HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: STATE HOPES RIDE ON SECTIONALS

Helen Payne and Erin Hoffman don't expect the competition to be easy, but both coaches feel good about the chances of winning sectional volleyball tournaments today.

"I feel like we're going to make it," said Notre Dame's Payne. "We're playing our best volleyball of the season. I know the competition will be tough, but we're confident."

Said Meadow Heights' Hoffman, "I expect all the teams to be good, but if we play like we have been, then I think we have a good chance."

Notre Dame will compete in the four-team Class 2A sectional at Bloomfield High School while Meadow Heights will take part in the four-team Class 1A sectional at Advance High School.

Sectional winners advance to next weekend's state final four at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg.

Class 2A Sectional(at Bloomfield)

Notre Dame, at 19-8-4, has the poorest record among the four sectional teams, but that doesn't concern Payne. The Lady Bulldogs were hit by a variety of injuries for the first half of the season and didn't really begin clicking until the past several weeks.

"I felt all along we'd be right here," Payne said. "It was just a matter of getting over all the injuries and playing together. They're doing that right now."

Notre Dame will play South Pemiscot (23-7) at 3 p.m., with Clearwater (27-4-1) facing Bismarck (20-5-3) at 4:30. The winners meet at 6 for the championship.

"We split (two sets) with Clearwater at the SEMO Tournament. I know they're a good team," said Payne. "And I'm sure the others are also good."

Payne said the key to the Lady Bulldogs' season was when they beat powerful Meadow Heights in the Meadow Heights Tournament a few weeks ago.

"That's when we got on our roll," she said. "That really got us going."

The Lady Bulldogs have a nice blend of youth and experience. Senior leaders have been Lynne Obermiller and Katie Canfield while the squad's third senior, Venessa Landewee, is just now getting back to full strength after being injured.

A strong junior class features Jen VanGennip, Courtney Vickery, Emily Worley and Libby Beussink while sophomores Ali Tyson and Ashley Millham have also been key performers, although Millham has a sprained ankle and probably won't play today.

"The good thing about this team is we don't really have any one star," Payne said. "We have a real even, solid team. Five girls can kill the ball."

Notre Dame, which went just 10-15-1 last year, has won four district titles but has never advanced out of the sectionals into the state's final four. But, as Payne said earlier, she expects that to change today.

"I really think we're going to do it," she said.

Class 1A Sectional(at Advance)

Hoffman thought her team would be solid this year, but she admits to being somewhat surprised by the kind of season the Lady Panthers have had in posting a brilliant 32-2 record.

"I expected us to be good, because four sophomores started on the varsity last year (when Meadow Heights went 17-7)," said Hoffman. "But I didn't expect this much."

Bernie (23-8-1) and Holcomb (14-3) begin the sectional tourney with a 3 p.m. match, followed by Meadow Heights vs. Winona (30-4) at 4:30. The winners square off at 6 for the title.

"We're excited," Hoffman said. "We know the competition will be really tough. We beat Bernie in three games at the SEMO Tournament, but they're good, and Winona has a great record, just like us."

While Payne pointed to beating Meadow Heights as helping spark her team, Hoffman also mentioned that match as a big turning point in the season.

"We've been playing real well ever since we lost to Notre Dame," said Hoffman. "I think that woke us up. We were getting kind of a big head, but that brought us back down."

The Lady Panthers are still a fairly young team, with only two seniors -- Jessica Bollinger and Emily Heitman -- among their main rotation, which also consists of juniors Holly Boyd, Ashley Brune, Jami Fulton, Tessa Bollinger and Hanna James.

"We're a well-rounded team," Hoffman said. "Everybody contributes."

Like Notre Dame, Hoffman said Meadow Heights has never been able to make it past the sectional round of the playoffs. But, like Payne, she is hoping to change that today.

"If we play like we're capable, then I think we'll be right in there," said Hoffman.