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Fourteen year old Lexie Johnston was just trying to make some friends.
Now, four years later, Johnston has many more friends and Ozark volleyball has another weapon in its arsenal.
The former home school student, who began playing volleyball only four years ago, delivered six blocks and eight kills as Ozark defeated Nixa 25-20, 25-21 to claim an outright league title Thursday on the Tigers’ senior night.
“We moved from Joplin to here, and my mom said, ‘There’s a volleyball team if you want to join. It’s a good way to make new friends and stuff,’” Johnston said. “So, I was like, ‘Ok.’ I joined a team and I fell in love (with volleyball). That’s why I came to Ozark: to play volleyball.”
In 2015, Nixa defeated Ozark in three sets on the Tigers’ home court on its way to an eventual undefeated COC-Large championship.
Johnston, then a junior, played in the JV game that night. One year later, she’s become a regular in Ozark’s varsity rotation on a deep front line.
“(Lexie) has done a great job of stepping into a very competitive program,” said Ozark coach Adeana Brewer. “She obviously has the height. I think she played a lot of doubles, so she has the natural ability to be a good blocker.”
Johnston, who recently gave a verbal commitment to play at Arkansas Tech, said she “didn’t know anyone” before coming to Ozark.
“It was obviously difficult, but all my friends and stuff (at Ozark) made me feel comfortable and I got the hang of it. And I’ve loved it here,” Johnston said. “(Playing varsity) was my goal. Over the summer, I really wanted to push myself to do that. I’m really happy.
“I’ve just tried to work on my timing when I’m outside and then my blocking, because Coach Brewer has said she wants me as a big blocker, so I’ve just tried to work on that.”
Tied 15-all, Ozark began to pull away after a kill from Sidney Branson and an ace by Holly Luginbill put the Tigers up 20-16. Branson had a team-high four kills in the first.
Nixa jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second set, but Ozark answered with a 10-1 spurt, capped by a tandem block from Branson and Kaylan Smith. Later, a Johnston-Macey Putt block increased Ozark’s lead to 20-16.
Setter Sidney Bach had 12 assists and libero Molly Taylor had 17 assists to lead Ozark.
“I was trying to play with my lineup a little bit (early in the match) to see what I wanted to do going in to the postseason,” Brewer said. “We’re really deep, so I’m just trying to get a lot of different looks and to see what works. We have the personnel to do that. I just look for who’s playing the best sixth with the libero on the court at all times.”
Johnston’s addition gives Ozark superior depth and height against more area teams – the Tigers boast six players listed at 5’10” or taller on their roster, including the 6-footer Johnston.
“(Blocking) is where she’s really done a great job for us, but she’s probably leading our offense, too, lately – as far as hitting efficiency goes. She’s getting a lot of kills without many errors,” Brewer said.
Ozark (18-8 overall, 8-0 COC-Large) closes the regular season at home this Saturday, hosting the Ozark Grand Slam Tournament.
Carl Junction’s addition to the COC-Large this year means the league scheduled was reshuffled and every team received a bye. Ozark’s bye happens to come in the final week of the regular season, after this Saturday’s tournament.
Plenty of intersquad scrimmages are planned, Brewer said.
“It’s long enough of wait (before districts) that I need to create some very competitive scrimmage opportunities,” Brewer said. “Thankfully, I have 14 kids and when we scrimmage, it’s really competitive. We’ll even up (varsity) on each side and it’s competitive. I have enough varsity kids to scrimmage against each other. I’m hoping (the wait) is not a bad thing.”
Nixa (15-9 overall, 6-1 COC-Large will also participate in the Ozark Grand Slam Tournament this weekend. The Eagles then finish the regular season with home games against Carl Junction (Oct. 11) and Rogersville (Oct. 13).
Ozark freshmen def. Nixa freshmen 25-21, 25-21
Ozark JV def. Nixa JV 25-22, 26-24
