PHOTO STORY: Lady Tigers peaking as postseason nears with runner-up finish in 12-team tourney

Houston volleyball coach Julia Sloan wants her team to be peaking in the postseason. The Lady Tigers are projecting that direction.

HHS earned a runner-up finish Saturday in the 12-team In Season Sports & Outdoors Volleyball Tournament on campus. The Lady Tigers were undefeated in pool play, knocked off Willow Springs in the semifinals and took a tough Ellington team to the wire in three sets in the championship match.

“We’re peaking. This is the time to be playing good,” Sloan said. “We really showed our grit and how we can work together as a team.”

Hally Scheets (12) and the Lady Tigers cruised through pool play with wins over Thayer (25-22, 25-12), Bradleyville (25-14, 25-10) and Niangua (25-15, 25-6). The Lady Tigers earned a first-round bye in the gold division.
Senior Carli Cummins-Drake had seven aces as the Lady Tigers topped Willow Springs in the tournament semifinals. Houston lost its previous two matches this season to the Lady Bears before winning 25-11, 23-25, 25-22.
Kayla Wagner was named to the all-tournament team as she led the Lady Tigers to the brink of winning the 12-team tournament. She had 20 total kills in pool play, followed by 13 against Willow Springs in the semifinals. “You can’t stop her if she’s on,” Sloan said.
Senior Kynlee Weaver had a strong day at the net to earn a spot on the all-tournament team. “Kinley really stepped up,” Sloan said. “She probably had a minimum of 10 kills every game.”
Sophomore setter Claire Benoist led Houston in assists in every tournament match, including 10 against Bradleyville and 13 against Willow Springs.
Senior libero Gracyn McNiell celebrates after the Lady Tigers took the first set 27-25 against Ellington, who entered the tournament with an 18-3 record. Houston trailed 24-23 before scoring five of the next six points to take the set.
Houston coach Julia Sloan watches the championship match from the sidelines. After losing the second set 25-21, the Lady Tigers had 20-14 and 22-19 advantages in the third set but couldn’t but Ellington away.
The Houston volleyball team poses with the runner-up plaque from the In Season Sports & Outdoors Tournament. “We fought our tails off,” Sloan said. “I’m super proud of them.”