Centralia pushes back vs North Callaway to win in four sets

North Callaway pushed Centralia to four sets on Monday night, but that was all it was able to do.

Centralia vs North Callaway Photo Gallery

The Ladybirds have typically faced Centralia in a three-set format, like in tournaments, but played the Lady Panthers at their place and ended up losing in four sets (20-25, 25-21, 18-25 and 19-25).

North Callaway head coach Andrew Klein said the Ladybirds (2-8) have been swept by Centralia (3-3) for years, winning a set previously in 2019. That was different this season as North Callaway tied the match at one set each following a victorious second set and now Klein said the Ladybirds need to put a full match together.

“We’re not going to consider that a victory because we hold ourselves to high expectations and expect to win,” Klein said. “We had seven or so giveaway points in that first set. I let the girls know that we can clean up some serves and clean up some hitting errors, and it’s a different ballgame. They definitely thought about it, and that second set we only had a couple — one serving error and one hitting error.”

Centralia head coach Julie Crum said Madilynn Hunter led Centralia with 15 kills and Morgan Ross followed with 14 kills so they did a good job pushing through North Callaway’s defense at the net. Crum said the Ladybirds employed a double block on Ross in the middle so she had to adjust how she hit the ball.

Because of this strategy and the North Callaway program that has progressed every year, Crum said Centralia was a “a bit off” as it is tough on some nights figuring out which girls will excel or struggle. She said the Lady Panthers’ potential is high, and she wants to see them rise to that potential. 

“I watched (North Callaway) this summer and I watched them at the jamboree. They’re really coming along,” Crum said. “(My players) kind of get into a funk where we’re not really pushing. I told the girls, ‘No mercy. Push. Push. Get a lead.’ I want them to push all the way through and finish strong.”

Klein said North Callaway is tough to beat when it isn’t making unforced errors because the Ladybirds “play all-around.” He complimented the efforts of everybody around the court, lauding the back row that was led by the 16 digs from libero Riley Blevins and supported by Adrian Brown and Hayley Rothermich. Rylee Horstman added seven digs and a team-high nine kills to provide some balance.

Freshman Alex Craighead proved to be a pain for Centralia’s attackers at the net as she led the team with three blocks and 15 touches. The Lady Panthers had to go through Craighead, Horstman, Natalie Shryock, and Jaden Smithee, who finished one assist ahead of Lakyn Hartley for the North Callaway team-high total of 11.

“Centralia really earned those last two sets there. I don’t think it was our errors,” Klein said. “We’re so fortunate to have Alex up there, and she’s a freshman so she’s learning a lot. They got some scary girls up there that can hit the ball hard. It’s about timing, not worrying about how hard they’re going to hit it, it’s about hand placement and pressing when she needs to press.”

Klein said Craighead is a freshman that is “exceeding expectations” and will improve with more touches and more swings.

Crum said North Callaway was solid defensively all around the court as the Lady Panthers were only able to compile runs as big as four points in the final two sets they won.

“They were really consistent, especially their defense as they had a great libero (Riley Blevins) and were doing a great job of picking things up,” Crum said. “We had to work harder to make sure we were placing the ball.”

Hunter sealed the third and fourth sets on match points, and Ross did her fair share of attacking. Freshman Ryenn Gordon also came through in several moments, hammering down a kill on at least four points during the final two sets and giving Crum several formidable attackers. Crum said those strong girls up front complement the back row of libero Katie Carrico, who is a good leader in that area, and Carley Hombs, who has put holes in her jersey diving for balls.

“(Gordon) gets a hold of that ball and she gets on top of it, it’s going straight down,” Crum said. “Thankfully, I’ve got a lot of girls that make good smart calls. Raegan Anderson can always place the ball really well, Addison Mabrey and Harper Forshee. I love having that experience on the floor and that quickness of where should we place the ball.”

North Callaway (0-1 EMO) hosts Montgomery County (3-1, 2-0 EMO) in an Eastern Missouri Conference rematch at 6 p.m. Thursday after being swept by the district foe Lady Wildcats in the first meeting this season. Centralia plays at 6:15 p.m. tonight at Wright City (0-5) before opening Clarence Cannon Conference play at 5 p.m. Sept. 18 at Brookfield (0-3).

Softball

Monroe City 11 Van-Far 1 in five innings in Monroe City (6-2).

Van-Far was no-hit by Lucy Pratt, who struck out 10 in five innings but walked four in the first inning. The four walks were how the Lady Indians scored their only run on a bases-loaded free pass to Mariah Maggard. Van-Far's pitching allowed nine earned runs and nine walks.

The Lady Indians (0-5, 0-1 vs district opponents) take a 0-2 Eastern Missouri Conference record into 5 p.m. home game tonight with Elsberry (5-2-1, 2-1 EMO).

Boys soccer

Moberly 4 Mexico 1 in Moberly (3-1, 2-0 NCMC).

Gage Walker scored the only goal for Mexico.

"We were a bit off from playing four games in seven days," head coach Bill Gleeson said. "Moberly is a good team and took advantage of that."

The Bulldogs move to 3-3, 0-3 vs North Central Missouri Conference foes and 1-2 vs district opponents. They host Kirksville (1-2, 1-2 NCMC) at 5 p.m. tonight.