Leopold volleyball team to host sectional for first time

The Leopold volleyball program has recorded 24 district titles since 1979, but the team will get to host a Class 1 state sectional and quarterfinal round for the first time in its history Saturday.

"It's kind of a big deal for us to get to host it," Leopold athletic director Andy Beck said. "I don't think it gives us an advantage in any way because it seems like almost everywhere we go -- even if we travel -- we usually have the most fans."

Leopold coach Sandy Davis said it's "unreal" and such a great opportunity for her players and the Leopold community, but was quick to point out that her players still will have to play their best.

"The volleyball court's the same size at every school. The net's the same height," Davis said. "... Every gym is different. Every gym has got its own [advantages]. We've lost on this gym floor. People have beat us, so it's not like we have that much home-court advantage."

Because of the size of Leopold's gym, there was concern about having to turn spectators away at the door, but Beck said that rather than making seating availability in the gym first come, first serve, each school will have a set number of seats.

Each school has 115 tickets to sell before Saturday. Any seats still available Saturday will be sold at the door.

Class 1 District 2 champion Bernie (20-10-2) will face Class 1 District 3 champion Lesterville (22-10-3) at 3 p.m. Saturday. Class 1 District 4 winner Leopold (29-5) will take on Class 1 District 1 winner Gideon (29-5) at 4:30 p.m.

The winners of the sectional matchups will play a quarterfinal game at 6 p.m., with the winner advancing to the Class 1 final four Nov. 8 and 9 at the Show Me Center.

Leopold won state titles in 1993, 1997 and 2002.

"They want it. Just like every other team at this point wants it," Davis said. "This group is a great group of girls -- their work ethic, their desire, their want. They work so well together. It's just a fun group.

"That's why it's so fun to coach, because of their want and desire. They're working hard, and they know that it's one game at a time."

This is Davis' 10th year as Leopold's coach. During that time, Leopold has won nine district titles and had a third-place state finish.

Four current Leopold players have competed in the sectional round, but none have advanced to the final four.

"It would mean everything, as it would to every coach because just like the players, that's what you work for all year long and when you've got a good group of girls and a good team it's just what every coach wants," Davis said.

Woodland in Class 2

Woodland will be making its first appearance at the Class 2 sectional since 1999 in St. Louis. The Cardinals upset top-seeded Clearwater 25-12, 27-25 in the Class 2 District 2 tournament to advance. For third-year coach Kacie Ritter-Patton, the thought of going to sectionals is one that has motivated her team as well as the school and community.

"My girls are pumped," Ritter-Patton said. "They've never been in this situation before. We have a whole lot of school spirit and school pride behind us. We're having a schoolwide pep rally [today] and the school is bringing a pep bus all the way to St. Louis. Support from the administration and our school is so enriching to the girls, and they keep hearing people talking about it in the hallways at school. Momentum and drive like that makes you want to go out there and perform."

Woodland (24-9-1) will play Class 2 District 3 winner St. Pius X of Festus at 1 p.m. The Lancers (25-7-2) have made consecutive appearances at the state tournament during the past three seasons, including a championship title during the 2011 season and second place finishes in 2010 and 2012. Class 2 District 1 winner Portageville (18-12) will then face Class 2 District 4 winner and host McKinley Classical Leadership Academy (23-7-2). The sectional winners will meet in a quarterfinal match at 4 p.m.

Ritter-Patton said that St. Pius X is a good team and that she is looking forward to playing the Lancers.

"I'm excited to play St. Pius X," she said. "St. Pius X has really good servers who serve really deep and they have smart hitters. And they've been here before."

Ritter-Patton knows that her team will be the underdogs going into sectionals, but she sees this as an advantage.

"I think if you were to ask anybody, especially based upon the last two games we've played, I'd say that we're the underdogs," she said. "But the pressure is not on us, so we have nothing to lose. ... If we come out on fire, I think we're going to shock a lot of people. My girls have confidence. They told me, 'Coach, we didn't let down [against Clearwater in the district title]. We didn't let the pressure get us down.' I think they are handling the pressure just fine."

Mentality and dealing with the pressure in close, contentious games is something that Ritter-Patton believes her team has learned and mastered over the course of the season.

"We're not used to pressure games," she said. "It wasn't until districts when we played Saxony Lutheran when we pulled it out. I've never seen my girls deal with pressure that well. During the Clearwater game [they beat us during season], my girls didn't fold during pressure like we did in the championship of the Woodland Tournament against Leopold. They've learned to deal with it a lot better."

Perryville in Class 3

In Class 3, Perryville will be returning to sectionals in St. Louis for the third year in a row. The Pirates advanced after winning a three-set thriller 25-17, 15-25, 25-21 over rival Notre Dame (32-3-1) in the Class 3 District 1 tournament on the Bulldogs' home court. Perryville coach Dave Mirly said having been at sectionals before will be an advantage for his team.

"Being our third time, we definitely have a good idea of what's going to happen," he said. "The experience will be valuable for the team, and I'm able to prepare them for the pressure situations that'll be there."

Perryville (29-4-5) will take on Class 3 District 4 winner and host University City (9-22) at 4:30 p.m. after Class 3 District 2 winner Windsor of Imperial (27-6-2) plays Class 3 District 3 winner Lutheran South (17-10-3) at 3 p.m. The two teams that prevail will play in a quarterfinal game at 6 p.m. where the ultimate winner will receive the bid to state.

"It's going to be a tough day of volleyball," Mirly said. "Windsor has a very tall and athletic team and they run a quick offense. They won our [Jefferson County] conference with a perfect 5-0 record. They beat Lutheran South in three sets and they've beaten us in two straight sets. I think to an outsider looking in, he'd say that Windsor is the favorite to win this."

Despite the intense competition that they will face, Mirly said he feels like his team is prepared after playing a tough schedule throughout the season and likes its chances.

"All season long, we've taken it one game at a time," he said. "We've stressed the importance of all we care about is our next opponent. We haven't mentioned state since the season started because we knew that we couldn't win state until we actually got there. The fact that this group is taking each game one at a time really gives me confidence that all their hard work will pay off.

"Mental toughness is our team's biggest strength and the way these girls keep battling no matter what the score is. Our defense has been really good and our offense has been pretty good here also. The work ethic and attitude that these girls take every day in practice is amazing. They've been preparing for this day since the summer."

The Pirates can depend on a large crowd and fan base at sectionals on Saturday. Mirly said he is very appreciative of all the support his team has received from the school and community of Perryville.

"The fan support we have for the volleyball program is huge at Perryville," he said. "A lot of students, parents and community members come to our games. We get a lot of these younger kids who are playing club ball for Perryville who sit there in the stands and watch as we play, and it gets them excited to looking forward to putting on a Perryville Pirates uniform one day. We take a lot of pride in this."

Perryville advanced to the state tournament last year. The Pirates took fourth place after falling to St. Pius X of Kansas City 25-15, 25-21.

"The fact that we have won three back-to-back-to-back district championships has been very rewarding for me," he said. "Getting this team to this point in the season is so rewarding. It's very special for me because we're doing it for our one senior Kaylie Hadler because she's such a great person.

"I think the experience we had from last year will give us an advantage up there. But that doesn't make anything happen. We need to treat it like any other game. We just have to go up there and make plays. We're not looking ahead to what could be, all we're doing is focusing one game at a time."

Southeast Missourian reporter Cody Snider contributed to this report.