Clarkton volleyball roll past Risco Tigers for 12th shutout of the season

Clarkton's Brinley Cowart swings a hit around Jaelynn Presley from Risco.

Photo by Kaelin Triggs, Delta Dunklin Democrat

CLARKTON, Mo. - The Clarkton Reindeer ran away with another 3-0 victory over the Risco Tigers.

The first set was all Clarkton, with a 25-17 victory. The Tigers began to claw their way back towards the end with a service run from sophomore Leighton Calvert which included an ace. However, a final tipping kill from Clarkton senior Brinley Cowart sealed the first set win. This was Cowarts third scoring attack of the match along with two aces to help extend the lead in set one. She also led both teams by finishing the first set with 14 assists. Fellow senior Angel Johnson had seven kills and two aces. Nabriya White also put down five kills in the first set.

Risco senior Jaelyn Smith helped keep the Tigers afloat with four kills to open up the match. She was assisted on all four of those kills by her fellow senior teammate Lexie Fourthman. She led the Tigers with four assists in the first set.

Smith helped Risco get out to a strong start in the second set, giving them a 7-0 lead on an unanswered service run. She recorded three aces during this run as well as a kill. However, a service run by Cowart brought Clarkton back into the lead, giving them a 12-8 edge over Risco. Cowart’s run included two aces. It continued to stay close throughout the rest of the second set, with Clarkton only pulling away towards the end on a service run by White. She performed two more aces and also had three blocks to defend the lead. Cowart added 11 more assists to her statline, which helped Junior Nayely Rivera get a hot hand and put down six kills in the second set. Risco’s Fourthman had five assists for Smith who had four kills.

Clarkton's Brinely Cowart, 7, sets up Angel Johnson, 8, as she runs to her position for a kill.

Photo by Kaelin Triggs, Delta Dunklin Democrat

After the 25-19 second set win, Clarkton headed into set three 2-0 as they looked to complete the sweep.

The third set saw Clarkton come out with a strong start, leading by as much as eight at one point. However, Jaelynn Presley and Peyton Carlisle from Risco gained hot hands with three kills each and helped bring the Tigers back. Along with Presley’s kills, she defended the net with two blocks. Landri Baker also kept the Reindeer within reach defensively by picking up a number of their attacks. She had five digs at the beginning of the third set, which added to her three digs from the first set. Tied at 11, the third set went back and forth until Clarkton finally started to pull away again. Denise Wellington helped the Reindeer pull away with a six point performance from the service line which included two aces. As the Reindeer led, 24-20, Risco came back to make it a one point game at 24-23. However, Clarkton got the last point for a two point, 25-23, victory.

Cowart helped lead the charge with 33 assists, seven digs and five aces. She also had two kills in the competition. Johnson had the most kills from either side with 16 total. She picked up a double-double while also recording 11 digs along with two aces. Rivera put down 9 kills and an ace while picking up six digs.

Fourthman from Risco led her team in assists, as she successfully set up her hitters 19 times. Baker and Calvert led the defense effort with digs. Baker recorded eight digs while Calvert was right behind her with seven. Along with them, Smith had the most points with 10 kills and three aces. Carlisle and junior Carly Akridge also had five kills and one ace each.

They were able to beat the Tigers 3-0 for their 12th shutout of the season on 13 wins. The Reindeer are now 13-2-1. With this record, Clarkton sits at the top of their MSHSAA Class 1 District 2 assignment. Risco sits in third with a 5-8-1 record. in the same district. The Tigers are right behind Gideon who is ranked second with an 8-3 record.

Next Risco will be on a three-game home stand before they compete in the Gideon tournament. The Gideon tournament will be from Thursday, Sep. 26 through Saturday, Sep. 28.

Clarkton will also stay at home for three more games to finish out their four-game home stand. They will also compete in the Gideon Tournament.