Poplar Bluff outlasts Jackson volleyball team in Class 4 District 1 semis

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Jackson's comeback ran out of steam Monday night in the Class 4 District 1 semifinals.

After taking the second game, the Indians were within a point early in the third before an 11-3 run by Poplar Bluff. The Mules advanced to the final with a 25-14, 21-25, 25-14 win.

"We're a very young team, they don't have all that much experience," Jackson coach Julie Brandmeyer said. "This experience right here is exactly what our girls need."

Jackson ended its season 14-19-2. It was the final game for senior middle hitter Melinna Craft and libero Sara Thompson.

The Indians split two matches with the second-seeded Mules (21-13) during the regular season and were even through the first two games Monday. They traded leads four times and were tied three times in the opening minutes of the decisive third game.

"They had to play out of system the entire time," Mules coach Mike Berry said. "I knew that was going to be the secret to beating them -- keeping their setter from getting the ball on net for the attack."

To do that, Poplar Bluff placed serves deep and Jackson struggled with serve receiving.

"It's usually one of our strengths," Brandmeyer said. "But serve receive is such a mental game that you really have to be in perfect body position, you have to see it early.

"It's such a crucial part of the game, like free-throw shooting."

It also came at a crucial part of the match.

Jackson closed Poplar Bluff's lead to 7-6 in the third game on Hailey Mouser's kill from the back row, but the Indians never pulled even after that. Poplar Bluff senior Riley Sells answered with a kill off a Jackson block, and the Mules benefited from three unforced errors by the Indians, who later got within 12-9 on consecutive points.

But a service error put the ball in Poplar Bluff senior Lauren Vaughn's hand. Her serves kept the Indians off-balance for seven straight points. The lead grew to 19-9 for the Mules before a Vaughn serve missed wide.

"We just kept them playing out of system," Berry said. "She did a great job serving."

Poplar Bluff closed out the match.

"We just have to understand that volleyball is a game of errors," Brandmeyer said. "If we're not executing in serve receive, it's hard to make everything work together."

Jackson forced the third game with an 8-3 run midway through the second game. Mouser's kill off a free ball from the Mules put Jackson up 17-11.

Poplar Bluff closed the gap to a point with a 7-1 run, but a hitting violation on a dig attempt gave Jackson a 22-20 lead. Down 23-21, the Mules had a passing error before Sarah Blanton's ace ended the game.

The Mules opened the match with an 9-1 run by taking six straight points. Mouser's kill ended the run, but a pair of aces on short serves by Lewis put Poplar Bluff up 12-2.

Jackson got within seven points but no closer.

"Most of our matches we play have gone three games," Brandmeyer said. "That's just normal for us. We thrive on the pressure. That's what we talked about."

Mouser, a junior, led Jackson with 12 kills while Craft, a senior, added 10. Junior setter Chelsea Fowler had 16 assists, 15 digs and three blocks. Blanton chipped in two aces.

The Indians defeated Hillsboro 25-22, 25-17 in the quarterfinals earlier in the night.

In the other quarterfinal, Sikeston edged Central 25-22, 25-27, 25-16.

Top-seeded Farmington, the two-time defending champion, then beat Sikeston 25-13, 25-18 to reach the final.