By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Reece Cook loved going to Ozark volleyball camps in junior high.
Cook listened in awe as her role model, former setter and 2019 OHS graduate Kennedee Anderson, talked about the tradition of Ozark volleyball winning district titles and going to final fours.
“She was among the last (Ozark) players to go to state. Hearing about it from her, I’ve just waited until it could be our time,” Cook said.
Ozark’s time has arrived. Again.
The Lady Tigers punched their ticket to Cape Girardeau on Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 sweep (25-19, 25-19, 25-21) of Blue Springs South.
“I’m just so excited. I can’t think,” said Ozark senior libero Macy Humble. “I’m so happy for this team and that we’re going to the final four.”
Ozark (37-3 overall) will face Francis Howell (29-7 overall) in the Class 5 semifinals at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Show-Me Center. Francis Howell finished as Class 5 runner-up last season, while Ozark will be making its first final four appearance since 2017.
After having a stranglehold on district titles, Ozark has been battling the likes of Willard, Nixa, Kickapoo and others for postseason supremacy in recent years. The Lady Tigers were a district runner-up last season.
“I think it proves the point that our district is really tough,” said Ozark coach Adeana Brewer. “We play really high-level volleyball in this area. But, we were ready for it to be our turn and go represent the area again.”
From 2009-17, the Lady Tigers made nine straight final fours.
“I hope we start that tradition again for everybody else to follow,” said Cook, a senior setter who tallied 34 assists in Saturday’s win.
Coming off an emotional district-title win over rival Nixa on Monday, the Lady Tigers played in front of their loudest home crowd of the season.
“I have never been in an atmosphere at Ozark that was this hype and intense. It’s just crazy,” Cook said. “This is something we’ve been waiting for, at least for my last four years here. We’ve talked about this since we were the (freshmen) girls coming in that just got done with junior high.
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“The atmosphere and happiness here is insane.”
Ozark cruised to victory in the first two sets but needed a late rally in the finale to make it a sweep.
Blue Spring South (13-23 overall) led 13-7 and 17-13 before a Tara Venable-led rally put Ozark in front for good. She had about four of her team-high 12 kills in that surge to help the Lady Tigers clinch.
Venable led Ozark in kills (12), blocks (3) and aces (3) against BSS. Brewer said Venable’s best attribute is the positive radius she brings to the court.
“Tara’s a stud player,” Brewer said. “She just brings a lot of fuel to our fire. As she’s grown and matured, she’s grown into understanding how much she impacts her teammates. She doesn’t play hard for recognition. She plays hard because she knows her team needs her to play hard. It really impacts everyone around her and elevates their play, too.”
“Yes, she is good, but she also makes players around her better and that is so critical.”
Skylar Hilton finished with 10 kills and Aubrey Browning added eight kills for Ozark.
The Lady Tigers go to the bootheel next week trying to win the second state title in program history (2009).
“It’s my last trip with Ozark Volleyball that I’m going to be on,” said Cook, one of six seniors on the team. “Playing with my teammates – with the girls that I love – and this coaching staff, we’re a big family here. Knowing this is now extra – we get to do this – and we’re playing for someone who can’t be here. For all of us, it’s just a little bit more special.”
Win or lose, the Lady Tigers believe they’re playing pressure-free at this point.
“We talk about everything that we do is ‘bonus’ for us. Because we played in the district championship last year, now we got past the district championship. Then the quarterfinal win today, going to the final four. Everything’s been bonus for us,” Brewer said. “To not let that be pressure, to play confident and play our game – we’re going to get big kills, we’re going to make some big digs – but to control our consistency and our energy level, that’s been our focus.”
Ozark stat leaders
Kills: Tara Venable 12; Skylar Hilton 10; Aubrey Browning 8
Assists: Cook 34
Digs: Macy Humble 11; Alexis Andela 8
Blocks: Venable 3; Hilton 2; Brinley Watson 2
Aces: Venable 3
