By MATT PIKE
High level high school volleyball is returning to the Civic Arena this week in downtown St. Joseph as the St. Joseph Sports Commission will once again host MSHSAA and the Class 1 through 5 Final Four.
Sports Commission Director Brett Esely says over the four days of the event 20 games will be played with five new champions being crowned at Civic Arena.
"If you love volleyball at its highest level, Civic Arena downtown is the place to be," Esely says on the KFEQmunnity show.
After only featuring one area team last year, this year's championship field sees two teams from northwest Missouri. Class 1 Rock Port will compete on Wednesday at 2pm in semifinals against Billings, while Class 2 Mid-Buchanan will face last year's third place team New Covenant Academy at 6pm, also on Wednesday.
Esely says they root heavily for local teams to make it to the tournament, because that was a large motivation for bringing it to St. Joseph.
"Was not only did we think that Civic Arena and St. Joseph would be a great host for state volleyball but also did so knowing that we've got some great teams playing here in northwest Missouri," Esely explains. "And instead of having to travel a long distance to Cape Girardeau, where the championship had been previously, we wanted to give those teams and those fans an opportunity to play in a great environment closer to home."
Along with Rock Port, the field will also feature two other teams that were in St. Joseph in August for the second annual Pony Express Girls State High School Volleyball Preview Tournament. Class 3 Oak Grove, who were champions of their pool, will face Nevada on Friday in their semifinal while Class 2 Liberty Mountain View, going just 1-3 during the state preview tournament, are in the semifinal opposite Mid-Buchanan facing Woodland at 4pm on Wednesday.
"That's exactly why we created that event, to give teams the opportunity to experience the venue they're trying to get to at the end of the year," Esely says.
Those interested in attending state volleyball matches can visit the St. Joseph Sports Commission's website for more information on how to purchase tickets, as well as additional bracket information.
Interview (recorded Friday before Quarterfinals)
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