero) and Shelby Chastain (middle blocker) are Grandview’s other two returning starters.
“(Chastain) is our girl who controls the net,” Rotter said.
Grandview’s style of defense is rotational while being “scrappy.” The Eagles run a 5-1 offense and have five hitters for all six rotations. Moore, Dierker and Long play all six rotations.
The Eagles were 12-15-5 last season and beat Carnahan in the first round of the Class 2 District 4 tournament before losing to Jefferson County Activities Association rival St. Pius X in the semifinals. Grandview is off to a 2-3 start this year after competing in the Windsor Tournament and the Cape Girardeau Tournament at the Show Me Center.
“My expectations for this season are to work as a team, have determination and dedication, improve each day and have fun,” Rotter said.
Lions ready for ‘exciting’ season
Deb Fortner thought Northwest was going to rebuild in 2019.
The Lions girls volleyball head coach in her ninth season was pleasantly surprised when they finished 27-8-1 and finished second in the St. Louis Suburban Association Red pool before bowing out of the Class 4 District 2 tournament to Seckman.
“The (2019) team proved there was no rebuilding; they were ready to continue the success of the previous teams,” Fortner said.
With a 5-1 start to the 2020 campaign, Fortner is equally excited to see what the Lions can do this fall.
“The roster this year is filled with seasoned players and a few new faces,” she said. “Honestly, we don’t know what each day holds as far as playing goes but what we do know is that we are thankful to be playing and not taking a minute of it for granted. As usual, the team and I have set our expectations high. We have our sights set on a conference and district championship, but most of all enjoying and playing hard every minute we get to play.”
Fortner said Northwest has plenty of power on the court and a seasoned setter who controls and runs it like a pro.
Senior Jillian Schmoll dished out more than 700 assists as the Lions setter last season. This is her third season at the position and she has 111 assists early this year.
“She has learned so much the last three years and is fun to watch,” Fortner said. “She knows who to set and when to set them. She is also one of our top defenders and our leader on the court.”
Instead of Schmoll zeroing in on one top hitter, five Lions last season had between 126 and 178 kills.
Northwest has plenty of experience at the net with senior middle hitter Maureen Mathews, senior right side hitter Alyssa Jones, senior right side-middle hitter Libbey Pacanowski and junior outside hitter Liz Vermillon. All three were among last season’s leading kill producers. Mathews, Vermillon and Jones all play all six rotations. Mathews leads the team this season with 52 kills.
“(Mathews) hates to lose,” Fortner said. “She is a player we want on the court because of her leadership and skills. (Jones) can hit from anywhere on the court. Liz hits a heavy ball and brings energy and excitement to the court.”
After winning all three matches and winning the Windsor Tournament last month, the Lions beat Hillsboro and Pacific and lost to Perryville. Northwest played Seckman on Tuesday after the Leader deadline.
Lancers look to extend decade of dominance
Between 2010 and 2019, St. Pius X reached the state’s final four nine times. The only year the Lancers didn’t finish among the top four teams was in 2018.
Last season, St. Pius won the Class 2 District 4 championship, beat Twin Rivers in sectionals, Valle Catholic in the quarterfinals and after wins at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau against St. Paul Concordia and Licking in state pool play competition, lost two matches to Hermann, including the state final to finish the season 25-5-2.
The defending JCAA champions are as strong as ever with a cast of returning veterans. The Lancers are off to a 6-3 start this season.
“I always have high expectations for our team, but most importantly, this team sets the bar high for themselves individually and as teammates,” St. Pius head coach Shannon Leftridge said. “We work hard every practice and have adapted to all the necessary protocols. We are ready to get some matches under our belts and our goal is to be better every time we step in the court.”
Leftridge said the Lancers will be strong offensively and have more of a front-row presence this fall. Helping shore up the front row is senior Alexis Mulkey, who is new to the team. Juniors Kennedy Lane and Amelia Rixford and senior Kirsten Schrader hit from the outside. Junior Ava Warner is a middle hitter. Lane led the Lancers with 332 kills last year.
“Kennedy is our go-to outside hitter and our leader on the court,” Leftridge said. “Kirsten is a solid defender and plays smart on the front row. Ava and Alexis bring some speed and power out of the middle, where in the past we’ve relied on our outside hitters to score.
Sophomore Hanna Burch and senior Sarah Wells are handling the setting duties and run the 5-1 offense. They’re taking over for long-time setter Molly Bange, a 2020 graduate who had 690 assists last year.
Junior libero Summer Meyer brings experience, energy and leadership to the veteran lineup. Senior Molly Lewis is a defensive specialist and freshman Karlie Lane is another top defender.
“They give us solid back row options and combinations for one of our strongest years defensively,” Leftridge said.
Seniors key to De Soto success
The Dragons return seniors to all of their offensive positions, but they’ll be breaking in a new setter this season.
