Tournament Champions

The recent volleyball tournaments showcased outstanding performances from several teams across the state. From Winona's perfect run at the Dig for Life Tournament to the impressive triumphs of Festus and West Plains, these competitions were filled with thrilling matches and remarkable individual achievements. This article recaps the key moments and standout players that defined each tournament.   Winona – Dig for Life – Red Bracket   The Class 1 defending champions, Winona, made a strong statement at the Dig for Life Tournament, finishing with a perfect 7-0 record without dropping a single set. They kicked off pool play with decisive victories against last year's Class 1 finalists, Advance, winning 25-16 and 25-13. They concluded pool play by defeating Kennett and [program_tooltip program_id='428790' first='Park' last='Hills'] Central. In the gold bracket, Winona triumphed over Perryville and Dexter before facing Valle Catholic in the semifinals, where they secured a commanding 25-9, 25-20 victory. The Wildcats then claimed the title with a sweep against Class 5 Cape Central, finishing with a 25-19, 25-15 win.   West Plains – West Plains Tournament   The Zizzers hosted their own tournament and emerged victorious. In pool play, they swept Highland, AR, Salem, and Mountain Grove, before splitting a tough match against Mt. Vernon, with scores of 25-23 and 25-27. After overcoming Mt. Vernon in the semifinals with scores of 25-12 and 25-17, West Plains faced Marshfield in the finals. This rematch of last year's championship saw the Zizzers claim revenge, winning 22-25, 25-14, and 25-16. [player_tooltip player_id='217597' first='Lucy' last='Hafer'] has been running a great offense, racking up some double-doubles in the process.   Bismarck – Dig for Life – Black Bracket Gold Champions   Bismarck excelled in the Black Bracket at the Dig for Life Tournament, achieving victories in pool play against Risco, Oran, and Greenville. They swept past New Haven, New Madrid, and Bernie to reach the semifinals. Although they suffered a set loss to Bell City in the semifinals, they won the match 25-27, 25-11, 25-22, setting up a final against Meadow Heights. In a closely contested match, Bismarck sealed the title with a 25-20, 25-20 victory, finishing the tournament with an impressive 8-0 record and 16-1 in sets. [player_tooltip player_id='811547' first='Ayla' last='Hawkins'] is having a significant return for the Indians after missing last season.   Lesterville – Dig for Life Bronze Bracket Champions   Despite undergoing a rebuilding phase, Class 1 powerhouse Lesterville managed to finish with a 4-3 record and 9-7 in sets. After losses to Villa Duchesne and Puxico, along with a split against Senath Hornersville, they were pushed to the lower half of the tournament. In the Bronze bracket, they bounced back with sweeps over Southland, Zalma, Greenville, and Campbell, ultimately clinching the Bronze Bracket title. [player_tooltip player_id='837522' first='Rylee' last='Laughman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='486432' first='Isabelle' last='Twomey'] are carrying the team offensively with 129 kills.   Owensville – Dig for Life Silver Bracket Champions   The Dutch girls from Owensville began their tournament with a split against Parkway South and a loss to Oak Ridge. They concluded pool play with a sweep of Campbell. In the Silver Bracket playoffs, Owensville won their challenge match against Scott City and continued their success with victories over Sikeston, Villa Duchesne, Parkway South, and Malden, finishing with a 6-1-1 record and 13-4 in sets.   Fort Zumwalt West – St. Charles West Tournament   The Jaguars emerged as winners of the St. Charles West Tournament, sweeping through pool play with victories over Metro, Winfield, and Pacific. In the semifinals, they defeated St. Charles West 25-16, 25-19, and then took the title by sweeping Troy 25-20, 25-19. [player_tooltip player_id='845281' first='Brooklyn' last='Pohlman'] and Lyla Steber combined for 11 kills in the championship match against Troy.   Lafayette – Rockwood Tournament Yellow Division Champions   Lafayette dominated their division at the Rockwood Tournament, achieving sweeps against Hoover, AL, Lee's Summit North, and St. Teresa's, while securing 2-1 wins over Nixa, Blue Springs, and Mascoutah. In the win over Nixa, [player_tooltip player_id='776733' first='Peyton' last='Dolly'], Adayah Sievers, and [player_tooltip player_id='812524' first='Claire' last='Ulrich'] combined for 18 blocks.   Lee's Summit West – Rockwood Tournament Blue Division Champions   The Titans made a four-hour trek to compete in the Rockwood Tournament, finishing undefeated to claim the Blue Division title. Their victories included two-set wins over Marquette, Nixa, and St. Pius X, capped off by a tough match against Jackson, which they won 25-12, 13-25, 25-21. [player_tooltip player_id='446328' first='Tori' last='Massengill'] had a big game in the win over Jackson, putting down nine kills.   Festus – North County Tournament   The Tigers kicked off the North County Tournament with an impressive performance, sweeping through pool play with victories over North County, Jefferson, Sullivan, and Potosi. However, they faced a tough challenge in the semifinals against Ft. Zumwalt North, narrowly securing their spot in the finals. In the championship match, Festus faced off against their pool play rivals, Potosi. The Tigers claimed the title with scores of 25-14 and 25-22. Notably, libero [player_tooltip player_id='222581' first='Jessie' last='Hawkins'] is having a standout season, currently boasting an impressive 1,182 career digs.

The recent volleyball tournaments showcased outstanding performances from several teams across the state. From Winona's perfect run at the Dig for Life Tournament to the impressive triumphs of Festus and West Plains, these competitions were filled with thrilling matches and remarkable individual achievements. This article recaps the key moments and standout players that defined each tournament.