By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
When it’s time to close out a victory, it’s nice to have your Division I hitters in the right spot.
Julia McCown and Katie Vorhies had 12 kills apiece, including several late in the second set as Ozark defeated Willard 2-0 (25-21, 25-22) Tuesday night in a Central Ozark Conference showdown.
“I was really happy, the way it worked out, that we ended with them in the front row,” said Ozark coach Adeana Brewer. “We put them in the front row with our setter, because we’re in a two-hitter rotation, and it just ended from point 20 to point 25 that they were the ones in the front row.
“So, it couldn’t have worked out better for us as far as matchups.”
Willard was on the verge of forcing a third set after back-to-back kills from senior co-captain Daisie Cruse put the Black and White Tigers ahead 19-16.
That’s when McCown (Missouri State commit) and Vorhiss (Harvard commit) took over. After trailing 19-16, Ozark scored nine of the next 12 points.
“We knew when they were on the net together, that’s a strength rotation for Ozark,” said Willard coach Jamalee Hancock.
Ozark setter Kennedee Anderson dished out 33 assists. Holly Lugginbill added 20 digs.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE MATCH
“From point 18 to point 25 in that second set, I felt like our game elevated,” Brewer said.
The victory puts Ozark (21-3 overall, 7-0 COC) alone in first place in the conference standings and locks up the No. 1 seed for its district tournament in a few weeks.
Since dropping September matches to Kickapoo and Rogersville, Ozark has found its groove. Ozark’s lost only one match since September 11: A three-set battle against likely Class 4 final four participant St. Teresa’s Academy.
“When the calendar turns to October, it seems to bring out the best in us,” Brewer said.
Ozark was first to 15 in both sets. Willard never trailed by more than four in either set but played from behind for most of the match.
“Ozark plays at a fast level,” Hancock said. “Coming out, it took us a while to adjust to them digging a lot of stuff that normally goes down for us.”
“But we never gave them big leads or big runs, which is something we’ve been focusing on. We kept it close in both sets, so I was proud of my team for battling until the end.”
Cruse led Willard with five kills, and Maddy Bushnell and Emily Terry added four kills apiece. Ashton Wildermuth had 18 assists and nine digs.
Willard saw its 11-match winning streak come to an end. Willard beat Rogersville in three sets over the weekend in the championship game of its own tournament.
Ozark hosts Carthage for senior night this Thursday. Willard (26-4 overall, 5-2 COC) hosts Joplin for its senior night on Thursday.
If they can advance through districts, Willard and Ozark could meet again in the state quarterfinal round.
