By Taylor Kauffman & Chris Parker
Nixa’s defense of its state title came up one match short, as the Lady Eagles fell in three sets to Liberty North in the Class 5 state title game on Friday to finish as state runner-up.
Liberty North took the first set 26-24 before rattling off wins of 25-20 and 25-16 in the final two sets to claim the state title.
Despite the loss, Nixa head coach Annie Zimmerman is proud of how far the Nixa Volleyball program has come.
“I’m just so proud of where we’re at as a program. I think having the kids believe that they can make it to this level and get to this tournament every year is a huge step in the right direction for us. Having those kids believing that and expect is a big deal for us and I’m so proud that they feel that way,” Zimmerman said.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE MATCH
Nixa will graduate five seniors from this year’s team including: Taylor Golmen, Rachel Janisch, Carsen Glaser, Kendall Pratt and Katie McCurdy.
“Our seniors are a huge part of what we do every single day. They’ve been committed to our system in the way that we train and everything that we ask of them. We have very high expectations, so I’m so proud for them to have made it through four years of Nixa Volleyball. That’s a big accomplishment, and they should be very proud,” Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman’s message to her team postgame was that while this season was ending, there is so much more ahead for each and every member of the team.
“This is the beautiful thing about sports. There’s a winner and there’s a loser. And sometimes you’re not always going to be on that winning side. But to take the beauty of it in appreciate the experience that you got to have. Every new beginning starts from some other ending. So this is just the beginning of something big that’s coming for each of them, and I know they’re going to do great things,” Zimmerman said.
Nixa finishes the season with an overall record of 33-4.
