By MATT PIKE
In anticipation of the Missouri State High School Girls Volleyball Championships coming to St. Joseph this fall, the St. Joseph Sports Commission will host an inaugural showcase of some of top high school volleyball teams in the area.
16 teams consisting of local, regional and statewide representation from all five classes of Missouri Girls High School Volleyball in which each team will play two games per day, four games total in a unique three court set-up in the arena during the Inaugural Pony Express State High School Volleyball Preview Tournament presented by John Anderson Shelter Insurance Agency, taking place August 29th & 30th at Civic Arena.
The field features an impressive mix of small, medium and large class teams. Three 2024 state final four teams are entered in the field including Class 4 State Champion St. Pius Festus, Class 3 3rd Place Odessa, and local favorite Class 2 State Runner-Up Bishop LeBlond. District Champions in the field include Class 4 Webb City and Notre Dame De Sion, Class 3 Savannah, Class 2 Adrian, Class 1 Rock Port, and Plattsburg. The rest of the field includes Class 5 participants Liberty North, Central, Class 3’s Oak Grove, Maryville, and Cameron, as well as Class 2’s Mid-Buchanan and West Platte.
“We are honored and extremely excited to get the opportunity to host the MSHSAA Girls Volleyball State Championship this coming November and in our continuing effort to create/attract events that fill fit and niche locally but also can engage participants, regionally, statewide and nationally, the creation of this event was an obvious fit and we are excited to see some high level volleyball the first weekend of the season in downtown St. Joseph,” stated Brett Esely, Executive Director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission says in a news release.
Action begins at Civic Arena on Friday afternoon August 29 at 2:30 PM and concludes on day one at 8:45 PM. Games continue on Saturday, August 30 at 10 AM with the final game beginning at 4:15 PM. In all, 32 games will be contested. The schedule will look like this:
Friday, August 29
Court 1:
2:30 PM – Central vs. Maryville
3:45 PM – Rock Port vs. West Platte
5:00 PM – Plattsburg vs. West Platte
6:15 PM – Oak Grove vs. Maryville
7:30 PM – LeBlond vs. Mid-Buchanan
8:45 PM – LeBlond vs. Adrian
Court 2:
2:30 PM – Plattsburg vs. Cameron
3:45 PM – Liberty North vs. Savannah
5:00 PM – Central vs. Notre Dame De Sion
6:15 PM – St. Pius Festus vs. Liberty North
7:30 PM – Oak Grove vs. Notre Dame De Sion
8:45 PM – St. Pius Festus vs. Webb City
Court 3:
5:00 PM – Rock Port vs. Cameron
6:15 PM – Webb City vs. Savannah
7:30 PM – Odessa vs. Adrian
8:45 PM – Mid Buchanan vs. Odessa
Saturday, August 30
Court 1:
10:00 AM – Notre Dame De Sion vs. Maryville
11:15 AM – St. Pius Festus vs. Savannah
12:30 PM – Plattsburg vs. Rock Port
1:45 PM – Odessa vs. Savannah
3:00 PM – Rock Port vs Mid Buchanan
4:15 PM – Oak Grove vs. Central
Court 2:
10:00 AM – Plattsburg vs. Adrian
11:15 AM – LeBlond vs Odessa
12:30 PM – Mid Buchanan vs. Adrian
1:45 PM – Central vs. Cameron
3:00 PM – LeBlond vs. Webb City
Court 3:
10:00 AM – Cameron vs. West Platte
11:15 AM – Liberty North vs. Webb City
12:30 PM – Maryville vs. West Platte
1:45 PM – St. Pius Festus vs. Notre Dame De Sion
3:00 PM – Liberty North vs. Oak Grove
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt .
