Ava Reeser News Today

It was a long, draining, grueling day of volleyball for the Jefferson City Lady Jays. What mattered most was it ended with everyone smiling. Jefferson City tied its best state finish in program history Thursday, defeating the St. Michael the Archangel Guardians 23-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-19 in the Class 4 third-place match at the Show Me Center.

The Jefferson City Lady Jays are starting to hit their stride after an up-and-down start to the season. Coming off a big win Tuesday against Blair Oaks, the Lady Jays continued their hot stretch with a 25-10, 25-12, 25-16 victory Thursday against the Fatima Lady Comets at Fleming Fieldhouse to pick up their sixth win in the past eight contests.

The Jefferson City Lady Jays were one set away from a district title last season but fell just short. But the Lady Jays enter their season opener tonight at Sedalia Smith-Cotton ready to get over the hump this year.

The group of eight seniors for the Helias Lady Crusaders refused to let their high school volleyball careers end Tuesday night on the floor of Fleming Fieldhouse. The Lady Crusaders dropped the first two sets, but they rallied to win the final three to claim the Class 4 District 5 title against the Jefferson City Lady Jays with a 19-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 15-12 victory.

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.

The Jefferson City Lady Jays are thankful Missouri high school volleyball has transitioned from a best-of-3 set format to a best-of-5. Especially the seniors. Jefferson City overcame a two-set deficit Tuesday night, rallying past the Battle Spartans for a 17-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-17, 15-8 victory on Senior Night at Fleming Fieldhouse.

The Jefferson City Lady Jays are thankful Missouri high school volleyball has transitioned from a best-of-3 set format to a best-of-5. Especially the seniors. Jefferson City overcame a two-set deficit Tuesday night, rallying past the Battle Spartans for a 17-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-17, 15-8 victory on Senior Night at Fleming Fieldhouse.

It was comeback after comeback. The Helias Lady Crusaders survived back-and-forth sets all night to take a 25-23, 25-23, 11-25, 25-18 win Tuesday night against the Jefferson City Lady Jays at Fleming Fieldhouse.

The Jefferson City Lady Jays volleyball team started its season on the right foot Thursday, sweeping the Waynesville Lady Tigers in three sets 25-14, 25-11, 25-13. Hannah Linthacum led Jefferson City with nine kills, while Nola Borgmeyer was right behind her with eight. Hannah Vogt finished with a team-high 21 assists.

The Jefferson City Lady Jays volleyball team look to build off the success it had under coach Ali Eskens in her first season last year. Eskens, a former Missouri volleyball player from 2014-18 and Rock Bridge graduate, led the Lady Jays to a state quarterfinal appearance before losing to Logan-Rogersville. Logan-Rogersville went on to finish state-runner up to Westminester Christian last season.