Lady Mustangs take second in 2017 district tournament

Coach Toby Heeb talks it over with his team at the Class 1 District 1 tournament.

It was an incredible 2017 volleyball season for head coach Toby Heeb and his North Pemiscot Lady Mustangs. North Pemiscot routed most opponents and finished the season with an impressive 23-3-1 record. The Lady Mustangs’ top seven players – Hailey McGowan, Heiryn Ellis, Tara Davis, Kaylee Davis, Mika Hattiex, Liyah Hattiex and Kayla Kuehler – comprised perhaps the most well-rounded team in the Bootheel. All were talented and made significant contributions to this explosive and productive team.

When the Class 1 District 1 tournament rolled around last week at Cardwell, Coach Heeb and his squad knew they were in for a challenge, and that being in the form of the Gideon (with Risco ) Lady Bulldogs. Loaded with talent as well, Gideon (20-10) zipped through the tournament – as did North Pemiscot – and the two Bootheel powerhouses would face off in the championship match Tuesday night, Oct. 17.

In the first set, North Pemiscot came out of the chute with near flawless volleyball, particularly through mid-set. After seizing a 9-2 lead over the Bulldogs, their 7-point advantage began diminishing. The set would eventually knot up at 22 all, but the Mustangs stayed the course and took the game, 25-23.

Hailey McGowan attacked the ball well, recording five kills, including three tips. Kayla Kuehler slammed her way through the first set with four kills, while Mika Hattiex logged in a block for a kill. Liyah Hattiex smashed a pair of kills, and Kaylee Davis had one.

The second set went to Gideon (with Risco), 25-17. Hailey McGowan had a dig and two kills, while Kayla Kuehler served up a pair of aces and recorded a kill. Liyah Hattiex and Mika Hattiex had a kill each. The third set also went to Gideon (with Risco) by a score of 25-6, giving the Lady Bulldogs the match and the district championship.

In semifinals action Monday night, Oct. 16, the Clarkton Lady Reindeer played well, and gave North Pemiscot no little trouble. However, after three sets, the Lady Mustangs took the match, 23-25, 25-9, 25-19.

Although they lost the first set, the Lady Mustangs recorded some outstanding and evenly distributed stats. Heiryn Ellis crashed the floor for a dig, and Tara Davis served up a pair of aces to go along with a kill.

Hailey McGowan logged in a dig, an ace and a kill. Mika Hattiex had two aces and a kill, and Liyah Hattiex recorded two kills. Kayla Kuehler blasted a pair of kills, and Jayden Hunter added an ace for the Lady Mustangs.

Liyah Hattiex dominated the second set, putting up some impressive numbers. She had three blocks for kills and four more kills. Tara Davis smashed three aces, and Jayden Hunter tacked on two more aces for North Pemiscot. Hailey McGowan logged in two kills, and as did Kayla Kuehler. Adding a kill for the Lady Mustangs was Kaylee Davis.

Taking the mantle of domination for the Lady Mustangs in the third and final set was Kayla Kuehler, smashing five kills to go along with a tip for a kill and a dig. Liyah Hattiex recorded a block for a kill and two additional kills.

Hailey McGowan had an ace and a kill, while Mika Hattiex and Jayden Hunter added a kill each for North Pemiscot. Tara Davis tacked on an ace for the Lady Mustangs.