Recap Class 5 Sectional Standouts: Nixa and Liberty North Sites

<p>What a weekend of sectional play across the state! We saw matches with high intensity. We saw tremendous individual play. Let's take a look at Saturday's battles.</p> <p><strong>Nixa Sectional</strong></p> <p>Many thought the opening match between Nixa and Helias would serve as the championship match after the two battled the previous week in a five-set thriller. Set 1 lived up to the hype as both teams threw haymakers but Nixa would squeeze out the 28-26 win. They used that momentum to dominate the second set before Helias came back in set 3 to keep their season alive. Nixa would regroup and win the 4th set in decisive fashion 25-16.</p> <p>Lee's Summit West entered this sectional as the district 12 champions. They had little challenge in the district and little fight in their opening match versus Central. They would sweep the match with the final set being the closes, 25-21. </p> <p>The championship match featured two teams with solid back row play. Nixa featured junior [player_tooltip player_id="102546" first="Jaycee" last="Fixsen"] on the pin. Lee's Summit West featured junior [player_tooltip player_id="41813" first="Sydney" last="Handel"] on the pin. The question of which number 2 scorer would rise to the occasion to play the x-factor would go a long way in determining the champion. The Eagles have received consistency from [player_tooltip player_id="41762" first="Taylor" last="Golmen"] and <strong>Allie Billmyer</strong> as a second threat. On the other side, <strong>Abby Massengill</strong> and <strong>Kaelyn McDonald</strong> has traded this role. In this match up it was the play of Billmyer that elevated to lead Nixa to a 3-1 victory and sectional title. </p> <p><em><strong>Sectional Standouts</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Chapel Dobbs</strong> - 2023 - Helias: 15 kills, .382</p> <p><strong>Jacie Buschjost</strong> - 2022 - Helias: 9 Kills, .424</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="102546" first="Jaycee" last="Fixsen"] - 2022 - Nixa: 41 kills, 45 digs</p> <p><strong>Emma Conrad</strong> - 2023 - Nixa: 44 Digs</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="102444" first="Sydney" last="Golden"] - 2022 - Nixa: 104 Assists</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="41762" first="Taylor" last="Golmen"] - 2021 - Nixa: 13 Kills in 25 attempts vs. Helias</p> <p><strong>Allie Billmyer</strong> - 2022 - Nixa: 20 Kills and .318 hitting percentage vs. Lee's Summit West</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="41813" first="Sydney" last="Handel"] - 2022 - Lee's Summit West: 29 Kills</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="41757" first="Aly" last="Gurtiza"] - 2021 - Lee's Summit West: 46 Digs</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="41816" first="Lacey" last="Higgins"] - 2022 - Lee's Summit West: 80 Assists</p> <p><strong>Abby Massengill</strong> - 2021 - Lee's Summit West: 11 kills, .320 hitting percentage vs. Nixa</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Liberty North Sectional</strong></p> <p>You couldn't ask for two more exciting games to kick off the sectional. Liberty North came in riding an undefeated season and was on the ropes down 2 sets to 1 and losing 15-11 in the 4th set. The Eagles did not break under pressure and roared back to win the 4th set and push a decisive 5th. The final stanza was back and forth and Liberty North would keep their record intact and advance to the championship match.</p> <p>The second match of the afternoon delivered the drama also. Park Hill jumped out to a 2 set to none lead and appeared to be in the driver's seat. Blue Springs jumped out to a big lead and the Trojans clawed back to in fact take a 23-22 lead after being down 22-17. Blue Springs found a way to get it done to take the 3rd and the 4th. It looked like Park Hill found themselves in the final set and held a 10-7 lead. Blue Springs said it's not over til it's over and fought back to take a 12-10 lead. After exchanging points, the Wildcats get the victory 15-12</p> <p>After a two hour rest, Liberty North was in a position to capture a title and move on to the final four. The Wildcats didn't lay down and took a set, but North would prevail in four.</p> <p><em><strong>Sectional Standouts</strong></em></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="41825" first="Isabel" last="Zimmerman"] - 2022 - Liberty North: 43 Kills</p> <p><strong>Carlie Cisneros</strong> - 2024 - Liberty North: 40 Kills</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="41799" first="Addison" last="Beagle"] - 2022 - Liberty North: 95 Assists</p> <p><strong>Abby Christian</strong> - 2023 - Liberty North: 58 Digs</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="41818" first="Chloe" last="Kaminski"] - 2022 - Blue Springs: Stats not updated</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="41765" first="Lily" last="Letchworth"] - 2021 - Blue Springs: Stats not updated</p> <p><strong>Makya Clayton</strong> - 2023 - Lee's Summit: Stats not updated</p> <p><strong>Kendall Boone</strong> - 2021 - Lee's Summit: Stats not updated</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="99226" first="Ashlyn" last="Bellamy"] - 2023 - Lee's Summit: Stats not updated</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="41748" first="Kristen" last="Birmingham"] - 2021 - Park Hill: 21 Kills, 21 Digs</p> <p><strong>Aisha Aiona</strong> - 2023 - Park Hill : 16 Kills, .389 hitting percentage</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="41786" first="Megan" last="Hoover"] - 2021 - Park Hill: 26 Digs</p>