Farmington ousts Jackson in two games

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Farmington Knights simply proved too powerful Tuesday night.

Jackson was outmatched at the net all night and fell to the top-ranked Knights 25-13, 25-17 in the first semifinal at the Class 4 District 1 volleyball tournament.

"They did everything," Jackson senior Kylie Seyer said. "They blocked all our hits and they hit well. We struggled with our offense."

Farmington asserted itself early and often at the net.

The Knights' 6-footer Rachel Williams had a block and a kill and 5-11 Kelly Peterson added a kill to stake Farmington to an early 7-3 lead in Game 1.

Jackson narrowed the lead to 7-5 before Farmington proved its top ranking.

The Knights went on a 10-1 run that featured an impressive performance at the net. The Indians trailed 18-7 when the rally stopped.

"They served really tough," Jackson coach Maile Gannon said. "Things kind of fell apart for us. They blocked us well, we couldn't get a swing to fall. Farmington is playing on top of their game."

Jackson failed to make Game 1 close due in large part to the dominating presence of Williams at the net.

The sophomore often altered the Indians' attack.

"She created a lot of problems for us," Gannon said. "She is a tremendous player, extremely competitive. She plays hard and is involved in the game. She's a force at the net."

Added Seyer: "She is good. We couldn't match up our blocks with her."

The Indians jumped on Farmington early in Game 2.

Farmington got up 2-1, but a 5-0 Jackson run gave the Indians a 6-2 lead.

"We talked a lot better," Seyer said. "We didn't want to lose. We came out a lot stronger, but Farmington is a good team."

The lead failed to last long.

The Knights rallied and tied it at 7-7 when Jaden McBride split two Indians defenders with a spike.

Farmington looked to be pulling away when it took a 13-9 lead, but the Indians kept their composure.

Jackson cut the lead to 13-12 on a crafty tip by Laurie Clippard.

Another big run doomed the Indians.

Farmington won six of the next seven points to take a commanding 19-13 lead.

"We were hanging in there and doing good things," Gannon said. "Then we let them go on a run. That came back to haunt us."

Jackson made one last effort, cutting the lead to 21-16 on a Farmington error, but the Indians failed to get closer.

Clippard paced the Indians with four kills, five digs and three blocks. Kelsey McDowell added seven assists, three digs and two kills, while Seyer added 10 digs and two kills.

Jackson finished the season 12-18.