Perryville volleyball team snares VolleyballFest title

After his team had posed for the requisite photos, hands at their sides and smiles on their faces, Perryville volleyball coach Dave Mirly led his team in striking a new pose.

This time the newly crowned Notre Dame VolleyballFest champions lifted their pointer fingers in the air to signal that they indeed were No. 1 on Saturday night after defeating the host Bulldogs 25-19, 25-19.

The significance of the moment was not lost on senior middle Natalie Bauwens.

"Yes, huge," Bauwens answered when asked if the victory was a significant one. "Well, Notre Dame is in our district for one, and we've never won a championship ever."

Though Perryville was placed ahead of Notre Dame in the preseason state rankings, taking the No. 8 ranking to the Bulldogs' No. 10, the up-and-coming Pirates' program typically has been an underdog to traditional power Notre Dame.

Notre Dame's Kate Edwards passes the ball as teammates Amy Wibbenmeyer, left, and Ashley Humphrey, right, look on during the first game of the final match of Notre Dame VolleyballFest on Saturday, September 4, 2010, at Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau. Perryville defeated Notre Dame 2-0. (Kristin Eberts)

Bauwens and senior setter Megan Moldenhauer lead a group of three-year varsity starters for Perryville that claimed their biggest victory to date Saturday.

"It's our first year," said Moldenhauer, referring to the title-match win. "We've always won as JV, but now varsity is the next step up, and we did it. We accomplished our goal.

"It's something we've been waiting for for a long time."

The Pirates finished 20-12 and were state-ranked for the first time in school history, but lost in the quarterfinals of district play last season.

"When they came in as freshmen, this group was really, really good and we knew that they were going to do great things," Mirly said of his senior class. "And when they were freshmen, they played JV and they won the Notre Dame tournament, they won the Scott City tournament and then as sophomores I moved them all up to varsity. There was a lot of success, but then we just couldn't win the big tournaments and stuff. That's what we focused on this year was winning those big games."

Notre Dame's Haley Wengert passes the ball during the first game of Saturday's championship match. Check out more photos at semoball.com

Notre Dame jumped out to a 5-2 led in game one and led by five points twice, at 10-5 and 12-7, but five consecutive service points from Moldenhauer helped Perryville pull within a point at 13-12.

"Every time we play Notre Dame it seems like they go on a run on us and we get that deer-in-the-headlight looks and just lose our confidence," Mirly said. But this team's got something special about them. They did not get nervous. They didn't back down. They kept fighting, and that's what's special about them."

A kill by sophomore outside hitter Natalie Gremaud gave the Pirates the lead for good in game one at 19-18.

"I think we were kind of nervous and shaken up at first," Bauwens said. "We just got in the huddle and were like, 'Relax, play our normal game.' You can't make it seem like it's Notre Dame."

Perryville scored eight of the final nine points in game one, six of which came on kills.

Perryville's Marissa Erwin spikes past Notre Dame's Jamie Brugger during the first game of Saturday's championship match.

"I just don't think we blocked very well this game," Notre Dame coach Tara Stroup said. "I told them in the locker room this is early in the season and we practice and practice and practice for so long without playing and I'm glad we know what we need to focus on now so we can work on that."

The Bulldogs have had to replace both middle blockers from last season's state final four team.

"They hit through our blocks a lot," Stroup said. "We weren't closing our blocks, and we've got to have somebody put the ball down and end the rally. We cannot just give them free ball and hit easy, so we're going to work on that."

Perryville grabbed an 8-5 lead in game two and never trailed on its way to the championship, though Notre Dame pulled within a point at 20-19 before surrendering the match's final five points.

"I give props to Perryville," Stroup said. "They played good defense and we got through our first game Thursday and a lot of this tournament by well-placed tips and things like that and they picked them up. We've got to have more in our arsenal than tipping the ball."

Perryville's Samantha Amberger goes up for a spike as Notre Dame's Kate Edwards and Amy Wibbenmeyer block during the first game of Saturday's title match at Notre Dame VolleyballFest. (KRISTIN EBERTS ~ keberts@semissourian.com)

The Bulldogs' offense committed nine errors in game two compared to four for Perryville and record seven kills to the Pirates' 14.

"We don't want to make errors because when you hit the ball out, that just gives the other team points," Mirly said. "So we do focus a lot on not making errors, whether it be serving or hitting."

The teams will meet again Oct. 4 at Notre Dame.

"Our team typically is one that when we play somebody earlier if we don't win, we work on that and we come back and beat them the next time," Stroup said.

On Saturday, though, round one went to Perryville.

Notre Dame's Olivia Roth sets to pass during the first game of Saturday's title match.

"It gives us confidence," Moldenhauer said. "We're a really together team. It's always a team effort. It helps us show that we can all do it together."

Saturday's pool-play scores

Pool A

St. Vincent beat Bishop DuBourg 25-21, 25-19

Notre Dame beat Bishop DuBourg 25-12, 25-12

St. Vincent split with Central 25-7, 19-25

Pool B

Ste. Genevieve beat Ste. Genevieve 25-9, 25-19

Perryville beat Marshfield 25-10, 25-15

Bell City split with Ste. Genevieve 25-21, 20-25