Long Beach ended South Jones' volleyball season for a second-straight year in three consecutive sets (25-22, 25-13, 25-23) Tuesday night. This time in the 5A South State Championship.
Lady Braves head coach Kayla Norris highlighted her team’s no-give-up attitude despite the season-ending loss.
"We have a pretty special set of girls," said Lady Braves head coach Kayla Norris. "The fact that we've made it this far to South State with a super-young team is a huge deal for us. We are competing in volleyball and against teams that have been playing for the last 15-20 years. It's a
big deal for South Jones and the city of Ellisville in general. It's awesome to be a part of a program like that. Our girls have fought hard to make it this far."
The third set was especially interesting, featuring 13 lead changes, most of which fell in South Jones’ favor. The Lady Braves led by as many as four, 11-7, but could never separate enough to hold favorable momentum. Long Beach regained a lead late in the set, 24-23, and scored one final point to win in straight sets.
“That third set was especially tough,” said Norris. “The pressure was really on us. We played a lot of sophomores out there, but we’re looking forward to having them back next year.”
South Jones tied Long Beach on two separate occasions in the second set but never managed a lead. In the first set, the Lady Braves won three straight points to begin the match. However, Long Beach answered with five straight, then held its lead throughout.
“We’re going to miss our seniors,” added Norris. “Our seniors felt the pressure as well. Emotions were running high, knowing that this was the end of the road for them if they lost it.”
South Jones finished the 2020 volleyball season 11-7 overall and 3-1 in Region 5-5A, capturing its second-straight region title in just two years of region competition.
Seniors included Lexi Bullock, Abby Nix, Mackenzie Golemon, Ivy Zickus, and Kaitlyn Stiglet.
