It’s an experienced group of Helias Lady Crusaders. And they are going to try to use that experience to their advantage. “We are adding new stuff, bringing back some old stuff,” Helias coach Garrett Wiggans said as the Lady Crusaders prepare for tonight’s season opener against the Blair Oaks Lady Falcons at Rackers Fieldhouse. “We are evolving our game.”
With the calendar turning the page to the month of October, it very much felt like postseason volleyball Tuesday night at Blair Oaks High School. In a match that was a constant back-and-forth battle, the Blair Oaks Lady Falcons had the final run that secured a 25-19, 24-26, 25-21, 29-27 victory against the Helias Lady Crusaders.
The nerves of the playoffs didn’t get to the Helias Lady Crusaders. Before the match and between sets the Lady Crusaders danced and sang, especially when “Cotton Eye Joe” came on between the second and third set. But once the whistle sounded, it was all business Monday for Helias as the No. 2 seed Lady Crusaders swept the No. 6 seed Bolivar Liberators, 25-21, 25-6, 25-15, in the semifinals of the Class 4 District 5 Tournament at Fleming Fieldhouse.
The top-seeded Jefferson City Lady Jays punched their ticket to the Class 4 District 5 championship Monday, sweeping the fifth-seeded Marshfield Lady Jays 25-17, 25-21, 25-12 at Fleming Fieldhouse. The win gives Jefferson City a chance to win a second straight district title and third in four years tonight against the Helias Lady Crusaders. The title match will start at 6 p.m.
It wasn’t a great night at the free-throw line for the Helias Lady Crusaders. But they made them when they needed them the most. The Lady Crusaders hit three of their final four attempts at the line Friday night to hold off the Southern Boone Lady Eagles for a 51-49 victory in a clash of state-ranked teams to win the Class 4 District 9 Tournament title at Blair Oaks.