Sophomore Kiley Smetzer replaces 2020 graduate Emma Portell and her 456 assists from a year ago. Seniors Kamryn Pehle and Kiley Roth are outside hitters. Seniors Abby Pope and Taylor Jones are middle hitters, senior Maci Cluff is a right side hitter and senior Jenna Nickelson is the libero.
“With the amount of seasoned players returning, team chemistry is going to be a big advantage for us this year,” said De Soto head coach Lindsey Brinkman, who enters her 10th year. “We certainly will have some growing pains as (Smetzer) gains confidence in her position, but she is willing to work and is up for the job.”
After finishing 10-17-5 and losing to eventual Class 3 District 2 champion Ste. Genevieve in the first round, the Dragons are off to a 1-7 start this year. Their lone win was against Bismarck on Sept. 1.
“Though the beginning of the season has been rough, there is going to be a learning curve and as long as the team can stay positive and focused on our end goal, we’re looking to find our stride by midseason and make a push come district time.”
Most of the seniors have been on the varsity since they were freshmen. Pehle led De Soto with 261 kills last year, Roth had 113 kills and 122 service points, Jones checked in with 87 kills, 109 digs and 131 service points and Pope had 80 kills and 87 total blocks. Nickelson dug out 195 volleys and is the anchor of the Dragons’ defense.
Abby Portell and Jill Heath move up from the JV, where they had success.
“The ability of the girls to work together and flow as a cohesive, aggressive unit has allowed us to stay in some longer rallies and will serve them well as we continue to push to a higher level of play,” Brinkman said.
Jefferson captains bring ‘positive energy’
Senior captains Mackenzie Rarick, Payton Siebert and Laney Smith and sophomore captain Ava Roth are bringing the Blue Jays closer together in these uncertain days involving the coronavirus.
“They have come in with an awesome, positive energy,” Jefferson head coach Tara Fish said. “Their input has been essential this summer and will continue to be throughout the season.”
Rarick plays right side hitter and Fish said she’s been aggressive and playing like a senior.
“She is going to do a great job hitting right side for us not only offensively but also defensively, getting a hand on many blocks,” Fish said. “She also gets the team pumped up and ready to go.”
Siebert plays middle-outside and has been hitting as hard as she ever has, Fish said.
“She is also excellent at tracking blocks and talking to her teammates about what she sees across the net,” Fish said.
Smith is at middle-outside and led the school’s basketball team in scoring last winter with almost 13 points per game. She was second on the volleyball team in 2019 with 172 kills and this is her third year with the varsity spikers.
“She is such a great athlete,” Fish said. “She still jumps out of the gym, getting her hands on lots of blocks, hitting hard and seeing spots on the court. She is also a great defender with high speed and agility and will be utilized all around as she was last season.
Because of the ever-changing situation surrounding the coronavirus, all of the Blue Jays are learning every position. Sophomores Emma Breier (outside-middle-right side), Kirstyn Loyd (setter-middle), Ava Roth (outside) and Paige Siebert (setter) are all expected to play key roles this season.
Breier played in 71 games and had 91 kills and 41 blocks last season and Fish said she grew as a volleyball player as a freshman.
“She comes to us as one of our hardest hitters, even adding some back row skills,” Fish said.
Loyd played middle hitter and setter last year and Fish said thrived in both roles. She led Jefferson with 65 aces and 174 kills.
“She is definitely counted on by her team and will be utilized greatly all around,” Fish said.
Roth had 132 kills and led the Blue Jays with 406 digs last season. She moved from the outside to libero at the end of the year due to injuries. Roth side she surprises opponents with her power and her defensive skills are top-notch.
“She gives more than 100 percent in everything she does, which in turn pushes her teammates to do the same,” Fish said.
Siebert moved up quickly to the varsity last year and led Jefferson with 305 assists.
“She is great at reading the other team’s offense,” Fish said.
The Blue Jays were 24-10 in 2019 and have been ousted from the Class 2 District 4 tournament the past two years by Arcadia Valley. They’re 2-3 this year, having lost in three sets to Valle Catholic in the last match. Fish said this year’s team might have more talent than the rest in the program’s history. She said despite COVID, her team remains positive.
“They have been coming in and making the most of every minute we had in the weight room and gym despite the limitations agreed upon by the (Jefferson County Health Department),” Fish said. “With everything going on with COVID, their positive demeanors and work ethic continue to stay at a high level.”
At an academic level, the Blue Jays last year had a team GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. Several players were academic all-state.
Hornets have new head coach
Crystal City sent long-time head coach Laura Helwig into retirement by winning the Class 1 District 4 championship last year. The Hornets finished 13-14-1 after they lost to Holcomb in the sectionals.
Now new coach Krystin Shaffer will try and keep the Hornets headed in the same direction. She said she has very high expectations for 2020.
“My girls have worked really hard and their athletic abilities are extremely impressive,” Shaffer said. “I know I have come into a strong volleyball program and the girls are eager to compete and eager to win. I want to increase their skills and make them all around better athletes.”
