Joplin volleyball win streak ends at hands of Kickapoo

The Joplin volleyball team's seven-game winning streak concluded after a 0-3 loss to the Kickapoo Chiefs on Thursday night. Held at Kaminsky Gymnasium, Joplin (12-7-3) managed to stay competitive in the first two sets but faltered in the final set. In the opening set, both teams battled hard as they were tied at 18-all before Kickapoo secured a 25-18 victory in the second set.

Joplin took a 7-4 lead in Set 2, thanks to Aah’lice Jackson's kill, Lilliana Pryor's ace, and another Jackson kill, but Kickapoo rallied to tie the game at 7. The Chiefs outpaced Joplin 9-5 in the final stretch to claim the 25-16 win in Set 2. Kickapoo began the third set with an 8-5 lead and expanded their advantage to 14-7 mid-match.

Joplin mounted a comeback, scoring three straight points, including a service ace from Riley Wald, but ultimately fell short. Despite the loss, Joplin began its season with its best start since 2012. Head coach Delice Downing addressed the defeat, emphasizing that it was in the past and focusing on learning from mistakes. Downing also highlighted the team's rally in the third set, attributing it to a growing "dog mentality" among players.

Jackson, who led the Eagles with eight kills and 14 digs, described the "dog mentality" as a winner mentality, where players don't give up even when down by a large margin. Wald echoed this sentiment, describing it as a "run-through-the-wall" mentality, where players go above and beyond to secure a point. Other notable performers in the match included Payton Cunningham (5 kills, 2 blocks), Pryor (17 assists, 10 digs, 3 aces), and Lauren Cruse (9 digs).

The Eagles will travel to Baxter Springs on Monday for a triangular meet with Baxter Springs and St. Mary’s Colgan (Pittsburg), followed by a game against the Ozark Tigers on Tuesday, and a return home to face Neosho on Thursday.