By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Two days after winning the program’s first-ever district championship, the Seneca volleyball team recorded another first on Thursday night: a sectional victory.
The Indians needed just three sets to shock a Mountain Grove team that entered the night having won 17 of 18 matches and was seeking its 30th win of the year.
“It’s surreal,” Seneca coach Rachel Ayo said. “I don’t think anyone came in here and expected Seneca the underdog to beat Mountain Grove and we did it in three. I’m on cloud nine. I don’t even know how to describe it. I’m excited, I’m happy, the kids are excited.”
Seneca, now 23-11-1, advances to the Class 3 quarterfinal round where the Indians will host Eldon on Saturday.
Ayo’s message to her players on Thursday was simple: the team had already accomplished its preseason goals, so just enjoy it.
“I was like guys, our goal this year was to be a conference and district champion. We completed and accomplished those two goals so go in and have fun, go out and play your hearts out,” she said. “This could be your last time you ever play on this gym floor and your last time ever playing and they came out and played the best volleyball they have played all season. I could not be prouder of them.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
The first set was a close affair with neither team leading by more than three points. Seneca held a 21-18 advantage before the Panthers scored four straight, and Mountain Grove came within a point of putting it away when it led 24-22. Seneca’s Parker Long came up with a kill and Brylee Sage had a big block to help the Indians pull out a 26-24 win.
Seneca jumped out 5-1 in the second and later scored six in a row to make it 23-12 before Mountain Grove made a late run. Kills by Rylee Stenzel and Reagan Hoerning helped get the Panthers to within 23-15, and Mountain Grove later went on a 7-0 run to make it 24-22 after another Hoerning kill.
But the Indians put it away 25-22 and then cruised in the third set. They opened up an 8-1 lead with Sage serving up an early ace. After a quick 4-0 run by the Panthers, Seneca’s Long had a kill and the Indians scored seven of the next eight points to lead 19-9. They closed it out 25-12.
“We passed well and that’s something we’ve honestly struggled with all season was our defense,” Ayo said. “We passed well and whenever we were able to we executed offensively very, very well. We had kill after kill after kill. We had a very good offensive night as well. It was honestly a great night all around the court, offensively and defensively.”
“I think the team with the most energy and that gave the most effort absolutely won tonight,” Mountain Grove coach Ashley Martin said. “The two things that I always stress that wins games is energy and effort and we refused to bring them so therefore we lost.”
Seneca’s Sage had three aces, three blocks and 32 assists. Long had 16 kills and 10 digs. Jera Jameson had 12 kills and two aces. Braxton Raulston had nine digs, and Ella Graham had 10 digs.
