Lady Mules, Dexter find positives after Lady Bearcats sweep

The Dexter Lady Bearcats celebrate a kill by Kate Nichols (6) during Thursday’s SEMO Conference volleyball match against Poplar Bluff at the Poplar Bluff High School gymnasium. Also pictured are Dexter’s Cali White (left), Karis Kennedy (second from right) and Avery Riley.

DAR/Mike Buhler

The Dexter Lady Bearcats and Poplar Bluff Lady Mules both were able to take some positives away from Thursday night’s volleyball match at the Poplar Bluff High School gymnasium.

For the Lady Bearcats, it was first and foremost a 25-20, 25-21, 25-16 over their SEMO Conference rivals — especially on a night when Dexter got off to a slow start in the first set.

“I feel like the first set especially, I think we started with six or seven hitting errors,” Dexter coach Haylee Orf said. “A couple of them were rough, but most of them were just close and things weren’t going our way. And we knew it, and we knew things would be fine. We talk a lot about staying calm, and composed and confident in moments like that. And I think the girls did a good job on keeping their heads.”

The Lady Mules (17-13) also started strong the second set, but Dexter again regrouped to regain control of the match.

“(We) let Poplar Bluff play with us a little more than we wanted them to,” Orf said. “But again, the girls kept their heads and I feel like they got it in control. I told them that can’t keep happening and that can’t last too long when we know those errors don’t happen too often, especially back-to-back-to-back like they (did). They showed grit and they continued to fight. I’m proud of them coming out on top.”

For Poplar Bluff and head coach Adriann D’Amico, it gave her team an opportunity to show it could go toe-to-toe with one of the top teams in Southeast Missouri with the postseason just around the corner.

“We’ve been struggling to just be consistent and play strong ball against these tougher teams that we’re seeing towards the end of our schedule,” D’Amico said. “I was super proud of these girls tonight. They came out and they battled. We pushed Dexter those first two sets, (but) at the end, I think just that tiredness and that inability to finish at the end was what really cost us. But, man, they came out aggressive. They were communicating well, and we were fighting to win — and that’s what you want to see towards the end of your season.”

Kate Nichols had a monster night for Dexter (19-3-1), racking up 21 kills and 11 digs, while Klaire Essner had nine kills and two aces and Mauriona Menley added seven kills and two solo blocks. Avery Riley had 19 digs, while Karis Kennedy added five kills and a dozen digs. Setter Cali White had 38 assists and five aces.

Most of all for the Lady Bearcats, Thursday’s match gave them a chance to have a “grit” game with the Stoddard County Activities Association Tournament and districts next on the schedule.

“It’s important because things can go any way, shape or form in volleyball sometimes,” Orf said. “You’ve got to be able to know it’s going to be okay and stay composed, even if you’re down 10 points, because crazier things have happened. Especially against big schools and good schools, runs happen — whether it’s yours or theirs, you’ve got to know that things can turn around. And I feel like the girls have gotten so much stronger mentally and really do a good job of keeping their heads.”

The Lady Mules head to Cape Girardeau on Monday to face Notre Dame before coming home Tuesday to take on Saxony Lutheran, while Dexter opens SCAA Tournament play on Monday in Marble Hill against Richland.