By Chris Parker (For OzarksSportsZone.com
Rogersville is heading back to the Class Final Four for the first time since 2010 after a thrilling three-set sectional win over Helias Catholic and a two-set sweep of Sullivan in the quarterfinals.
First up for the Wildcats was 32-3-2 Helias Catholic; the state’s No. 1 team according to MaxPreps.
The first set did not go as planned for the Lady Wildcats as they fell 25-20 and never led.
“The first game they came out nervous. It was by just a step. We were there, but we were just a step shy of everything.” Rogersville head coach Tammy Miller said.
Miller’s message to her team was simple.
“We talked about following game plan, stick with the course, don’t quit and keep going at them. Then they saw the benefits of that,” Miller said.
“We just came back into the huddle and said we have to pick it up,” senior Ashley Pierson said. “We followed through with that. We got some momentum and we never let down after that.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE HELIAS MATCH
Rogersville put the hammer down in the second set by rattling off an 8-2 run to extend the lead from 8-6 to 16-8. The Lady Wildcats would not look back in finishing off a 25-16 second set win to force a decisive third set.
The third set saw the Lady Crusaders jump out to a 3-0 lead.
“I was a little concerned about them, but they kept at it,” Miller said. “It was just awesome. They followed game plan to the T.”
Down 4-1, Rogersville rattled off a 9-2 run to take control on the way to a 25-18 third set win to take the win only to turn around and have to prepare for a quarterfinal match with Sullivan 40 minutes later.
“It was definitely emotional. We went into the locker room and (said) we have to respect them (Sullivan). They are a good team too. To get to the final eight they have to be a good team,” Pierson said.
Freshman Birdie Hendrickson was the star of the match with 16 kills. Pierson had 15 digs. McKenna Miller led in assists with 22. Senior Bay Ivie tallied six blocks.
This marked the fifth consecutive trip to the quarterfinals for Rogersville with the Lady Wildcats coming up empty the last four tries.
“We have a mountain in our locker room. We talked about how close we were. We were one step away and we had been one step away for about the past five years. We talked about the climb,” Miller said.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE SULLIVAN MATCH
Rogersville struggled to start the match with Sullivan, trailing 10-9 at one point.
“We struggled at the beginning. I told the kids that Sullivan was scrappy and they would keep the ball alive, and they did,” Miller said.
Rogersville went on a 13-3 run and was never challenged again in a 25-18, 25-12 sweep of Sullivan.
“It is really exciting. We have worked really hard,” Pierson said. “I am just so proud that I get to go there with all the younger girls as well as my other seniors Hanna and Bay. We have put so much work this year.”
Birdie Hendrickson and Gabby Massengale had six kills each in the match. Pierson had 13 digs, and Miller had 15 assists.
Rogersville (33-4) will now head to Cape Girardeau with Lutheran South (31-3-2), Pleasant Hill (34-2-1) and St. Francis Borgia (22-13-2) to contend for a state championship.
“We are going to prepare for (the Final Four) like we did for Helias. We are going to take each team and look at them. We have to play each of them in pool play and let’s hope for the best,” Miller said.
“We are going to keep it intense and do what we have always done,” Pierson said. “We are going to work on the little things because we know if we work on the little things then we can achieve anything together.”
Rogersville will open pool play at 3 p.m. on Friday in Cape Girardeau against St. Francis Borgia.
