By Derrick ForsytheRecord Staff WriterHalfway through the second set, it appeared the Warrenton volleyball team was about to be dethroned after five straight years of winning the County Commissioner’s Cup.Having been dominated by Wright City in the first set and facing a 10-point deficit, the Warriors sparked a tremendous comeback to force a third set and retain county bragging rights, beating the Wildcats (19-25, 28-26, 25-17).“Everybody started feeling every point,” said Warrenton senior Nicole Hardt of the rally. “Everybody was playing for every point like it was the game point. We all stayed up and stayed positive.”For first-year Coach Kristen McDowell, it was a major sign of relief when her team started chipping away at what seemed to be an insurmountable deficit.“I knew that this trophy and rival game was a big deal,” said McDowell. “It was a lot of pressure, but the girls really came through in a moment of terror.”Reminiscent of the 2014 contest, which also went to three sets, Wright City came out strong before folding in the second set.“It was the same thing last year too,” said Wright City Coach James Baker, whose team fell to 7-4. “First we came out and dominated. Then in the second we won by a hair, before they ran away in the third.”The Warriors (6-2) were never a threat in the first set, trailing by as many as 11 points. Wright City quickly raced out to a 10-point advantage again in the second set. “We weren’t playing with as much positive intensity as we could have in the first game,” said Hardt.Down 20-10, the Warriors began a rally that finally saw them notch the match at 24-24.“I think (Morgan) Boesel getting a couple kills in a row really rallied everyone together, and then we started getting aces and not making errors,” said McDowell. “That was the change of the pace of the game.”The third set belonged to Warrenton from the opening serve.“In the third set I told them we have to keep the momentum and continue to not make errors,” said McDowell.The Warriors held a six- to seven-point cushion most of the way, maintaining control of the trophy on their home court.“It was a very emotional moment,” said Hardt, who finished with two solo blocks and three block assists. “It made me feel incredibly happy. Going out in my senior year, I wanted that cup really bad.”Boesel finished with 23 kills with just one error.For Wright City, Abbie Nitchman had nine kills.Warrenton volleyball players, from left, Ashtyn Dixon, Chyanne Schwerdt, Nicole Hardt, Alex Buechner, Morgan Boesel and Sabrina McRoberts celebrate at the end of Monday night's three-set win over Wright City.
