The Cardinals overcame a sluggish start and found their rhythm late in the second set to claim a ninth consecutive victory.

Bolivar (14-7-2) surprised Webb City with a first-set victory and threatened to take the second before the Cardinals broke away from a 20-20 tie with a 5-1 run.

A kill by Maddy Peeples gave Webb City a 24-21 advantage before the set point was iced by a Bolivar hitting error.

That momentum then carried over into the third set for the Cardinals as they jumped out to a 8-1 lead, with four points coming on aces by Sage Crane. Webb City led by as many as 10 before claiming the set point for a 2-1 match advantage.

"I've had people in and out recently, and I think we sort of struggled to find a rhythm early on because of it," Lawrence said. "But credit Bolivar because they fought hard and played really well. I think it really came down to us buckling in after that first set."

A back-and-forth fourth set saw Webb City use a 6-0 run to take a 22-19 lead. And following a Bolivar timeout, the Cardinals kept their foot on the gas and eventually sealed the match as Makenzie Storm logged a kill to clinch a 25-20 set win.

Peeples finished with a team-high 19 kills for Webb City. Anna Hettinger tallied 25 assist, while Crane had six aces, Brenda Lawrence seven kills and Storm nine kills and two blocks.

DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP SET

The rivalry rematch is set. 

In a rematch of last year's district final, the two teams will square off at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Webb City High School.

No. 1 seed Carl Junction punched its ticket to the district title match with a 3-0 sweep (25-17, 25-16, 25-22) of 4-seed Nevada, while 2-seed Webb City defeated 3-seed Bolivar 3-1 (21-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-20).

Joplin Globe 10/27/2020 (Used by permission)