SCAA: Hornets set for title-game rematch with Bearcats

ESSEX – The Advance High School volleyball train continues its chug-along path toward another title tonight, as the Hornets will battle Dexter in the championship game of the Stoddard County Athletic Association Tournament at Richland High School at 8:30 p.m.

The match will be a sequel to last year’s tournament title game, which the Hornets (27-3-3) won 3-1 over the Bearcats after falling to Dexter in the 2021 semifinals.

“We need to be more productive,” veteran Advance coach Erin Hoffman said on Wednesday after her team topped Woodland 25-16, 25-17, 25-14 in the semifinal round. “Sometimes when we hit, we just don’t have a purpose, or we wind up and completely change our form.”

The Hornets have managed to “have a purpose” enough this season, as they won the Dig For Life Tournament championship earlier this season, and will vie for their fifth MSHSAA state championship when the postseason begins in a week.

“We need to play solid, fundamental volleyball (against Dexter),” Hoffman continued, “and have a purpose to what we do.”

Against the Cardinals (12-17), Advance did several things well, but none more impressive than the serving of senior Kaylee Cline.

Cline notched 30 service points over the three sets against Woodland, which wasn’t surprising to Hoffman, who has been pretty pleased with her team’s serving this fall.

“It actually has been pretty good,” Hoffman said of her team’s ability to start possessions on a positive note. “We had a girl miss tonight, and everybody (was surprised), because she never misses, but it has been pretty good.”

On Wednesday, it was Cline’s turn to shine in that aspect of play, however, Hoffman said different players have had exemplary nights in different games.

“It kind of depends on the night,” Hoffman said. “If their flow is on, then they are really good.”

In only nine of the Hornet's 33 matches this season have they dropped a set. However, one of those matches was a 3-1 win over the Bearcats, who advanced to the title game by surviving a five-set thriller over Bell City on Wednesday, last month.

First-year Bearcat coach Haylee Orf has been wanting another opportunity to compete against Advance ever since.

“We’re excited,” Orf said of the match-up. “We know that it will be a great ballgame. As long as our girls come out and battle, we’ve got a chance.

“It will be a lot of fun.”

The championship match will follow the third-place game, which pits Bell City (18-9-2) against Woodland.

Those two teams have split matches this season, with the Cardinals winning a 3-1 decision in the season-opening Woodland Tournament, but the Cubs sweeping Woodland 3-0 last month in Marble Hill.

Wildcats win

Bloomfield won the SCAA Tournament consolation final on Thursday with a 3-1 victory over Bernie.

The Wildcats (15-14-4) earned SCAA wins over the Mules and Puxico, which snapped a four-game skid.

The Bloomfield victory was revenge after the Mules (17-10-1) had topped the Wildcats 3-2 earlier this month.