By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The last time Strafford failed to win a district championship, Sharknado was a brand new thing.
On Tuesday, the Lady Indians captured a sixth-straight title, defeating arch-rival Fair Grove 25-20, 25-18 in the process.
Senior Kaitlyn Vote led Strafford’s attack with 10 kills.
Against an aggressive Lady Eagle front line, Vote was efficient and effective.
“I just knew that they have a pretty big block, and I had to hit around it,” Vote said. “I dinked corners, and the donut was pretty open. They were scrappy and got there, so I just had to find open shots as best I could.”
Both teams fought tooth-and-nail for momentum in the opening set, which featured ten ties and neither team able to stretch more than a two-point margin throughout the first half.
Then, with the score tied at 17-all, Vote simply took over.
A quartet of kills powered Strafford to a 6-0 run and control of the set, which ended on a block from senior Sue Wiertzema.
Strafford head coach Ashley Bough praised her senior hitter for stepping up and proving the late punch her team needed.
“I was proud of [Vote],” Bough said. “She and Mica [Chadwell] both play six rotations, and they’ve got to give a lot out there. They’re our primary passers and also our primary attackers. Kaitlyn came out tonight — and you could tell it in her eyes — she had that confidence and she wanted it to happen. Super proud of her and all the kids.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE MATCH
While the Lady Indians got off to a slow start in the first set, the team wasted little time finding its stride in the second.
Sparked by a pair of blocks from Wiertzema and senior Kelsie Mayberry, Strafford jumped out to an early 7-3 lead in the second set.
Citing some nerves and pressure from some of the newer players unfamiliar with knockout scenarios, Bough urged her team to maintain its composure.
“I just told them, ‘You have to come out and focus,’” Bough said. “I knew we were nervous, and we have some inexperienced kids out there. Just in that moment, sometimes, it gets the best of you.”
A pair of kills from senior Bailee Morgan helped Fair Grove cut the lead to two at 12-10; however, the Lady Eagles were unable to close the gap any further.
Powered by a trio of kills from senior Taylor Dormann, Strafford closed out the second set, match and district title with a 6-2 run.
After the match, Bough was pleased with her team’s performance, which featured contributions from a host of different players.
Dormann and sophomore Christa Duffel each added 7 kills, while freshman Abby Chadwell led the team with 17 assists.
“I really felt like we had people who stepped in different ways tonight,” Bough said. “It’s been kind of well-balanced, and that’s what we need to be successful down the road.”
Despite the loss, Fair Grove head coach Tonya Peck was pleased with her team’s effort and the journey it took just to reach the district final once again.
Five of Strafford’s six-straight titles have come at the expense of its Highway 125 rival, and the Lady Eagles had to completely rebuild this season after graduating seven seniors and two all-state selections from last year’s squad.
Fair Grove ends the season with a 20-15 record.
“It’s always hard to say goodbye to seniors,” Peck said. “This group has overcome some personal struggles this season, and I couldn’t be more proud of them. We’ve had our ups and we’ve had our downs, but I felt like we actually competed tonight. We played with some heart, and I told them I was proud of them.”
Morgan led Fair Grove with 9 kills, while fellow senior Lizzy Gravitt added 6. Classmate Maranntha Hollman notched 16 assists in the loss.
Up next for Strafford (30-3) is a sectional-round matchup at home on Saturday, Nov. 2 against Diamond.
Class 2 District 10 Championship: Strafford – 2, Fair Grove – 0 (25-20, 25-18)
Semifinal One: Strafford 25-21, 25-7 over Forsyth
Semifinal Two: Fair Grove 25-22, 25-21 over Clever
Stat leaders (unofficial)
Fair Grove
Aces: Chloe Reynaud – 1
Kills: Bailee Morgan – 9, Lizzie Gravitt – 6
Assists: Maranntha Hollman – 16
Digs: Liz Holland – 13, Hollman – 13, Morgan – 10
Strafford
Aces: Madalynn Ward – 1
Kills: Kaitlyn Vote – 10, Christa Duffel – 7, Taylor Dormann – 7
Assists: Abby Chadwell – 17, Ward – 11
Digs: Ward – 7, Vote – 6
