By Jason Peake
The Webb City Cardinals got it done in crunch time.
As a result, the Cardinals were the team posing with a championship plaque when a long day of volleyball concluded.
Webb City edged Carthage 2-1 (25-19, 13-25, 27-25) in the championship game of the Neosho Invitational Volleyball Tournament on Saturday.
Webb City coach Rhonda Moore was definitely proud of her team's performance.
"I think that's the first time we've won a tournament in eight years," Moore said. "It was an awesome effort by our girls all day. Carthage is a strong team.
We were down four in the third set, but we kept fighting. That was one for the books."
After the two teams split the first two sets, the back and forth third set was tied at 25 when Carthage failed to return an Abby Brownfield serve. On match point, Webb City sophomore Maddy Peeples slammed a kill at the net.
"Our sophomore (Peeples) stepped up in crunch time and made a big difference in the game," Moore said.
"Webb City played great and they rose to the occasion," Carthage coach Tony Allmoslecher said. "I thought our girls played hard and played well, too. Nobody would roll over in the third set and every point counted. It was a great game."
The Cardinals won 5-of-6 sets in sweeping Lamar and Sarcoxie and splitting with Berryville (Ark.). For the day, Webb City's Allary Liberatore recorded 40 kills, 24 digs and 17 blocks, while Peeples contributed 30 Brownfield compiled assists, 29 digs and 10 kills, while Emma Catterson added 26 digs, Anna Swearengen totaled 15 kills and four aces and Talyn Smith chipped in nine kills, seven blocks and five aces.
Carthage went 6-0 in pool play, beating Lockwood, East Newton and Pea Ridge (Ark.). The Tigers defeated Seneca 25-20, 25-14 to reach the title game.
For the Tigers, Alexa Boyle slammed 48 kills, while Paige Schrader contributed 35 kills and eight blocks. Carthage's Jillian Brunnert recorded 36 digs, Gracie Fagg handed out 114 assists and Ava Petticrew served five aces.
Joplin won 5-of-6 sets in pool play to advance to the championshipbracket, as the Eagles earned straight set wins over Prairie Grove and Seneca and split with Neosho.
With a spot in the title game on the line, Webb City defeated Joplin 25-16, 22-25, 25-13.
"I'm proud of our girls," Joplin coach Staci Saunders said. "I thought our second game with Webb City was fantastic. We needto play like that all the time. But then we made too many mistakes and didn't serve-receive well. But credit Webb. They did a great job."
For the Eagles, Malia Mack recorded 27 kills on the day, Mallory Cravens had 24 kills and 14 digs and Jeanie Juneweeranong contributed 35 digs.
Aubrey Ritter recorded 20 service points, 18 digs and 14 kills, while Anna Neuendorf contributed 11 kills, Mari Katheryn Saunders compiled 72 assists, 26 service points and nine kills and Addison Saunders recorded 18 service points.
Neosho went 1-2-1 on the day, beating Prairie Grove, falling to Seneca and Pea Ridge and splitting with Joplin.
Joplin Globe 10/07/18 (Used by permission)