St. Vincent volleyball team opens Class 1 final four pool play with victory

The St. Vincent volleyball team began pool play at the Class 1 state volleyball championships with a sweep of New Haven.

The Indians defeated the Shamrocks 25-18, 25-18 on Friday morning at the Show Me Center.

St. Vincent maintained a lead for most of the first set, trailing once at 7-6.

With the set tied 9-9 the Indians were able to pull away at 14-10 with a run that included a solo block by Gabrielle Schemel as well as two blocks by Schemel and Jackie Verseman.

The Shamrocks scored the first four points out of their first timeout to tie it at 14-all before four New Haven errors and a kill by Verseman put St. Vincent up 19-14 and forced New Haven coach Jaime Hoener to take another timeout.

The Indians closed out the set on a 6-4 run that was capped with a kill on a tip by Delia Lowman.

St. Vincent jumped out to an early 7-1 lead in the second set.

The Indians led by as much as 19-7, but New Haven cut their lead to six points and force a St. Vincent timeout.

The Shamrocks scored on a kill off an overpass following the timeout and made it a 21-17 game with a service ace.

New Haven had four errors over the final five points, including a serve that sailed out of bounds for the final point.

Lowman led the Indians with six kills. Jackie Verseman had five and Katie Verseman had four and 10 digs.

New Haven's Taylor Covington had eight kills while Emma Borcherding added six.

St. Vincent will face two-time defending state champion Winona in pool play at 11 a.m.

Winona defeated Santa Fe 25-23, 25-15 on Friday.