By Jordan Burton — @thejordanburton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Each week Ozarks Sports Zone ranks the top teams in Southwest Missouri based on dominance by class, essentially the pound-for-pound comparison of those teams compared to the best in the state. Rankings are sponsored by CoxHealth. Below, you’ll also find our awards for last week’s top performances. If you’d like to nominate a player for O-Zone Player of the Week, please forward stats and information to thejordanburton1989@gmail.com.
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1. (1) Strafford (C2: 8-1)
Outside of that loss to Northland, a Missouri power, Strafford is still yet to drop a set, with Osceola being the latest victim. This week’s schedule includes trips to Mountain Grove, Marshfield and Pleasant Hope. The Lady Indians have won 20 straight true road games. Their last true road loss was at Fair Grove in October 2014. Basically, your house is their house when they come to town.
2. (10) Rogersville (C3: 7-2-1)
What a week for Tammy Miller and the Lady Cats. After a sluggish start to the season, Rogersville beat two of the best teams locally, sweeping Fair Grove and beating rival Ozark for the first time in more than a decade. Now that they are back at full strength, this is clearly one of the best teams in Missouri. LogRog will ride a six-game winning streak into games with Branson and Glendale this week.
3. (2) Willard (C4: 10-0)
So far, so good for Willard still following wins over Bolivar and Glendale; the Lady Tigers haven’t even dropped a set yet. But, we’ll find out just how good Coach Hancock’s team is this week in what should offer quality and quantity. Trips to Fair Grove and Lebanon sandwich Saturday’s Hillcrest Tournament. Then, there’s the COC opener on Tuesday at home against Nixa.
4. (3) Fair Grove (C2: 7-2-2)
Again, it’s hard for me to hold losses against Fair Grove because they lost to teams that are much bigger and quite frankly should beat them. The difference is Fair Grove is typically highly competitive no matter who the Lady Eagles are on the floor with. They lost to Rogersville before bouncing back for a sweep of Buffalo. Willard, Ash Grove Tournament and Springfield Catholic will provide more opportunities for quality wins.
5. (8) Winona (C1: 7-3)
Winona had one of the biggest statement wins in Missouri this week, topping rival Eminence 2-0 and reestablishing itself as the best Class 1 team in the Ozarks. The Lady Cats also beat Cabool for a perfect week. This weekend’s Dig for Life Tournament in SEMO will offer yet more Class 2-4 competition for Winona.
6. (9) Aurora (C3: 8-2-1)
Aurora continues to chug along as the favorite to win the Big 8. A win over Mount Vernon helped the Dawgs take early control of the conference race, while a win over future Big 8 foe Reeds Spring will be nice come district seeding time. Hollister and Marshfield are on the schedule this week.
7. (5) Kickapoo (C4: 9-3)
It was a mixed bag for Kickapoo this week with wins over Rolla and Nerinx Hall being followed by a 2-0 loss to state power Helias. Kickapoo’s resume does include several impressive wins. They’ll have a chance for more at the loaded Springfield Classic this weekend. This team may struggle with consistency at times this year, but next year this should be the best Class 4 team in the Ozarks.
8. (7) Miller (C1: 10-1)
The Lady Cardinals suffered their first loss of the season against Lockwood, but let’s not forget Miller was playing up a class. Again, this is based on dominance within class and Miller is still a top Class 1 team in the Ozarks. A busy week will give us a better idea of just how good Miller is with Marionville, Ash Grove Tournament and Greenfield all on the schedule.
9. (6) Ozark (C4: 6-4)
I remember when Ozark had that disgustingly long winning streak against teams from the Ozarks. Now, the Lady Tigers have dropped back-to-back games against local teams. That speaks to how volleyball in the area continues to get better. The Rogersville loss wasn’t a bad one at all; that’s a team that could win state in Class 3. This is a team that plays a ton of juniors. Many of them will get their first taste of COC action Tuesday at Carthage.
10. (4) Eminence (C1: 4-1)
The loss to Winona wasn’t ideal and means that Eminence will likely have to settle for the No. 2 seed in Class 1 – District 5. However, these two teams will again meet in the playoffs. The Redwings have Bunker and Willow Springs on the schedule this week, which should get them back on track. They’re also in the SEMO Classic this weekend.
Knockin’ on the Door: Carl Junction, Clever, Nixa, Central, Billings, Fordland, Spokane, Cassville
O-Zone Player of the Week: Birdie Hendrickson, Rogersville
She was named to the MaxPreps Freshman All-American team last year and last week she showed why she may be the Gatorade Player of the Year this season. Against two of the best teams in Missouri in their class, Birdie went Beast Mode, hitting Fair Grove up for 10 kills before torching Ozark for 24 kills, eight digs and four blocks. You can make a case that she’s the best player in Missouri, regardless of class.
Hammer of the Week: Moriah Coose, Lockwood
In two big games against rivals El Dorado Springs and Miller, Coose was nearly unstoppable. The 5-foot-10 senior racked up 34 kills in a pair of huge early wins, helping Lockwood grab control of the SRVC race. She also added 23 digs and 12 blocks, showing the entirety of her skillset.
Shovel of the Week: Sophie Sparks, Fordland
Sophie has been a spark for Fordland thanks to her ability to seemingly dig up anything. The junior has 156 digs in just nine games, this coming with Fordland not having a single three-set match to this point. Sparks is coming off of an 18-dig performance in a 2-0 win against Conway.
Other notables
McKenna Miller, Rogersville – 36 assists vs. Ozark
Jazzlyn Wells, Lebanon – 63 digs in three games
Madison Hicks, Crane – 34 kills and 12 blocks in three games
Lexi Miller, Carl Junction – 25 kills, 14 digs and eight blocks in two games
Jaley Rice, Central – 42 assists in last two games
Jesse Edie, Cassville – 23 assists vs. Wheaton
Game of the Week: Willard at Fair Grove (Sep. 7)
This game is extremely intriguing despite the two-class gap. For starters, Jamalee Hancock and Tonya Peck are two of the best doing it in the Ozarks; their teams are routinely among Missouri’s best. This matchup is extra zesty because the two met earlier in the season. One of the hardest things to do in sports is beat a good team twice and Fair Grove is certainty a good team. Willard is a perfect 10-0 this season but nine of those games have been in Willard, going on the road presents a different challenge. Fair Grove has won 37 of its last 44 home games dating back to 2012, which includes a 2013 win over Willard; the last time Grove beat the Lady Tigers. And, if you like individual matchups, this one is extremely exciting. Willard senior Kara Finkbiner (50 kills, 57 digs) and Fair Grove junior Alana Findley (94 kills, 33 blocks) are two of the best at the net. Each team also has a stud back-row shovel in Kasey Brower (93 digs) and Shyan Proctor (96 digs). This game is only for braggin’ rights, but it would give Willard some momentum heading into a huge week.
Other notable games
Sep. 7
Willard at Fair Grove
Clever at Spokane
Waynesville at Jefferson City
Helias at Nixa
Crane at Billings
Sep. 9
Springfield Classic
Hillcrest Tournament
Cabool Tournament
Ash Grove Tournament
Sep. 11
Fordland at School of the Ozarks
Willard at Lebanon
Sep. 12
Ozark at Carthage
Nixa at Willard
Glendale at Rogersville
Jasper at Sarcoxie
NOTE: If your scores are not reported to O-Zone, your team will not be considered for Power Rankings.
