NMCC slips past SHS in three sets

New Madrid County Central's Sonni Carlisle hits the ball over the net against Sikeston Thursday night in New Madrid. The Lady Eagles won in three sets. (Photos by David Jenkins, Staff)

Lady Eagles rally after dropping first set to down Sikeston on Senior Night

NEW MADRID -- The New Madrid County Central Lady Eagles were able to overcome a first set loss to the visiting Sikeston Lady Bulldogs on Thursday night and win the last two sets to give them the victory on Senior Night.

Alexis Wells, Lindsey Fowler, Sara Smelser and Sonni Carlisle were all a part of their last win on their home court.

Sikeston's Mandy Moore attempts to hit the ball over the net Thursday night in New Madrid while NMCC's Shameika Williams waits for a block attempt. NMCC won the match in three sets.

"I'm glad we got a win for them," NMCC head coach Jenny Sexton said. "I hope that this is something that they will remember. They're going to be missed next year."

It didn't look like it was going to turn out that way though.

Sikeston (5-18-4) was able to pull out a close first set win which they led all the way until NMCC gained a 19-18 lead.

The play of Shemeika Williams helped with that.

Williams accounted for five kills in the first set which was one of the big reasons for the surge. Even with the way the Lady Eagles were putting it together, the Lady Bulldogs were able to hold off NMCC as they regained the lead and won the set 25-21.

It all started going downhill for the Lady Bulldogs after that. Even with the first set win.

NMCC (14-13-1) grabbed an early 3-2 lead and never looked back.

The Lady Eagles ended up winning the set 25-13 and evened it the match with one win apiece.

"They did a much better job of staying up and staying motivated," Sexton said. "I think that was the major difference right there."

The third and final set was a lot like the second. Sikeston just could not find any rhythm, while the Lady Eagles rode their momentum from the previous set all the way to a 25-15 win.

"It was deja vu," Sikeston head coach Steve Beydler said. "We just have to be able to hold some intensity. You have to give it to New Madrid. They stuck it out and dug in and didn't give up. I don't know if it was one of those things where we thought just because we won the first one we assumed we were going to win the next one. I don't know what it was. Ultimately, they (NMCC) did what they had to do to come back.

"In the first set our block was a lot stronger and then it weakened," added Beydler. "When it weakened that gave them an opening to clear the ball more often. Which then just turns the momentum their way and this game is just so much about momentum."

Sikeston was led with eight kills from Tyanne Townsend. Asia Liggins added five kills and five blocks while Keyarra Blissett and Casey Palmer chipped in with three kills respectively.

The Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Eagles will both be heading into their district tournaments on Monday. Sikeston's will be held at Farmington, while NMCC will head to Notre Dame Regional High School.