An idea brought forth by Warrenton assistant volleyball coach Jake LaManna became a reality on Monday night at Wright City.

A discussion had surfaced among coaches about establishing a rivalry game against the county foe. To add incentive, the winners of the annual meeting would be awarded the commissioner’s cup.

“I called the commissioners, and they were more than happy to do this for sportsmanship,” said head coach Drew DeManuele. 

With a spirited crowd on hand, including all three Warren County commissioners, the Warriors rallied to a two-set victory and were presented with the trophy following the triumph.

“It was good to bring the commissioner’s cup to Warrenton and keep it there for now,” said DeManuele. “The girls played hard. They played tough.”

“It was a lot of fun,” said senior Ashley Schroeder. “I think we played better than we had all season and talked a lot more. I’m so excited, and I can’t believe that we did it.”

Warrenton edged Wright City 26-24 during an intense first set. The Warriors dominated the second set, winning 25-7.

“Our goal was to keep them from scoring double digits in the second set,” said junior Sarah Cunningham.

The Warriors got more than they bargained for in the opening set, never able to shake the host team.

The first set saw 11 ties, including multiple rallies by the Wildcats. They faced a 10-7 deficit, before going on a 7-1 run.

“Maybe they were overzealous, but once they calmed down, they took care of business,” said DeManuele. “Wright City played a tough game first, so you can’t take anything away from them.”

Warrenton offset a 24-24 tie by scoring the final two points. The Warriors emerged more dominantly in the second set, which was never in question.

“First game was a little shaky,” said Cunningham. “In the second game, we actually played the way we can. This is like a new start to the season now, since we are starting to win again.”

Warrenton coach Drew DeManuele says it made for a fun atmosphere and a lot of added stress.

The junior varsity contest provided early excitement, as Warrenton forced a third set and claimed victory to rile up the student section before varsity action even began.

DeManuele was particularly proud of the way his team responded to the persistent rallies by the Wildcats. 

“I was proud the girls came back and won that match,” said DeManuele. “They battled and finished strong, which was positive.”

Senior Amy Raterman was named as the game’s most valuable player by DeManuele, who awards a T-shirt to the MVP after each contest.

“The block by Amy Raterman really set the tone,” said DeManuele. “The digs and kills Amy had, Sarah pounding the ball. Maddie had some good kills. It’s just the fact that they were all moving their feet and transitioning well.”

Wright City had only won one set entering Monday’s meeting, but Warrenton nearly became the second victim. DeManuele says he encouraged his team to play to its strengths in the second set and build an overwhelming lead.

“I told them, ‘you’re stronger and quicker, and you’ve got to believe in that and play tough,’ ” said DeManuele. “They came out and handled their business.”

Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage says it was a fun way to kick off the rivalry. The two schools also meet in basketball and baseball, but no hardware is exchanged.

“It was a great game,” said Engelage. “My wife graduated from Wright City, and I graduated from Warrenton, so there’s always been a little bit of a friendly rivalry.”

“I hope that it continues 15 or 20 years from now, and that we can keep it rolling,” added Southern Commissioner Hubie Kluesner.