Sikeston falls short to Cape Central

SIKESTON — Despite a valiant effort, Sikeston fell short against Cape Central at the Sikeston Junior High School on Wednesday, August 30.

The Lady Tigers (2-0) defeated the Lady Bulldogs (0-2) with set scores of 25-13, 25-17 and 25-19.

“I was pleased with our performance today,” said Sikeston coach Marc Jannin. Our team did a great job of never giving up and kept competing, which is exactly what I expect from them against any opponent. Our communication on the court was excellent, and although we made a few mistakes, we are using them as valuable learning opportunities. All in all, it was a strong showing against a highly skilled team.”

Sikeston's Danielle Martinez (18) serves�during a 3-1 win over Portageville at the Fieldhouse on�Tuesday, Oct. 4.Dennis Marshall/Standard Democrat

Sikeston displayed a relentless drive and fought hard, leaving everything on the court despite the loss.

Ready to bounce back, the team continues to grow and improve, early anticipating their next match.

“We’ve been working hard on out-of-system plays,” Jannin said. “Focusing on improving our ability to adapt when things don’t go as planned. Cape Central has an impressive hitting game, but our defense did a great job digging their attacks. We made a conscious effort to avoid complacency when out of system, and everyone stepped up to make plays. We’re also getting better at maintaining the flow of the game.

“Heidi Self stood out with her exceptional defensive skills and effective communication on the court,” Jannin continued. “Our setters, Especially Baylee Copeland, showed great hustle and effort in crucial plays. Kennedy Watson took charge as our team’s leader, and every player contributed to our success. It was a collective effort that helped us perform well against a tough opponent.”

Sikeston is back in action at Notre Dame (0-0) on September 5.

Shifting the spotlight to Cape Central, whose remarkable skills and cohesive gameplay were key factors in the match.

“We had a solid performance,” said Cape Central coach Haley Silman. “Although I would have liked to see us be more aggressive on the court. However, our team maintained a positive attitude and didn’t let any missed balls affect our motivation. It was satisfying to see us execute some of the plays we’ve been practicing, and I was particularly pleased with the assertiveness displayed at the net. Our defense consistently performed well throughout the match.”

The Lady Tigers' top performers were Madison Phelps with 10 kills, four digs and two blocks; Piper Underwood with five kills and two digs; Laiyah Furlow with three blocks and two kills; Ella Hukel with nine digs; Every Criblez with 11 assists; Ashlynn Hickey with 13 assists; Sydney Miller with four kills and two blocks; Zacariye Carter with four kills; and Edyn McAllister with three kills and two blocks.

“[Hukel] is going to sacrifice her body every time for the ball,” Silman said. “[Phelps] is going to put the ball away the best she can every time. It was a good team effort. Everyone had some positives and there really wasn’t anybody who didn’t step up at some point. We just have to keep working on the things we see every game.”

Cape Central also won the junior varsity match 25-13 and 25-19.

The Lady Tigers travel to Perryville (2-0) on Thursday, August 30.