Scheduled to end last night (Tuesday) in Steelville, Owensville Middle School Dutchgirl volleyball saw their season end earlier this month due to concerns with the coronavirus.

Back on Thursday, March 12, OMS ventured into Franklin County to face Sullivan’s Lady Eagles.

Winning both the seventh and eighth-grade matches in three sets, Jamie Ridenhour’s eighth-grade Dutchgirls faced Sullivan again two days later during the annual Owensville 8th Grade Volleyball Tournament at Owensville High School.

Looking to get off to a good start in their own tournament, Sullivan had other ideas.

Leading 9-7 on a pair of service points from Hannah Nelson, OMS saw Sullivan score four of the next five points for an 11-10 lead near the midway point of game one.

Tying the first set at 11-11 on an Elise McFalls kill, Owensville could not overcome numerous errors before dropping the first set 25-17.

Madison Miles and Makensy Pigg both recorded kills in addition to McFalls in game one.

Game two was a different story for the Dutchgirls.

Sparked by four service points from Payton Harness helping OMS to an 11-7 lead, Owensville went on to take game two 25-19 splitting the match with Sullivan.

Defeating Bland in three sets to open the season, Ridenhour’s Dutchgirls faced off against the Lady Bears in their second pool match of the morning.

Three Allysan Gooch aces late in game one helped OMS take the first set 25-20.

Game two saw service runs from McKenna Edwards, Pigg and Gooch helped the Dutchgirls easily take game two from Bland 25-11 sweeping the pool ‘A’ match.

Also defeating St. James a week ago in three sets in front of the OMS student body, the eighth-grade Dutchgirls faced them again in their third match of pool play that Saturday.

Aces were plentiful in game one against the Lady Tigers helping the Dutchgirls take the first set 25-16.

Serving up aces in game for OMS included Edwards (4), Gooch (3) and Pigg (1).

Trailing 11-8 in game two, a McKenzy Echols kill sent her behind the serving line looking to give the Dutchgirls the lead.

Recording aces in five of the next nine points, Echols gave OMS an 18-12 lead.

Two more Gooch aces helped Owensville take game two and sweep the pool match over St. James 25-16 and 25-18.

Going into their final pool match with Washington, OMS simply needed to win both sets to cement their place in bracket play.

Leading by at least five points in both sets, OMS’ Dutchgirls could not seal the deal losing both sets to the Lady Blue Jays 25-18 and 25-23.

Seeing their season end that day, Owensville lost scheduled matches against New Haven (March 16), Union (March 17) and Steelville (March 24).

For a number of OMS Dutchgirl track athletes, they’re hopeful that their track season could begin in the middle of April if classes resume throughout the Gasconade County R-2 School District on Monday, April 6 as tentatively scheduled.

Their first meet could be at the OMS Relays at Dutchmen Field on Thursday, April 16.