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Emotional Hornets cherish championship memories but aren't ready for title run to end
Advance players hug after their team beat Lesterville to win their third-straight MSHSAA Class 1 state volleyball championship Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.
DEXTER STATESMAN/Kyle Smith
CAPE GIRARDEAU — The emotions overcame Advance coach Erin Hoffman and her players after the Hornets won their third-straight MSHSAA Class 1 state volleyball championship Saturday.
After defeating Lesterville 25-13, 25-15, 18-25, 25-8 at the Show-Me Center, teammates and coaches were cheering, hugging and crying.
“I’m feeling happy and sad,” senior Nyah Wilson said. “I’m happy for what we’ve done, what we’ve accomplished over the years, but sad because I don’t want this to stop.”
Senior Meadow Morse was still emotional after the trophy and medal presentation.
“I’m not ready to be done. I love them all so much,” Morse said. “I can’t stop crying. … I know our community is so proud of us. Coach is so proud. I just love everybody and it’s been so much fun.”
This group of Hornets’ resumé includes three state championships, four district championships, three SCAA tournament championships, three Perryville tournament titles and the big-school Jackson tournament championship this season.
The team’s seven seniors went undefeated in junior high and posted a combined 110-5-3 record during their final three years of high school.
Senior Alyssa Miles, Morse and Wilson played on the varsity team for parts of their freshman season and helped the team win a district title and compile a 27-7-1 record.
“I don’t think we will really fathom until a few days later how huge it was to win three in a row,” Hoffman said.
Advance became the first school to win three straight state titles since Lafayette (Wildwood) won six straight from 2011-16, the sixth team to win three straight since the turn of the century and the 13th team overall to accomplish the feat.
SCAA rival Bernie won three straight from 1994-96 and Incarnate Word posted two three-peats.
Happy Hornets
The Hornets were their usual fun-loving, energetic selves. Before the match began, they shared a cheer usually limited to only team members with their fans.
“At the beginning, we clapped our hands and did our little cheer,” Miles said. “That’s what we do on the bus before every game. It just gets us in the mood and sets the tone. Dana Below, our assistant coach, she gets us fired up on the bus.”
After the second set, they led their fans in the roller-coaster dance, and they sang along to “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson between the third and fourth sets.
When the match ended and the trophies and medals were passed out, the players chanted “I believe we just won” to their fans.
“They were a little tight at moments, but even that third set when we were about to lose it, they were still out there singing and dancing to the music playing over the intercom,” Hoffman said. “They’re just a special group.”
What’s next?
Two of Advance’s seniors plan to play college volleyball. Wilson has verbally committed to play for NCAA Division-II Lindenwood University in St. Charles, and Miles said she has a few schools in mind but hasn’t made a decision.
Morse isn’t sure about playing in college.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about it,” Morse said. “I think I’m going to play club volleyball this year and see how that goes. If I find somewhere I want to play, I’ll play.”