Returning to the court after a minor injury in time for her senior night and a cross-county rivalry was the perfect scenario for Warrenton senior Lila Bartley. 

“Everyone was in such a positive mood and even when we messed up or made some mistakes, we fixed it. This is the loudest we’ve ever been too,” Bartley said. “I was a little nervous coming back from my injury but warm ups went good and everyone was on top of everything, offensively and defensively.” 

The Warriors' strong passing from start to finish led them to win in a three-game sweep over Wright City on Oct. 9. 

“Everything was working and everyone was playing together,” Warrenton coach Kayla Nelson said. “We were getting touches on the block and it was good coverage. It’s also the best passing we’ve ever done. (Bartley) has also been out, this was her first day back and it looks like she hasn’t missed a beat.”

Nelson noted her team held a 2.7 passing rate throughout the match and stayed above a 2.0 serve receive rate.

The atmosphere was electric as the Wildcats and Warriors took the court and battled it out for the first time this season. 

“I love when we play Wright City because I’m friends with a lot of the girls on the team so it brings a good competitiveness,” Bartley said. 

“They really brought the energy to the floor. There were no doubts or bad vibes and that really helped them excel,” Nelson added. 

Wright City head coach Shannon Bunch acknowledged her team struggled with fundamentals but praised their ability to stay mentally strong.

“We were really focusing on keeping things positive on and off the court. Although the loss wasn’t great, we maintained positive attitudes as best as we could,” Bunch said. 

Bunch touted her libero Marli Burkhardt and middle blocker Madison Goodman for their strong performances. 

“(Burkhardt) worked super hard and had a lot of really great digs. (Goodman) had a bunch of really big blocks that were crucial to help us build mojo,” Bunch said. 

As Nelson reflected on her seniors, she noted the impact they have had on the program. 

“I love this group. They were my first four-year group and I’ve been with them all four years of high school. Each one of them brings something different. They have great attitudes, they work their butts off and they’re great leaders. All the girls feel welcomed by them and they’re just a big family,” Nelson said. 

With their program culture of ACE (attitude, communication and effort) being fairly new, Nelson said her seniors have embraced that. 

“They’ve really taken ACE and embodied that. I really think that’s going to help younger generations and they’ve really left an impact on our program,” Nelson said. 

Both Wright City and Warrenton will now prepare for district tournament play.

Wright City will close out its regular season on Oct. 16 with a home game against Bowling Green. The Wildcats face the Bobcats again just five days later in the first round of the Class 3, District 6 Tournament at Winfield High School. They’re the No. 4 seed in the tournament. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 21.

The Wildcats previously defeated Bowling Green 3-1 on Sept. 4.

“Heading into districts, it is clear we are underestimated.  I am very excited for the opportunity to see my girls make a name for themselves. We have some things we need to work on and tighten this week, but we truly have a strong opportunity to do well,” Bunch said.

Bunch said her team is looking forward to playing Bowling Green twice in five days.

“If my girls play their game and play it well, we can use playing them twice to our advantage,” Bunch said. “But, it is still important to not underestimate them because every team is coming into districts with the fire and the same goal as us.” 

Bunch is excited to see how her team responds in postseason play. 

“Watching them go from a losing season last year to where they are this year is something I am so proud of and can’t wait to continue to watch,” Bunch said.

Warrenton will close out its regular season at St. Charles on Oct. 16 before facing second-seeded Holt in the opening round of the Class 4, District 4 Tournament on Oct. 22 at St. Francis Borgia High School. The match is scheduled for 5 p.m. Warrenton is the seventh seed in districts.

Holt defeated Warrenton in four sets twice this season, but Nelson said she is confident in her team.

“We’ve taken a set from them both times we’ve played them. I think if we come out with high energy and ready to play, anything is possible,” Nelson said. 

Nelson added blocking and their serve receive will be keys to finding success in districts. 

“We need to keep momentum. Having positivity and attitude is such a big part of the game, so having those things on our side the whole night will definitely help us,” Nelson said. 

Bartley added her team is thrilled in having sophomore Emma Eskew back after she suffered an injury earlier this season. 

“She adds such a different dynamic to the court and she’s everywhere. She’s the perfect fit for our team, so I think we’re going to have a good game against Holt,” Bartley said.