St. Vincent’s boo-tiful performance leads to sectional win over Portageville

St. Vincent celebrates a win over Portageville in the sectional round of the MSHSAA Class 2 State Tournament on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

PERRYVILLE, Mo. — St. Vincent conjured a spooky victory on Halloween night, casting a spell over Portageville with a 3-0 sweep in the sectional round of the MSHSAA Class 2 Tournament. 

The Lady Indians’ (21-8-5) supernatural skills transformed the court into a haunted house for the Lady Bulldogs (30-6-2), who were lost in a labyrinth of horror.

“Our passing really set the tone for everything,” said St. Vincent coach Darren Verseman. “Our setters had options and the hitter did their jobs. I was really happy with the result, and we’ve really started hitting our stride and peak over the last few weeks.”

In the first set, St. Vincent raced out to a 7-2 lead. Portageville, however, showed signs of life when Glo Farmer delivered a powerful kill, narrowing the gap to 9-6. 

Yet, the Lady Indians were not to be outdone. Alaina Cates, with back-to-back kills, extended the lead to 14-6, leaving Portageville in a fog of confusion.

The Lady Bulldogs attempted to break free from their opponents’ grasp, narrowing the gap to 22-19. 

However, St. Vincent’s Brie Rubel delivered a decisive blow, securing the first set 25-20 with a kill.

“The connection between our setters and middle hitters was just phenomenal,” Verseman said. “That always speaks to how good the passing was — Even on some off-passes, they made good sets — They didn’t have to struggle too hard to get the ball to the middle, and it really paid off.”

The Lady Indians continued their reign of terror in the second set, dominating the service line to establish an 8-3 lead.

Portageville struggled to decipher the dark magic behind Emmendorfer’s serves, allowing the Lady Indians to seize control of the set. Cates once again delivered the coup de grace, securing a 25-11 victory with a kill.

“We played really well together as a team,” said senior Allison Bierck. “We kept each other up. No matter if we lost a couple in a run, we always came right back and answered their runs. We cheered for each other, stayed positive, and got the job done.”

The final set saw St. Vincent unleash a different breed of terror, as a group of seasoned veterans, led Brigid Sauer, took center stage on their home court for the final time. 

“That was a salute to the seniors,” Verseman said. “That was an all senior lineup that I put out there. I did make one sub for a junior who has been hurt and hasn’t played much. It was just about allowing the seniors to have one big last hurrah at home.”?

The Lady Indians still control the set for the most part, ultimately securing a 25-18 victory. 

Sauer, a force to be reckoned with, dominated the net with team-highs in kills (9) and blocks (6). 

Emmendorfer, meanwhile, orchestrated the offensive symphony with the most assists (18), while Brie Rubel patrolled the backline, leading the team with 16 digs.

“We passed, served and serve-received well,” said senior Mallory Patrick. “Our team chemistry is really good right now. Everyone is doing their part and that allows us to be successful.”

With this victory, St. Vincent advances to the quarterfinal round of the state tournament, where they’ll travel to  Jefferson (20-8-0) on Saturday at 3 p.m.

“Our positivity and communication is key,” Sauer concluded. “We have to keep the same vibes and momemtum rolling. We’ve been working hard, so I’m glad it is paying off.”

While the Lady Bulldogs’ season came to an end, they should be proud of their accomplishments. They fought valiantly against a formidable opponent, showcasing their determination and skill. Despite the final outcome, Portageville’s young players gained valuable experience and will undoubtedly use this as motivation to strive for future success.

“The girls left it all out there on the court,” said Portageville coach Sasha Kellams. “Effort-wise, I couldn’t have asked for a better group. We made some errors, but I’m super proud of these girls. It just wasn’t our year. Our two seniors have left an impressive legacy here. We have a young bunch, and hopefully, they’ll let this light a fire and motivates them to get to the next level.”