Hannibal sees shot at district volleyball title gone in flash against Lutheran St. Charles

HANNIBAL, Mo. — It was quick, but still painful.

Lutheran St. Charles wasted little time Monday night putting an end to Hannibal’s volleyball season, dispensing the Pirates in convincing fashion in the Class 4 District 4 championship game at Korf Gym. The 25-19, 25-15, 25-12 setback was completed in a brisk 62 minutes.

“We never really had any momentum,” Hannibal coach Megan Phillips said.

Phillips’ assessment was no exaggeration.

Hannibal never led in any of the three sets, and was tied just twice.

“Our energy just wasn’t there,” Hannibal senior setter Ashyn Hess said. “But I still felt we could come back and win until the very end.”

Hannibal closed its season 20-10-3, following earlier district wins over Fort Zumwalt South and North Point. The Pirates’ last district title came in 2021.

Lutheran St. Charles, which is located in St. Peters, advances with a 22-15-2 record. The Cougars have won 20 or more games in 11 of the last 12 seasons, including 2015 when they won the Class 2 state championship.

“We’re still getting better,” Lutheran St. Charles coach Rachel Versemann said. “We played with a lot of energy. We were excited to be here.”

Phillips said her club has battled slow starts all season.

“We came from behind a lot this season, but tonight we just could not get on any kind of roll,” said Phillips, who is 92-48-11 in five years as Hannibal coach. 

Middle hitter Brooke Kiel and outside hitters Katelyn Diani-O’Day and Maya Griggs formed a formidable front line for Lutheran St. Charles. Libero Sarah Sanderson was also an effective weapon.

“Lutheran St. Charles is a great team,” Phillips said. “Their offense was way quicker than our block could control.”

Hannibal junior middle hitter Emilia Bates tried to figure out what went wrong.

“It’s a mental game,” she said, shaking her head. “We had a young team, and I think you’ll see us here again next year.”

Freshman outside hitter Aly Falconer notched 11 kills for Hannibal, Hess had 15 assists and sophomore libero Kegan Greening had 19 digs.

In postseason play, Greening (61) and junior outside hitter Abbie Martin (40) combined for more than 100 digs. Hess recorded 68 assists and Martin 37 kills.

Hess and senior middle hitter Courtney Locke are the lone seniors who will be lost to graduation.

“We lose our two seniors, but I’m definitely looking forward to next season,” Phillips said.