Lady Owls second at Sedalia tourney

Junior Becca Keller goes high to blast a shot for the Lady Owls. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

SEDALIA -- Both the Marshall and Santa Fe volleyball teams made it out of pool play Saturday in the Smith-Cotton Tournament at Sedalia, but neither won its trophy match.

After finishing third the last three years, the Lady Owls made the trip to the finals with the tourney's best pool record at 5-1. However, there they met up with Class 3, District 13 nemesis Grain Valley -- who beat them for the second time this season, 25-16, 25-19, to take the title.

Senior Morgan Ryther and junior Becca Keller each had three kills during the championship contest, but Marshall was plagued by 14 attack errors and 11 missed digs.

"It's hard to win a game when your opponent doesn't even earn their points," remarked MHS head coach Gentry Lark.

Keller also had nine digs and junior Susan Skogsberg blocked four shots against the Lady Eagles.

"We played a little better in Game 2, but passing was not as good as what these girls are capable of," Lark lamented. Still, "overall, it was a great day."

The Lady Owls opened with two wins -- 25-22, 25-19 over Smith-Cotton and 25-18, 25-10 over Versailles, which eventually finished third -- but then split their final pool match against Stover, 25-21, 27-29.

Ryther knocked down 17 shots during pool play and Keller and senior Jordan Reith each had 12. Senior Kim Deutsch pulled up 19 digs, Keller had seven aces among her team-high 18 service points and senior Aubrie Plummer assisted 40 of Marshall's 71 kills.

The Lady Chiefs split their first two pool tilts against Grain Valley (16-25, 27-25) and Warrensburg (12-25, 25-17), but then rolled over the host Lady Tigers' JV (25-13, 25-17).

Versailles won the third-place match, 25-23, 25-22, rallying from a 22-19 deficit to take the first game.

The Lady Tigers used a nine-point run 15-9 to assume command of the second game -- although Santa Fe made a later charge to close an eight-point deficit, pulling to within one at 23-22.

Junior Molly Sander led the Lady Chiefs with 21 kills and four aces, sophomore Lauren Zitelman contributed seven spikes and five blocks, senior Cassie Prior made 18 saves and senior Lauren Aversman had a solid 14 kills and 17 digs.

Marshall (8-8-1) is scheduled to host Chillicothe today, while Santa Fe (8-3-2) will be at home Tuesday for an I-70 Conference clash with Wellington-Napoleon.