Dominating the Court: Tournament Champions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the high school volleyball season reaches its peak, teams across the state are making waves with their outstanding performances in recent tournaments. This article highlights the remarkable journeys of several standout teams. Join us as we delve into the highlights of this exhilarating season! If you have a team that wins a tournament title or know of one, please email me or tag me on Twitter. You could include a picture if you'd like it to be added to the tournament champions articles? </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Winona – BSC Conference Champions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Winona Wildcats have continued their winning streak by sweeping through the BSC Conference Tournament. They first defeated Couch and then rolled past the Eminence Redwings, showcasing their dominance on the court. Key players [player_tooltip player_id='232323' first='Lexi' last='Lindsey'], [player_tooltip player_id='828367' first='Taylor' last='Williams'], and [player_tooltip player_id='807397' first='Sophie' last='Kile'] are determined to maintain this momentum as they head into the upcoming Jackson Tournament. The Wildcats boast an impressive record of 25-1, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting challenge ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jackson – Francis Howell Tournament</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson's volleyball team is on a remarkable run, achieving a feat that no other Jackson team has accomplished before. After sweeping Webster Groves, Kirkwood, Parkway West, and Oakville, they secured a spot in the Gold Bracket. Again, they faced Webster Groves and emerged victorious. In a thrilling championship match against the St. Dominic Crusaders, Jackson came out strong, winning with scores of 25-12 and 25-23. The dynamic duo of [player_tooltip player_id='630748' first='Avery' last='Brune'] and [player_tooltip player_id='729480' first='Lauren' last='Dorey'], both in the class of 2028, have been instrumental in their success, not only excelling at the net but also orchestrating a potent offense. Next on their agenda is the SEMO Conference Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Smithville – Winnetonka Tournament</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Smithville Warriors showcased their skill by sweeping their way to victory at the Winnetonka Tournament. They dominated pool play with wins over St. Joseph Central, Jefferson City, and Oak Park. In the semifinals, they defeated Class 5 Hickman in another sweep, followed by a challenging match against Class 5 Fort Osage, which they won 25-22, 25-21. Standout players [player_tooltip player_id='568866' first='Jaycee' last='Tyrrell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='370867' first='Emily' last='Cromer'] each contributed six kills to the Warriors' success, bringing Smithville's season record to an impressive 14-3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Helias – Hy-Vee Arena Invitational</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Helias Crusaders made a statement at one of the state's largest tournaments, bringing home the championship title. They started strong in pool play, defeating University Academy (25-11, 25-13), Lone Jack (25-16, 25-12), and Maryville (25-14, 25-21). In the Gold Bracket quarterfinals, they dispatched a solid Class 2 team, Adrian (25-11, 25-15), and continued their success by sweeping Fort Osage in the semifinals (25-14, 26-24). The finals presented a challenge against the Kearney Bulldogs, but Helias triumphed with scores of 25-21 and 25-22, improving their season record to 23-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ray-Pec Panthers – Grain Valley Spike Fest</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Raymore Peculiar Panthers had a successful outing at the Grain Valley Spike Fest, sweeping through their matches. Although the team does not consistently update its records or statistics on any platform, information from a Panther parent suggests a strong performance throughout the tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Point – Troy Tournament</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The North Point Grizzlies have made quite an impression this season, with a remarkable record of 28-5 in sets played across three tournaments. This weekend, they dominated the Troy Tournament, sweeping Liberty, Hannibal, and Whitfield in pool play. In the semifinals, they made a significant statement with a 25-10, 25-19 victory over the ranked Westminster Christian Wildcats. The Grizzlies continued their winning streak in the finals against Hannibal, clinching the title with a 25-21, 25-12 win. [player_tooltip player_id='618831' first='Albany' last='Humphrey'] was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, and the Grizzlies now stand at an impressive 22-2 for the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->