Blue Springs advances to Missouri Class 4 volleyball semifinals

Source: The Star

Andy Lundberg | SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Blue Springs’ volleyball players celebrated after beating Liberty and advancing to the Missouri Class 4 semifinals.

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It should be no surprise to anyone who has watched the Blue Springs volleyball team this season that when the girls defeated Liberty in the Missouri Class 4 quarterfinal match on Saturday evening at Blue Springs South, they immediately circled and hugged a wheelchair-bound teammate.

The Wildcats have no problems showing just how close they are — starting with their choreographed pre-game hand shakes and booty bumps — and will get another week to continue that bond as Blue Springs, 32-4, has advanced to the Class 4 state champion semifinal round next Friday against Ozark at Municipal Auditorium.

“It feels great to be going to state,” said second-year head coach Katie Grusing. “This group means so much to me. … I’d go to the end of the world for these kids.”

Being ‘BFFs’ is one thing but translating that to the volleyball court is another and Blue Springs did that during the tough spots against sectional opponent Lee’s Summit North (26-24, 25-13) and especially in the quarterfinals against Liberty (27-25, 25-10).

When LS North keyed defensively on top Wildcat hitter Lisa Henning, Grusing credited Ali Cavanaugh with throwing down three critical kills. Then in the second match of the evening, the ’Cats faced the surprise team in the bracket, Liberty, 16-17-1, and the Blue Jays jumped to a 19-15 advantage.

“They came out and gave us their best challenge,” Blue Springs senior Mallori Fournier said. “But we came together.”

Blue Springs slowly climbed back until taking advantage of a Liberty hitting miscue and tied the game at 24-24. The ’Cats closed out the game by scoring the final two points when the Blue Jays sent the ball into the net and committed another error.

In the final game, Blue Springs did not wait for Liberty’s errors, instead playing more aggressively and jumping out to a lead that would not be threatened. Henning finished with eight kills against Liberty and a total of 19 between the two matches.

Sophomore Taryn Miller has filled in for senior Rebecca Pettit — who has missed most of the season with an ACL/MCL injury but came out to support the teammates on Saturday while in her wheelchair — and led the team defensively with 28 digs. Despite the shakeup in the lineup, Miller said the squad has remained tight and together.

“We trust each other,” Miller said. “If you make a mistake, they’re there for you. It’s a good team effort always.”

@ Go to KansasCity.com for photos from this weekend’s postseason action and Varsity Zone, our home for high school sports.

submitted by CANDACE BUCKNER - 2009-10-31 21:56:02