By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
“It was a barn burner,” said Webb City head coach Rhonda Lawrence, “the greatest match of the season.”
The Cardinals took it to the wire with the Jefferson City Jays, but fell 3-2 in the Class 4 state quarterfinal play Saturday (25-19, 25-27, 25-21, 23-25, 13-15).
“These are the games you wish nobody had to lose, because I think both of us really deserved to be in the Final Four,” said Lawrence. “They are a well-put-together team and so are we; we’re very evenly matched. It was super exciting to play and it’s a great honor to be in this position already. You’ve got to be proud of where you’re at.”
The Cardinals fell to the Jays by just two points in the second and fourth sets.
“It always hurts really hard to lose, and it hurts to lose by that small margin,” said Lawrence. “But the passion for volleyball the girls have shown today and the valiant effort, I’m super proud of my girls. I think we were underestimated in the beginning of the season and no one expected us to be here in the first place.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE MATCH
Webb City will say goodbye to five seniors who have been part of three district titles in the past three years: Jadyn Catterson, Sophia Crane, Aubree Lassiter, Makayla Mayes, and Khloe Rhuems.
“They are a special group,” said Lawrence. “I got to coach them when they were in sixth grade, going into seventh grade, in club. I knew they had a lot of talent, and they love the game and each other. They welcomed all the young ones in, too.”
“Our former athletes are what helped get us here in the first place, but these last three years especially are a tight-knit group that really get it. Their volleyball IQ is higher, they’ve been playing more, and they understand that passion that we play with. Their overall performance and abilities helped us be successful.”
The Cardinals end their season with a 27-7 record.
