Lady Cougars earn regional title

FARINA – On its own floor, the South Central High School volleyball team won its third straight regional championship last Thursday, defeating North Clay in two sets, 25-16, 25-15.

Senior Kinzie Neilson paced the offense with 14 kills – giving her 22 during the two games of the regional tournament – and junior Natalie Chapman had 16 assists and three service aces to help earn the victory.

Senior Emily Atwood added six kills, and senior Sarah Kramer had 12 assists and a kill.

Coach Mary Brimberry – who has won eight regional championships with South Central – said it’s been a true team effort that has allowed the Lady Cougars to win 31 games on the season, including every game since Sept. 19.

"How did the (St. Louis) Cardinals do it?" Brimberry said. "We play well as a team, and we want to win."

The regional title comes in a season during which the team also won the Midland Trail Conference regular-season and tournament titles.

With the win, the Lady Cougars advanced to the Dieterich Sectional, which began on Tuesday, with a battle against Edwards County, and concludes on Thursday.

The winner of that tournament will play in the Bridgeport Super-Sectional on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Senior Korren Smith said that she believes South Central can win the sectional tournament, and if they continue playing as a team, advance even farther.

“I feel like we can go to super-sectionals or farther if we push and play our hardest,” Smith said. “It’s not up to me. It’s a team sport, and everybody has got to be in it."

Brimberry said she believes this season's team is similar to the last South Central team to win a sectional title, and on its third straight time in the sectional tournament, the time has come for the Lady Cougars to take the next step.

"Winning a regional is awesome, but it's time to do more than that," Brimberry said. "I think this team is capable."

Stats
Kills: Neilson, 14; Atwood, 6; Kallie Garrett, 5; Kellie Crain, 4; Kramer, 1; Lexi Schafer, 1; Korren Smith, 1.
Aces: Chapman, 3; Neilson, 2; Atwood, 1.
Assists: Chapman, 16; Kramer, 12; Schafer, 1.
Record: 31-4