Lady Tribe locks up share of Bootheel title

Staff photo by Mike Buhler
The Kennett Lady Indians volleyball team recognized its seniors before Thursday's 25-6, 25-8 victory over Hayti. Pictured are (from left) Jody Vancil, Taylor Wake, Mallory Brown, Chrisie Burrow, Ciara Dewrock and manager Ashley Ingram.

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But the Lady Tribe refocused, did not lose another conference game and after a 25-6, 25-8 win against Hayti Thursday night at Kennett High School, won a share of the Bootheel Conference championship for the third straight year.

"When we lost to South Pem early in the year, we just said at that point we've got to win out, just see what happens and put ourselves in a position to give us a chance," Kennett coach Laura Ort said. "That's what we did, kind of refocused after that game and moved some people around. Hopefully we just put ourselves in a good position going into next week and the week after."

On Senior Night for Kennett (15-7-4), the game never was in doubt. After losing the first point of the first set, the Lady Tribe ran off five straight points with Chrisie Burrow on the service line and never looked back.

"We started off the jayvee game and played well," said Ort. "I think the energy from that game kind of carried over into the varsity game. It was Senior Night and they were all up and ready to go. They're just playing with a lot of energy right now and trying to get focused for the end of the year."

Taylor Wake's second ace of the opening set made it 14-3 and Ciara Dewrock slammed down a kill to make it 15-3, then added another later to make it 21-4.

The second set was more of the same, as Dewrock pushed Kennett out to a 11-2 lead with back-to-back kills, and Mallory Brown made it 16-4 with an ace.

Jody Vancil had a pair of kills late, the second of which made it 23-7 before Dewrock closed the match with a kill.

Dewrock led the way with eight kills and six digs, while Wake added four kills, four aces and nine digs. Brown had three aces and four digs, Vancil added three kills and four digs, while Jamie Jarrett added four kills. Burrow dished off 19 assists and added an ace, while Audrey Wynne had three blocks, a kill and an ace.

Kennett also got solid play from sophomores Mackenzie Carr and Morgan Pickens, as Carr had three kills and Pickens added two kills and a block.

"We've had sick kids, so we were kind of forced to move them up," Ort said, "but not forced unpleasantly though. They're stepping up and they're maturing as volleyball players. I think that come the end of October, they're going to be out there and going to help us out."

The Lady Tribe is off until next week's Bootheel Conference Tournament. Seedings and pairings are scheduled to be announced later today.

"It'll be a battle," said Ort. "That's what it's about. It'll be a battle."