Republic needed one more win Thursday to finish unbeaten in the Central Ozark Conference West and win its first conference title since 2011. Webb City had the Lady Tigers one point from losing in the fifth set before Republic rebounded, pulling out a 21-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-14, 17-15 win at home to capture the championship.
Webb City came in 10-13-1, but had the Lady Tigers on the ropes throughout the match. Webb City won the first set 25-21 and the third set 25-19, and Republic answered both times.
“That was not the team that I scouted, for sure,” Republic coach Allison Davis said of Webb City. “They came out and they were ready to fight, which is impressive.”
Davis said it was Republic’s first five-set match of the season, so she wasn’t sure how her team would respond, especially when falling behind 13-10 in the fifth set.
“We could have just not fought,” she said. “But they just kept on fighting, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Republic led 15-11 in the second set before Webb City outscored the Lady Tigers 8-2 to go up 19-17. Reese Finley tied it at 19 with a kill and put Republic ahead with another, starting a run of six straight points that ended with an ace by Kate Mitchell for a 23-19 lead. Finley had seven kills in the set, and Republic won 25-20.
Game page →Republic led 8-4 in the third set, and Webb City scored the next four points to tie it. The set had eight ties and four lead changes, and the Lady Tigers went up 17-16 on a block before Webb City scored nine of the last 11 points to win 25-19.
Republic didn’t trail after the first point of the fourth set. The Lady Tigers led 10-4 and 14-7, Audrey Pearce had kills for a 20-13 lead and a 23-14 lead, and Shelby Forbis ended the 25-14 set with a kill.
Webb City led 3-1 and 5-3 in the fifth set. Finley had kills for 7-6 and 8-6 leads, but Webb City scored seven of the next nine points to lead 13-10, two points from the match. Forbis answered with a kill, Pearce served an ace and Republic tied it at 13. Webb City went up 14-13 on a kill, then missed a serve to tie it again.
Republic took a 15-14 lead on a block, and Webb City tied it at 15. Mitchell put Republic ahead 16-15 with a kill, and the Lady Tigers won the next point for the match on an ace by Mitchell. The fifth set had 10 ties and four lead changes.
“I haven’t been able to see a five-set (match) this season, and then to be able to see them fight like that, that’s what I’m most proud of.” Davis said.
Davis said Webb City switched its lineup, and Republic’s defense adjusted quickly from what was said in the huddle and from the sideline.
Davis said each of her three seniors has a role in leading the team. Addyson Warner is “my quiet leader, but she leads by example,” Davis said. “She shows up every day, works her tail off in games and in practice. She’s just a great teammate.”
“We need a big hit, that’s going to be Kate. We need a big block, that’s Kate,” Davis said of Mitchell, who had five blocks and four aces. “And she’s also kind of our goofy one. Everybody needs to have fun and laugh on the floor.”
Finley “is the one that’s like, ‘Let’s go. It’s time to play,'” Davis said. “She’s the one that takes charge right then and there.”
Finley did take charge at key moments on the court Thursday night, and she finished with 22 kills* and 15 digs to lead the team. Rylee Dishman and Laila Perkins also had 15 digs apiece, and Chloe Pullan and Finley had 26 assists each.
The Lady Tigers are 16-11 and 5-0 in the COC West. They open the Class 5 District 5 tournament against Branson Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
*Stats are unofficial
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