State outlook: Kickapoo's Gardner sisters aiming for program's first state volleyball title
There's often a visible cohesion between a setter and a strong-swinging hitter, one cultivated through countless sets and repetition.
Kickapoo sisters Grace and Hannah Gardner's borders on telepathy.
The Chiefs (30-8), who open up the Class 5 state volleyball semifinals today against St. Dominic (24-10-3) at 10 a.m. at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, have been boosted by the sibling connection.
Occasional misfires have also been known to illustrate their sisterhood.
"Sometimes (Grace) gets on my nerves and we fight on the court," said Hannah, a sophomore setter with 401 assists. "But she is trying to make me better, so I can't be mad."
Grace, a 5-foot-11 senior who is committed Drury, can't help but offer tutelage. It's in her blood.
Their mother, former Missouri State standout Amy (Ziegler) Gardner, is formerly the head volleyball coach at Drury and University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Doug Gardner, their father, was an All-American offensive lineman at Missouri State.
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Any tough love Grace thrusts upon her sister this season was to help achieve a common goal: getting Kickapoo to its first state semifinal since 1995.
"At districts, there was a possibility that it would be our last time playing together, but we weren't going to let that happen," said Grace, who has 285 kills, 300 digs, 66 blocks and 42 aces. "I said, 'No, we're going all the way to state.'"
Before Kickapoo clipped Rock Bridge (Columbia) in a thrilling five-set state quarterfinal, the Chiefs had to get through a brawny district that includes state trophy-heavy Nixa and Ozark.
Nixa, the top seed in the district tournament after beating Kickapoo during the regular season, couldn't take down the surging Chiefs in a district championship rematch.
Tenth-year Kickapoo coach Marci Adams pointed to balance and momentum. The Chiefs haven't lost since Oct. 8 to Kansas power St. James Academy.
"Getting out of our district was key," said Adams, returning to state volleyball championships for the first since her senior season at Winona in 2001. "We really had healthy competition with Nixa, Ozark and Republic to prepare us. And right now, so many different players are contributing."
Kickapoo has been paced by junior star and Arizona State commit Bella Faria, whose has 286 kills, 411 digs and 60 aces.
Kya Johnson leads the young Chiefs in digs (462), Reagan Greenway leads in assists (584) and Claire Doenig has a team-high 100 blocks.
Liberty North (30-5) faces Lafeyette (30-6) in the other Class 5 semifinal.
Kickapoo has never won a state title.
"There's a lot of trust on this team," Grace said. "Winning (state) is the goal, but to be able to that with your sister would make that very special."
Class 4: Webb City makes debut
Webb City (32-4-2) is playing in its first state semifinal in program history today when it faces Incarnate Word Academy (28-12) of St. Louis at 3 p.m. at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.
The other Class 4 semifinal features Westminster Christian (30-2-5) and Platte County (26-9).
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The Cardinals, led by 18th-year coach Rhonda Lawrence, have a powerful frontline.
Brenda Lawrence (306 kills), Aubree Lassiter (291 kills, 48 blocks), Kate Brownfield (270 kills) and Jaeli Rutledge (188 kills, 73 blocks) lead Webb City up front.
Class 2: Strafford aiming for elusive title
Three times in Strafford coach Ashley Bough's successful tenure as head coach, her program fell in the state title match, including last year's Class 3 championship.
Now down a rung in Class 2, Strafford (26-8-1) is ready to get over that hump when it begins its state title quest Friday in the semifinals against defending state champion Hermann (30-9-1). The match is slated for 6 p.m. at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.
East Buchanan (31-5-1) and Jefferson Festus (30-5-1) face off in the other Class 2 semifinal.
Bough said her team has peaked at the perfect time.
"We've had a lot of injuries and had to overcome quite a bit," Bough said. "We've grown a lot over the past month."
Stafford is led by senior Sophia Frerking (303 kills), Abby Chadwell (1,000 assists) and Halle Forester (410 digs).
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Kickapoo sisters aim at team's first Missouri state volleyball title
