Lady Lions fall in sectional to No. 1 Scott City

SEMO News Service photo by Kit Doyle Senath-Hornersville's Jami Jackson tips the ball over the net against Scott City in the sectionals Saturday at Piedmont. [Click to enlarge]

The Lions, who won their first district volleyball title last week, lost to Scott City 25-7, 25-8 at Clearwater High School in Piedmont.

"When you get beat by the best, you've got nothing to hang your head about," Senath-Hornersville coach Lori Hoffman said, "and I think they are the best."

The Rams, who are ranked No. 1 in Class 2, clinched their second consecutive trip to the final four later in the day with an identical 25-7, 25-8 over St. Vincent.

"They have some big hitters and it's just really hard to stop them when they get swinging," Hoffman said.

The Lions middle hitters Jami Jackson and Megan Smith, who were relied on for much of the team's offensive production, found themselves facing bigger counterparts throughout the match.

Jackson finished with one kill and three blocks while Smith led the team with three kills.

"The plan was to try to tip," Hoffman said. "We were hoping that they were big and slow. We were going to try and tip some, but it just rarely worked out where we got the ball set up. It was just coming hard at us."

The Lions finished with a record of 23-8-1.

"We've had a good year," Hoffman said. "When they walked off the court, I know the score doesn't show it, but I think we hung in there. We played. The girls never quit, they worked until the end and they were up even after the game."