How Fair Grove won state volleyball and girls basketball titles in a matter of months
A fifth and deciding set on the grandest stage of Class 2 volleyball brought a sense of comfort to Fair Grove.
When the Eagles were forced into the win-or-else scenario prior to Saturday's state championship match at Southeast Missouri State University, they never lost.
Hannah Maxwell had no intention of deviating from that trend.
"I felt like my four years (on varsity) had worked up to that set," said Maxwell, who faced Hermann on Saturday in pursuit of Fair Grove's first state volleyball title. "When we jumped out to a 8-3 lead, I was starting getting emotional. I knew we were going to win."
A match-ending kill by Ashton Bell elicited celebration from the Greene County team, a 15-5 decision that upended a tradition-rich Hermann program with 28 state semifinal appearances to its name.
The District 10 representative didn't yield a set in postseason play — Sparta, Spokane, Liberty, El Dorado Springs and Arcadia Valley were all swept — before it was pushed to the brink on Saturday.
Longtime coach Tonya Peck's 23rd season at Fair Grove finished with the perfect capper.
"They are such competitors," said Peck, a former Ash Grove standout who played collegiately at MSU-West Plains and Southwest Baptist. "When we got pushed to that fifth set, I reminded them that they had been there before. It's where we wanted to be."
Maxwell, Bell, and Shea Skouby combined for 39 kills for Fair Grove (35-1-2) on Saturday. Brooke Daniels had a team-high 30 assists and Faith Klindworth led the way with 33 digs. Abbey Green and Allison Findley were also key.
They're winners. Six of the starting seven played on Fair Grove's basketball team that won the program's first state title in March and three played softball on Fair Grove's state semifinal softball team.
"They have amazing connection," said Peck, who loses three starters to graduation, including Maxwell. "They make us coaches look really good."
Maxwell, who also had 21 assists and 19 digs on Saturday, is continuing her volleyball career at nearby Baptist Bible College, which will be an NAIA school when she the joins the Patriots in 2024. Fellow seniors Klindworth and Finley have also garnered collegiate recruiting interest.
Maxwell and several teammates began basketball practice on Monday, 48 hours removed from Saturday's emotional win.
"This has been a fun year," Maxwell said. "And a big step for our volleyball program."
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Fair Grove girls add volleyball state title to list of major trophies