Crystal’s seniors are doing their part in bringing the younger players up to speed on what it takes to be a district champion. Middle hitter Annie Waites, setter Mattie Edwards and outside hitter Jill Schubert are the Hornets’ top veterans. Edwards had 344 assists last season.
Sophomores Abbie Edwards (outside hitter) and Molly Clemons (middle hitter) aren’t new to the varsity. Sophomore Kate Eisenbeis will help Mattie Edwards with setting. Elli Smith is a top defender in the back row.
Shaffer described herself as a defensive-minded coach.
“So all of my players are defensive players,” she said. “You can’t run your offense if your team can’t play defense. All of my players are playing (six rotations).”
Crystal City won its first JCAA match of the season by beating Grandview in four sets on Sept. 10.
Blackcats lack varsity experience
Herculaneum only has two players – seniors Emily Wiese and Paige Fowler – with much time on a varsity court.
Fowler, the school’s top basketball player, is moving from middle hitter to setter, leaving a sizeable gap at the net for the Blackcats, who will run a 6-2 offense with Fowler and freshman Mackenzie Duncan running it. Duncan is an experienced setter from club ball and middle school.
“She is quick on her feet and very eager to learn,” Herculaneum head coach Audrey Meda said. “She has worked hard all summer long in the weight room and doing plyometrics preparing for this role. With some guidance and direction from the upperclassmen, I see her as becoming a huge asset to the overall functionality of our team.”
What Fowler lacks in court experience as a setter she makes up for in her ability to understand the importance of leadership on the court, said Meda in her 15th year.
Wiese has shifted from the middle to take on the role as the Blackcats’ primary hitter on the outside.
“She is very versatile and does a great job using the blockers and finding the line,” Meda said.
Juniors Macey Pilliard and Emily Gruhala play in the middle. Pilliard made all of the workouts during the spring pandemic and Gruhala’s timing is coming along.
Alexia Ashe plays on the right side and has a strong left-handed swing. Meda said Ashe has matured as a back-row player and adds to the offense with a solid serve-receive.
Sophomores Riley Passananti and Maria Castillo-Orellana are playing the libero/defense position.
“Because we are so young, there may be a great deal of movement among the ranks,” Meda said.
Herculaneum finished 7-18-2 last year after losing to Festus in the Class 3 District 2 tournament. The Blackcats are off to a 0-4 start this season.
Meda said with so much uncertainty looming over the entire season because of coronavirus, the Blackcats are preparing to play each match as if it were their last.
“We have a very structured warmup that flows into a variety of drills to enhance every aspect of the game,” she said. “At this time there are not any specific areas that we are extremely solid in so our focus is broad.”
Meda said her goal is to make quick transitions and create game-like scenarios that will enhance her team’s overall play quality.
“We continue to hit the weight room and focus on our jump skills,” she said. “The girls have had numerous conversations about the importance of playing as a team and playing with heart, hunger and humility. Having what we like to call a lot of ‘fire in the belly.’ This is a hard-working group of young ladies who have the desire to learn and improve. They realize we are young and somewhat inexperienced, but they are not letting that prevent them from putting forth their best efforts in order to accomplish our team goals and improve.”
Benacks lead Tigers onto court
A year after reaching the Class 3 quarterfinals, Festus was back in the Class 3 District 2 championship in 2019.
But the Tigers finished 21-11-2 after they lost in two sets to Ste. Genevieve in the final and didn’t reach the state playoffs for the second straight season. With Karen Biehle and her 35 years of coaching experience at the helm, expectations for Festus are never short of a district title.
“Going into the season, I felt we had all areas of the needs of the team covered for a very competitive season,” said Biehle about her 2020 squad that includes sisters Lily, a senior, and Kinsey, junior, Benack. Both are outside hitters who can play all spots on the floor.
For the first time in four years, Festus can’t rely on the power of Bria Garmon at the net. Garmon was a transcendent athlete who was the most valuable player in the JCAA the past two years.
The Tigers will play a 6-2 offense and a center-back defense that’s led by junior libero Devin Younger, who made just four errors on 200 serves last season. Senior Lily Brickhaus, an outside hitter in fourth season on the varsity, was even more accurate with just three errors in 203 serves. The other outside hitters for Festus are freshman Gabby Burkard and sophomore Claire Martin.
In the middle are Burkard, Martin, sophomore Kalia Oshia and junior Mackenzie Welsh. In the right side are seniors Jessie Hebenstreit and Gretchen Burkard and sophomore Sara Banderman. A quartet of senior Hannah Warfel, junior Maddie Mchawes, sophomore Ella Shy and freshman Delaney Willis will handle the setting duties, replacing 2020 graduate Kate Todd who had 536 assists last season.
Sophomore Alexis Biehle and junior Sophie Nolen play libero.