ST. JOSEPH — Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in a five-set thriller over East Buchanan last Wednesday afternoon in the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 2 Girls Volleyball semifinals at the St. Joseph Civic Arena, Tess Schannuth’s Hermann Lady Bearcats earned a shot at the St. Vincent Lady Indians in the MSHSAA Class 2 Girls Volleyball championship match.

Last fall, St. Vincent defeated Hermann in five sets for third place in Class 2 Girls Volleyball at the Show-Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

Dropping game one 25-18 in the championship match against St. Vincent, Hermann had opportunities to take the next two sets but were not able to overcome too many errors before settling for second-place hardware after a three-set loss to the Lady Indians 25-18, 27-25 and 25-23.

“I’m proud of our girls for never giving up all season,” Schannuth said. “Give credit to St. Vincent as they were the better team today as they took advantage of our errors.”

In her final match as a Hermann Lady Bearcat volleyball player, senior Ashlyn Hughes led the blue and white with 13 kills followed closely with 12 kills from fellow senior Jillian Fredrick.

Kalli Landolt nearly made it three Lady Bearcats in double-digit kills finishing with seven.

Freshman Brynlee Ash led Hermann in the assist department against St. Vincent with 19 followed in double digits by Jaelee Kahler with 13 assists.

Fredrick served the lone ace of the match for the Lady Bearcats while Kealie Lane led three Lady Bearcats in double digits with 23 digs.

Hughes added 12 digs to her team-high 13 kills while Jana Limberopolous also added 10 digs for Hermann.

St. Vincent was paced by Kate Rubel with 22 kills and Brie Rubel with 29 assists.

Callie Schnurbusch also led the Lady Indians with 21 digs.

Hermann vs. East Buchanan

Punching their 10th consecutive ticket to the MSHSAA Girls Volleyball Championships following a four-set quarterfinal victory over Fatima, Schannuth’s Hermann Lady Bearcats took on East Buchanan’s Lady Bulldogs in the second of two Class 2 semifinal matches last Wednesday afternoon inside the St. Joseph Civic Arena.

Dropping the first two sets 27-25 and 25-17, Hermann quickly found themselves with their backs against the wall.

Able to fight off three match points in game three, the Lady Bearcats took the third set 29-27 before going on to pull off a five-set miracle to advance to the MSHSAA Class 2 Girls Volleyball Championship match by scores of 25-27, 17-25, 29-27, 25-17 and 15-9.

“These girls sure know how to make matches interesting,” Schannuth said. “I couldn’t be any more proud of them for their determination to keep battling throughout the match even when things weren’t going in our favor.”

Down 27-26 in the third set, a Hughes kill tied the game at 27-27 sending Ash behind the serving line.

An ace from Ash and another Hughes kill gave game three to Hermann extending the match to a fourth set.

Tied at 13-13 in game four, a Lady Bulldog attack error sent Landolt behind the service line with a 14-13 lead.

After an ace and two kills from Hughes, Hermann took a 17-13 lead before two Fredrick aces eventually led to the Lady Bearcats sending the match to a deciding fifth set.

Trailing 8-7 in game five, another Hughes kill put Ash back on serving duty.

Serving Hermann’s next two points, Ash helped Hermann to a 10-8 lead that they did not relinquish before Hughes served the final four points of the match.

“I’m so happy that I get to end my high school volleyball career playing for a state championship,” Hughes said. “My teammates have been so awesome and I could not have accomplished anything without them.”

Against the Lady Bulldogs, Hughes led three Lady Bearcats in double-digit kills with 28 to go along with 15 from Fredrick and 12 from Landolt.

Kahler dished out a mind-boggling 34 assists while Ash called blackjack with 21 assists.

Lane and Limberopolous each recorded three aces against the Lady Bulldogs.

Hughes, Fredrick and Ash each also had a pair of service aces.

Adding to her three aces, Lane posted a match-high 28 digs while Hughes was close behind with 24 digs.

Ash also added 10 digs to her 21 assists.

Landolt and Hughes led Hermann at the net with five blocks apiece.

Brooklynn Johnson paced East Buchanan with 19 kills while Kendyl Edwards dished out a match-high 48 assists.

Kaylynn Engnes had 22 digs and three aces for the Lady Bulldogs.

East Buchanan went on to settle for fourth place in the Class 2 Girls Volleyball after falling in five sets to New Covenant Academy in five sets 22‑25, 25‑16, 25‑23, 23‑25 and 15-12.