MHSVCA hosts banquet in Jackson

More than 30 high school volleyball players from across the state flocked to Jackson High School on Saturday to participate in the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association All-State Banquet.

According to its website, the MHSVCA is a volunteer organization of high school coaches who work to promote the sport of volleyball throughout the state. Coaches must be members of the association in order to nominate their players for all-region, all-state and academic all-state honors. First-year president Julie Brandmeyer served as director of the banquet. Brandmeyer coached at Jackson before taking the helm at Saxony Lutheran this past season.

The local participants at Saturday's banquet included Perryville senior hitter Alex Spears. Spears, a three-time all-state selection, accumulated 346 kills, 219 digs and 42 blocks in her senior season and helped lead the Pirates to a 25-9-1 record.

Saxony Lutheran senior libero Abigail Bergman was also in attendance at the banquet. Bergman notched 304 digs in her last season for the Crusaders, who finished their season at 16-15-5 and brought home their first-ever district volleyball plaque after losing the Class 2 District 2 Tournament match to Bloomfield. The Wildcats went on to take fourth place at the Class 2 state tournament.