When Ozark volleyball takes the court Saturday for the final time this season, it will also be the final time that sisters Brianna and Bridget Justis play together and are coached by their mother Becky Justis.
Ozark has made four final fours in their time together, and sometimes it has not been easy for the twins with their mom as a coach.
"She just wants the best for us. There are days we have both been kicked out of practice. There are days that it just gets so heated, but you have to remember in the end that she is your mom and she just wants the best for you," Brianna said.
Intense passion is a familial trait for the family.
"You can pretty much tell I am their mother just as far as our reactions, our passion and how fired up we get. We are all three very, very intense and we don't like to lose and we do whatever it takes to win," mom and coach Becky Justis said. "Their emotion and intensity really does bring a lot to this team and to this court."
That intensity and passion is overtly displayed by Bridget when a Tiger player does well on the court.
"I have a lot of energy. I am the energy boost for this team," Bridget said. "This team we ride on energy. We love to get excited. We love to jump up and down and stomp our feet."
On the court, the sisters share a connection and instinctually know what the other will be doing on any given play.
"When a hitter goes up to hit and I can know where Bridget is going, then I can go fill the spot where she is not (at)," Brianna said. "I know what she is going to do in a way."
After this weekend, the sisters will no longer be volleyball teammates as they head to different colleges next fall. Brianna will attend Lindenwood, while Bridget will head to Drury.
Both girls understand being apart and playing on separate teams will be a big adjustment.
"(It) will be a little scary I guess because I have always had her and if I ever needed someone to talk to she is always there and it is not going to be that way, so it is going to be a little scary at first for sure," Brianna said.
Bridget echoed the thought.
"We communicate so well on the court. It is going to be weird playing with people you don't have that with and I have never played without her so I have always had someone I communicate with. It is definitely going to be scary and weird,” she said.
For now they are not thinking about what is happening next fall as they have to focus on the final four in Cape Girardeau this weekend with their eyes on going out on top.
"It would mean the world to us if we could go out together one last time and get a state title," Bridget said.
"Words can't even describe how great that would be (to win a state title) and how awesome that would be to leave our mark on the school with my mom and my family and everything," Brianna said.
Ozark begins play in the final four this afternoon at 4 p.m. with pool play.
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