37th Annual Missouri Volleyball Championships A Success

We all appreciate special events when things run smoothly. First, I want to say thank you to the Missouri State High School Association (MSHSAA) for running a first-class volleyball championship at the Show-Me Center in Cape Girardeau, MO Friday and Saturday.

Like a good clock, all the intricate parts moved exceedingly well.

As I looked around this fine athletic facility, I realized the families, friends, guests and casual observers were enjoying the moment. Great volleyball efforts unfolded all weekend long.

Ironically, in my nearly 40 years of covering prep sports, I’d never been to the volleyball finals before. The tournament first got started at Missouri State University in Springfield in 1974, my fourth year in the business.

At this time of the year, I was always too preoccupied covering a wide range of football and soccer playoffs.

I’m truly glad I made the short hop to Cape with veteran sportswriter Bill Hester. We agreed, watching Villa Duchesne and Lafayette High bringing back the bacon to St. Louis was lots of fun.

Not lost in the moment was the dedication to the sport from the participating athletes, the local volunteers and many workers. The skill level of the players was nothing short of phenomenal. It didn’t take long to realize all those summer camps and USA volleyball competitions were paying dividends. The girls don’t just pass the ball over the nets. They slam with thunderous explosions. The trajectory of the ball would rival a drone missile attack.

There were girls on the court who’ve already accepted scholarships to schools like Stanford and other high-level programs. The competition was brilliant.

The officiating too was top-notch. I don’t believe I saw a disputed call during either championship session.

Between games officials brought out some middle-aged women from big and small towns around Missouri to take a collective bow. They refer to these past champions as the legends. I quickly realized these women from just 10 years back would be no match for the ones presently battling on the court.

The tournament has traveled all over the landscape. It started in Springfield at Missouri State University, then moved on to Jefferson College in Hillsboro to the University of Missouri-Rolla, to Hickman Mills High School in Kansas City  then to Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg and Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. The tournament resided in Warrensburg for 20 years before moving back to Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

Hester reminded me that with all the many teams from all the cities around Missouri taking place in round-robin preliminary competition, hotel rooms in Warrensburg were virtually impossible to find. With a home football game for Central Missouri scheduled, getting a local bed was simply out of the question. Hester said he used to hole up in Higginsville, some 20 miles closer to Kansas City.

In my humble view, the tournament should remain in Cape Girardeau. The folks are friendly and courteous. The facility, seating about 6,000, is perfectly sized for the crowd.

I’m glad we went and got a chance to get swept up in the emotion that flowed from the championship players, coaches and their legions of families and friends.

MSHSAA didn’t hold press conferences for winning teams. Rather, they hosted receptions where players could meet up with their fervent followers. 

After all, when schools come from places such as Pleasant Hill and Liberal and Santa Fe and Eminence and Clever, who needs a press conference anyway? There probably aren’t any writers or radio types to even cover them.

And for the best team nickname of the tournament: Gotta be the Pleasant Hill Chicks.

Well done, MSHSAA.