High school volleyball: Cowarts set the table for Clarkton's success

CLARKTON — Supremely talented Clarkton High School setter Brinley Cowart has been named the Tri-County Conference player of the year.

Her mother, Amy, also received recognition as the Tri-County Conference coach of the year.

“Being named player of the year is truly a great feeling,” said Brinley Cowart in an email to the Delta Dunklin Democrat Friday morning.

Brinley Cowart (7) serves during a Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, Tri-County Conference match versus Southland. Cowart finished the season with 70 aces en route to being named conference player of the year. (File photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

“I’ve always had this thought in the back of my head that a setter won’t get noticed for these kinds of awards,” she continued. “It’s mostly always going to be a hitter.”

Brinley Cowart has played volleyball since she was eight years old, and she fell in the love with the position of setter early in this tenure.

A junior, Cowart surpassed 2,000 assists in a career during the regular season. Brinley finished this season with 996 assists to go with 311 digs, 74 kills and 70 ace serves. Overall in three years, she has 2,811 assists.

Brinley Cowart (7, front row) and her mom, Amy Cowart (far right, back row) earned top honors in the Tri-County Conference this year. Brinley Cowart was named conference player of the year, and Amy Cowart coach of the year. The Reindeer celebrated after winning the conference tournament for the first time ever in October. Here�s the team: (Front row, from left), Kaylee Youngblood, Jasmine Day, Nayely Rivera, Lexi Elizondo, Brinley Cowart, Riley Plunkett and Maranda Hernandez. (Back row) Clarkton assistant coach Christina Mathis, Brooke Flanagan, assistant coach Julie Murray, Nabriya White, Alana Crowder, Bree Winchester, Angel Johnson and head coach Cowart. Johnson, Winchester, Elizondo and Rivera also received awards this year. (File photo submitted by the Clarkton School District)

Amy Cowart piloted Clarkton to a stellar season — which featured a 27-7-1 record, the school’s first-ever Tri-County tournament championship and two victories at the “Dig For Life” tournament in Cape Girardeau on Saturday, Sept. 9.

“Being named coach of the year by my peers is humbling and an honor,” Amy Cowart commented. “I’ve been named coach of the year a few times in my tenure at Clarkton, but this one feels more special.”

She continued, “I spend a lot of time in and out of season growing my knowledge as a coach so my players can grow into the best that they can be. To see that time, energy and passion play out through my players is absolutely incredible and satisfying.”

Clarkton's Angel Johnson hits the ball during a Class 1 District 2 tournament match versus Bell City. (File photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

Coach Cowart commented that on her daughter’s award-winning season as well.

“She is an unselfish player who makes everyone else on the floor better,” Coach Cowart said. “For the other coaches to select her as conference player of the year means they see the work she does to make our hitters successful, the glue that holds it all together.”

Brinley Cowart should once again receive state recognition when the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association releases awards later this November.

Bree Winchester (16) attempts to tip the ball between a Bell City double block during a Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, playoff volleyball match at Gideon. (File photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

Brinley Cowart formed a dynamic combination with hitters Bree Winchester and Angel Johnson, both of whom were named to the all-conference first team.

Winchester provided the Reindeer with a team-best 471 kills. Johnson finished with 376 kills, but she also had a slightly higher attack percentage (.229), a metric used to measure efficiency.

Winchester finished with a team-high 82 ace serves. Johnson was tops on solo ace blocks with 20. Winchester and Johnson joined forces with 450 digs. Both girls are college prospects should they choose to play at the next level.

Clarkton's Lexi Elizondo receives a 'high five' from head coach Amy Cowart during a Tri-County Conference volleyball match from mid-October.(File photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

Libero Lexi Elizondo and hitter Nayely Rivera also were recognized. Elizondo was a second-team choice, scooping up a Reindeer-best 430 digs.

Rivera was honorably mentioned, an all-around player compiling 333 digs and putting down 126 kills.