Puxico win sets semifinal pairings

Jerry Jarrell photo Bernie's Katie Baker makes a diving attempt to dig a shot by Puxico during SCAA tournament action Tuesday at Richland High School. Bernie, the No. 6 seed, fell to No. 3 Puxico on the night, 25-20, 25-18. Watching the play fi Krystal Rainey (No. 26) and Rachel Vernon (No. 8).

ESSEX -- The first round of the 2009 SCAA Volleyball Tournament is in the books with no surprises on the varsity side and just one minor upset in the junior varsity bracket.

Number 3 seed Puxico dispatched No. 6 Bernie, 25-20, 25-18 Tuesday night to fill in the final semifinal slot on the varsity side while No. 5 Puxico downed No. 4 Dexter, 25-17, 25-17, and No. 2 Bernie eased past No. 7 Richland, 25-23, 25-13, to set the semifinal pairings on the junior varsity side.

While the first round proved uneventful, look for the intensity and competitiveness to pick up in round two.

Jerry Jarrell photo Bernie's Lyndsey Stone attacks the net during SCAA tournament play against Puxico Tuesday at Richland High School.

Wednesday will be an off day for the tournament, but action will resume Thursday with all four semifinal games. Play will start at 5 p. m. on the junior varsity side with No. 1 Bloomfield matching up with No. 5 Puxico, followed at 6 p. m. by No. 2 Bernie against No. 3 Advance. The varsity's first game will serve it up at 7 p. m. when No. 1 Bell City takes on No. 4 Dexter, followed at 8 p. m. by No. 2 Bloomfield vs. No. 3 Puxico.

Puxico's win over Bernie in the only varsity match of the evening wasn't pretty, but it was a win.

"At times they look good and at times they looked bad," Puxico coach Karen Hazel said of her team's performance. "I've got three of them that are about half sick, so I was worried about that. Any time you come up against a team a third time, you know they're out to get you. You know what they can do and you know what they are capable of.

Puxico's Hannah Wight attempts a kill during varsity play against Bernie Tuesday night during Tuesday's SCAA tournament play at Richland High School.

"We didn't start out very aggressive in that first game at all, and I was a little disappointed in that, because I know what my girls can do," Hazel continued. "But like I said, with three of them about half sick and I was a little worried about what their performance was going to be. But they came through and did what they needed to do."

Bernie hung tight with Puxico in Game 1, after back-to-back kills by Lyndsey Stone, a clean kill from the outside position and one off a defender, pushed the Lady Mules out front, 14-13.

Puxico responded to the challenge by going on a 8-0 run to take command of the game, 21-14. Bernie battled back, but it was to late to save the opener.

Dexter's Taylor Ellsworth battles with Puxico's Misty Walker (No. 42) during junior varsity tournament action.

Game 2 saw the team standing at 5-all before Puxico went on a tear and surge to a 18-7 advantage. Again, it was a see-saw game after that but Puxico had plenty of cushion to pick up the win and advance to the semifinals.

"We had a real opportunity to win that first game but didn't take it," Bernie coach Jeff Rodgers commented. " It took us 11 points before we put down our first kill. This is kind of the story of our year so far. We just seem to come up a little short in all areas to beat the good teams. We compete, but just don't have enough players to put the ball down. "

For Puxico, the win sets up a rematch with Bloomfield, a team they beat earlier during the regular season.

Lady Indian Britney Rath (No. 13, right photo) attacks against the block attempt of Dexter's Brittany Harris during junior varsity tournament action. Puxico won both matches to advance to the semifinals, which will be contested Thursday starting at 5 o'clock.

"I know that we've got Bloomfield Thursday night and I know it is going to be a tough game," Hazel said. "It was a fight consistently. Even though it was at Puxico -- and sometimes I get so tired of hearing that because it's the same referees here that we had at Puxico -- it should be a good match. I just hope all my kids are well."