Republic’s volleyball team ran its winning streak to six matches, beating Neosho in a Central Ozark Conference match Thursday, sweeping all three sets, 25-13, 25-10, 25-9. It was the ninth win in ten matches for the Lady Tigers.
Republic got contributions from up and down the roster. Five different players recorded kills and eight Lady Tigers had at least three digs.
Rilynn Finley led Republic’s offense with 12 kills, followed by Alaina Norman with 10. Adison Gibbs added six kills, Reese Frey had two and Reese Finley recorded one. Brooklyn Claxton orchestrated the offense with 29 assists, while Reese Frey chipped in with six.
Serving was another strong point for Republic, as Claxton notched four aces and both Frey and Addison Fanning had two.
The team’s defensive performance reflected Coach Allison Davis’s recent emphasis in practice.
“Yesterday in practice, we really focused on our defense and being ready for just about anything Neosho would throw at us. And tonight the girls executed that perfectly. They took care of the ball and had fun doing it,” Davis said. “Overall, I’m really proud of all three teams tonight.”
Finley led the team with 10 digs, Norman had nine and Fanning recorded seven. Additional contributions came from Claxton, Aubrey Haynes, Kaylee Cornelsen, Gibbs, and Frey, each with three to five digs. Gibbs also marked the stat sheet with four blocks.
The win boosts Republic’s record to 16-4 overall and 2-1 in the COC. The Lady Tigers are off until they host Joplin on September 26.