WOODLAND PREPARES FOR STATE

When Woodland High faces El Dorado Springs Friday morning in its opening match in the Class 2A state volleyball tournament, coach Tammy Brock will preside over the Lady Cardinals in a noticeably reserved manner.

Brock, who is recuperating from giving birth to a son, turned over the reins to Southeast Missouri State University students Emily Johnson and Charity Huff in the second week of this season. Brock recently eased into a role of co-coach with Johnson, who won a state title in 1994 as a Lady Cardinal.

"She (Emily) is getting up off the bench and doing the yelling from there and I'm sitting down and doing all of mine from the seat -- which is working out just fine," said Brock.

After meeting El Dorado Springs in round-robin play at 10 a.m. Friday at the Central Missouri State University Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Woodland will face East Newton at noon and Cole Camp at 2. Depending on how the Lady Cardinals fare Friday, they will play either for third place at 10:30 Saturday morning or for the championship that day at 1:30.

"Our kids are going to have to play at the top of their game," Brock said. "We're going to have to play as a team, we're going to have to serve well, we're going to have to put the ball down, not just play bump ball.

"But the biggest thing for our kids is going to be staying focused. They've had all the hype this week and all the excitement."

Brock said the team's five seniors -- B.J. Cameron, Diana Lukefahr, Toni Cowell, Rebecca Fox and Desirae Fox -- will hold the team's fate in their hands. And juniors Sarah Booth, Julia Cutsinger and Lilo Whitener should also play key roles.

Woodland (22-11) advanced to the state tournament after a stunning comeback in its sectional championship match against South Pemiscot. Trailing 14-8 in the final game, Woodland made a charge that propelled them to Warrensburg.

"It tells you something about your kids," Brock said. "They don't quit. Probably a year ago I would have seen that in some of them. But they've matured and they are handling the pressure situations better than they did."

In the Class 1A tournament, perennial power Bernie (37-1) will meet Santa Fe, LaMonte and Verona Friday. The championship match is set for Saturday at noon.