The 3rd-seeded Lady Tigers volleyball team silenced a rowdy student section in a win over the 6th-seeded host Joplin in the opening round of district play Monday, 25-15 25-22.
After an easy win in the opening set, Republic allowed Joplin to stick around in the second. The Lady Eagles were within two points at 22-20, with its boisterous fans helping to fuel their momentum. Republic coach Piper Wright called time out and delivered a simple message to her players.
“I just told them to stay calm and collected. We practice that situation a lot,” she says. “Luckily, in this last half of the season, we’ve been in that situation. Sometimes it’s fallen our way and sometimes it hasn’t. They knew what to do. I just told them to be confident and calm.”
Brooke Stanfield had eight kills to lead the Lady Tigers and Mikayla Botkin led the team in assists, with 15. Stanfield also had three service aces, and Botkin had three blocks. Lexi Long had three blocks, as well. Alexis Ladwig had six digs.
The win sets up a semifinal showdown with Carl Junction––something the Lady Tigers have been looking forward to.
“They’re very excited. They’ve been itching for a while for a chance at Carl Junction again,” Wright says. “We’ve lost to them twice–the first time in three very close sets and the second time in two, but they really couldn’t get any closer. We believe we can do it, but it’s going to take work.”
The semifinals and finals will be played at Joplin Tuesday. Republic’s match is scheduled to begin at 6:00.