High school volleyball: Holcomb tradition continues despite sectional exit

HOLCOMB — The Holcomb High School volleyball team was the last one standing in The Delta Dunklin Democrat coverage area on Thursday, Nov. 26.

Bell City eliminated Holcomb in three sets by scores of 25-20, 25-18, 25-13 in a Class 1 sectional match.

“Bell City is a very strong team,” Holcomb head coach Matt Casper noted. “They hit well from the middle and outside. They were able to mix it up effectively with a good setter.”

Holcomb�s Landynn Hodges attempts to hit the ball past Bell City�s Eliana Bowling (5). Hodges and Hendrix will return and form part of the Hornets� nucleus for the 2024 season. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

In turn, Advance swept the Cubs Saturday, 25-19, 25-19, 25-12 as the orange-and-black Hornets moved on to the state’s Final Four.

Advance, the defending Class 1 state champion, will play Galena at 6 p.m. Friday in the state semifinals. The Hornets are an impressive 33-3-3, but the Bears have lost just once (Spokane) and tied another (Fordland).

Both Spokane and Fordland are Class 2 schools, so Galena has defeated everyone in its own class.

Holcomb's Maleigh Lemings (4) capped off a strong senior season with a solid performance in the Class 1 sectional round. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

(Look for a complete Missouri State High School Activities Association state tournament schedule accompanying this story.)

Holcomb posted a record of 21-11-2 this season, one of three schools here to record 20-plus win seasons. Clarkton finished with a 27-7-1 mark, and Gideon 21-9-1.

“I am very proud of our girls season,” Casper said. “They had a great year, capped off with another 20-win season and district title.”

From a historical standpoint, Holcomb has captured four district titles since 2018. Seniors Kaetlyn Danley, Maleigh Lemings, Lilyan Cantell and Jasmine White were part of a recent run of back-to-back crowns.

Lemings pounded down eight kills and had 14 digs in her final scholastic match. Danley also scooped up 14 digs and she had 11 assists in Holcomb’s 6-2 offense.

“This senior group will be missed,” Casper said. “They have made big contributions to this program for the last four years, both on and off the court.”

The Hornets have produced a four-year record of 76-37-4 with these seniors, a remarkable achievement.

Chloe Hendrix had a fine all-around match with 13 digs, four kills and two aces. Ava Gurley contributed a Hornet-high 17 digs to go with seven assists. Zilliah Privett contributed five kills and sophomore Landynn Hodges four kills and one ace stuff.

Bell City (22-12-2) had plenty to celebrate this year, too. The Cubs rolled through Clarkton and Gideon in district matches en route to facing Holcomb.

In the win over Holcomb, Madison Jines surpassed the 2,000 assists mark, considered the standard of excellence for a scholastic setter. Impressive hitter Eliana Bowling had 13 kills to reach the 1,000 mark in her exemplary career.

Portageville’s season also came to an end last week in a straight-set loss to Scott City (25-13, 25-21, 25-22) Thursday. It was the final match for seniors Aaliyah Larry, Jayla Weddington, Laney Stone and Lily Priggel.

The Bulldogs finished 28-5-2, and have plenty of weapons coming back for the 2024 season.

Arcadia Valley (Ironton) knocked off Scott City in the Class 2 sectional final (25-20, 25-21, 25-17), in what some coined an upset. The Tigers will play Fair Grove in the state semifinals.

POSTSEASON AWARDS

Here are the publication dates for postseason awards stories in the Delta Dunklin Democrat.

SEMO Conference and Class 3 District 1, Bootheel Conference and Class 2 District 1 honors are set for Nov. 9. Tri-County Conference and Class 1 District 1 and District 2 awards will be released Nov. 11.

Players who receive all-state accolades of any type will receive a separate story.