COLUMN: Time growing short for Show-Me Center in state volleyball

Time is growing short.

The Show-Me Center in Cape Girardeau will be serving as the site for the Missouri State High School Activities Association state volleyball tournament for just two more years.

Then it’s off to Civic Arena in St. Joseph beginning with the 2025 season. Missouri Western University will serve as the event host.

This year will mark the 49th annual state championship, which will take place from Nov. 2-4.

This sports editor had the privilege of attending the 2020 and 2021 state competitions while working for the Ste. Genevieve Herald.

Valle Catholic, under the direction of legendary coach Nancy Fischer, placed second in Class 2 in 2020 and then third in Class 3 the following season.

Gideon placed second in Class 1 in 2021, swept by Miller in the championship match.

The Bulldogs have had a longstanding tradition of success with several district titles since 2012.

Bulldog head coach Kristy Ashabranner commented on the state tournament experience from two years ago.

“It seemed like it went by very quickly,” Ashabranner said. “It was a blur. Things happen so fast.”

Ashabranner said it was comforting for Gideon fans since the trip covers just 79.4 miles (with 80 minutes of drive time) according to Google Maps.

“It was nice to be close to home for our fans to be able to attend,” she said.

The 2021 squad featured the following players: Haley Stover, Hope Raymond, Faith Raymond, Skyla Woodall, Jayden Buchanan, Gala Darmofal, Malerie Sharp, Allisa Rogers, Jaelyn Smith, Kaylee Ashabranner, Kaitlyn Clenney, Gracy Lawrence, Madison Bonee and Lily Watkins.

Mady Clenney was manager. Kaitlyn Clenney earned Tri-County Conference player of the year honors, and she was all-state, too. Sharp and Ashabranner were all-state selections.

Beginning in 2025, should Gideon qualify for the Final Four, the drive will cover a whopping 477.4 miles and seven hours, five minutes on the road.

When current Gideon assistant coach Cassy Wolverton (now St. Cin) was on the 2004 state team, the tournament was conducted at the Multipurpose Building on the University of Central Missouri campus in Warrensburg.

If this sports editor had it his way, the state volleyball tournament would be in Warrensburg every year as a tribute to Dr. Peggy Martin, the best coach the

Show-Me State has ever seen in this sport. Those 1,064 wins in 33 seasons mean a lot, don’t they?

Matt Casper, the head softball and volleyball coach at Holcomb also knows a thing or two about state championships. The Hornets have been regulars at Killian Softball Complex in Springfield in recent years.

“It’s always the big goal every season, to be a state champion,” Casper said.

The Hornets are coming off winning the Class 1 District 1 volleyball title in 2022, with a 23-10-1 record. Holcomb has earned district garland three times since 2018.

“I think it’s special for the kids to go somewhere they aren’t used to going,” said Casper, who said the motivation to reach the Final Four will never change based on venue.

Civic Arena is scheduled to serve as host site in 2026 and 2027, so Cape Girardeau will have to wait a few years before being part of the bid process again.

“It’s an honor to host a state championship in our community,” Brett Esley, the director of development for the St. Joseph Sports Commission, said in a prepared press release last year. “Volleyball participation in our area is huge, coupled with the success of our local high schools, we feel St. Joseph and Civic Arena is the perfect fit for the event.”

MSHSAA allows cities and golf courses to bid on serving as a state championship site.

We will see if one of the 11 schools in the Delta Dunklin Democrat coverage area has what it takes to make a trip to the Show-Me Center.

Time is of the essence, isn’t it?

State Tournament Sites

Fall Sports Only

Football: Faurot Field, Columbia

Volleyball: Show-Me Center, Cape Girardeau

Girls Tennis: Cooper Tennis Complex, Springfield

Cross Country: Gans Creek, Columbia

Fall Softball: Killian Softball Complex, Springfield

Soccer: World Wide Technology Park, Fenton

Swimming and Diving: St. Peters Rec Plex, St. Peters

Girls Golf: Class 1, Sedalia Country Club, Sedalia; Class 2, Twin Hills, Joplin; Class 3, Crown Pointe, Farmington; Class 4, Silo Ridge, Bolivar