Libby Gaines News Today

The Helias Lady Crusaders never gave in. Helias held off seven set points in the second set and came back from a five-point deficit in the third to sweep the Capital City Lady Cavaliers 25-23, 26-24, 25-23 during Wednesday night’s first round of the Class 4 District 5 Tournament at Fleming Fieldhouse.

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.

It was for the best Monday night’s matchup between the Helias Lady Crusaders the Capital City Lady Cavaliers was played under rally scoring and not side out scoring. Otherwise, they both still might have been on the volleyball court into the wee hours of the morning. In what was a defensive battle, the Lady Crusaders used strong finishes in all three sets to pull away to a 25-22, 25-17, 25-23 victory in Central Missouri Activities Conference play against the Lady Cavaliers at Capital City High...

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.

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 Helias Lady Crusaders were coming off their best win of the volleyball season. Then the St. Joseph’s Academy Angels put an end to their seven-match winning streak Monday night. Helias won the first set, but St. Joseph’s took control after that, defeating the Lady Crusaders 24-26, 25-12, 25-19, 25-23 at Helias Gym.

It was a night for the youngsters. Eleven Helias Lady Crusaders recorded at least one kill to build a 25-11, 25-9, 25-22 sweep of the Sedalia Smith-Cotton Lady Tigers on Tuesday at Helias Gym.

Helias coach Davis Harris had a question after Monday night’s volleyball match against the Capital City Lady Cavaliers. “Well, we beat a district opponent and a conference opponent. Does that count as two wins?” Harris jokingly said after the Lady Crusaders won in a 25-18, 25-11, 25-22 sweep at Helias Gym.

Success breeds success. The Helias Lady Crusaders swept the Fatima Lady Comets 25-15, 25-9, 25-17 to set coach David Harris at 600 career wins at the start of his 22nd season.