High school volleyball: Clarkton’s Cowart sets school assists mark

Clarkton High School junior setter Brinley Cowart established a new school benchmark for assists in a career.

Meanwhile in Malden, Kennett bounced back from its first loss of the season with a sweep over the host Green Wave.

Those were two of the storylines from Thursday evening’s volleyball matches around the Bootheel.

Former Clarkton setter Reagan Riley (left), current setter Brinley Cowart and head coach Amy Cowart smile for the camera after Brinley set the new school assists record on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in Clarkton. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

“I didn’t do it alone,” Cowart said. “My teammates got me here. I couldn’t have done this without them.”

Cowart recorded her 1,964th assist for the record in a three-game sweep over North Pemiscot — and she’s on pace to surpass 2,000 in a career during the “Dig For Life Challenge” tournament set for this weekend in Cape Girardeau.

“It’s unbelievable, it’s crazy to think about,” Cowart said when asked about the number of assists she has distributed in her career. And it’s not even her senior year yet.

Former Clarkton outside hitter Montana Pearson (right) was recognized as the only Reindeer player to record more than 1,000 kills in a career after a Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, match versus North Pemiscot. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

The previous record holder was Reindeer Reagan Riley, who graduated in 2021.

Clarkton also recognized former standout hitter Montana Pearson after the varsity match versus North Pemiscot. Pearson is the lone girl in school history to break the 1,000-kill barrier with 1,052 of them.

The Reindeer had little trouble with the Mustangs in this Tri-County Conference match, winning by scores of 25-13, 25-14, 25-14.

Cowart, the daughter of head coach Amy Cowart, produced an outstanding night with 35 assists, six ace serves and six digs. Lexi Elizondo also served up six aces.

Senior hitter Bree Winchester, a college prospect, pounded down clinching kills in both the second and third sets. Winchester finished with a match-high 15 kills, and teammate Angel Johnson added 11.

Nayely Rivera added eight digs to round out the major statistical leaders for Clarkton (5-1). North Pemiscot dropped to 1-3.