In the MSHSAA Class 4 volleyball tournament, St. Pius X defeated Webb City Cardinals in four sets on Wednesday night in the state semifinal to earn a berth in the state championship with a hard-fought 25-23, 25-21, 18-25, 25-20 victory.
St. Pius X jumped out to an early lead behind a ferocious serving attack that amassed eight aces and forced 17 Webb City errors across the first two sets. The Storm's middles, anchored by a relentless front line, converted 16 of their 32 kills in the opening frames, hitting .320 as a team while the Cardinals struggled at .205, their usual offensive firepower muted by Festus's suffocating blocks totaling 11 on the night, including five solos.
The Cardinals clawed back fiercely in the third set, fueled by outside hitter Addy Maxwell's eight kills on 14 swings at a .357 clip. Maxwell's spikes, paired with Savannah Crane’s 41 assists, ignited a 19-10 run that ended in Webb City’s favor. Marie Harper added 12 kills and three blocks for the Cardinals
St. Pius X refused to yield and claimed the fourth. Setter Avery Gardner's 12 assists for Webb City couldn't stem the tide as Festus's opposite hitter Javyn Pouche exploded for 11 kills on 28 attempts at .357, her timely tips and rolls exploiting gaps in the Cardinals' defense.