By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Three final fours in five years. Few predicted Mountain View-Birch Tree Liberty’s 2018 run.
In the smaller scope, however, the competitive Eagles weren’t satisfied with their 4th-place in Saturday’s Class 2 MSHSAA Volleyball Championships at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.
“Nobody thought we would (make it to state),” said Eagles coach Shari Tune. “We’re proud to be here. Not proud of the finish, but we were grateful to make it.”
Liberty fell 25-22, 25-16 to St. Michael the Archangel, a private school from Lee’s Summit, in the Class 2 3rd place match.
Overall, the Eagles went 0-8 in their four matches this weekend. Liberty led for much of the first set against St. Michael on Saturday and briefly in the second set as well.
“We didn’t play well. There’s not much else to say,” Tune said. “It wasn’t one thing or one person. We just never could get anything going today or Friday.”
Afterwards, all seven of Liberty’s seniors accepted the 4th-place trophy.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE MATCH
“We’ve been playing together since fourth grade,” said Liberty senior Allison Smith. “Being able to finish out with seven of us out here on the court… It’s been amazing to be a part of this team.”
Tune said it’s the largest senior class she’s ever had. Some, like Smith and Piper Francis, were reserves on Liberty’s 2016 state team that placed third.
“I’m proud of them,” Tune said. “I’m sure it’s not the finish they wanted, but it’s been a great run.”
Eagles senior setter Caitlyn Basham finished with 16 assists. She was also second in digs (12) and third in kills (five).
Sophomore Kelstin Roy (seven) and Francis (six) led Liberty in kills. Libero Trinity Clark had 19 digs.
The Eagles (30-9-2 overall) committed seven attacking errors and four service errors.
“We didn’t have a lot of problems as individuals, just had some problems together,” Smith said. “We didn’t flow as well as we normally do.”
Abigail Salanski led St. Michael (19-11-3 overall) with 13 kills.
The Eagles’ seven-player senior class is: Basham, Smith (MH), Francis (OH), Clark (libero), Tehya Pierce (OH), Hannah Jester (DS) and Abigail Reese (DS).
