Rock Port High School volleyball earns hard fought 5 set victory to win the Class 1 State Championship; 1st in school history

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) - The Class 1 High School Volleyball State Championship duel between Rock Port and Valle Catholic will be remembered for a long time as Rock Port emerges victorious to win the state title in 5 sets, 3-2 (25-19, 24-26, 27-25, 25-27, 15-11).

It's the first state championship in school history and the second sport to win a state title for Rock Port, joining football.

Junior Braylyn Wood led the team with 32 kills and 19 digs, followed by junior Kinley Lair with 12 kills and sophomore Stevie Gaines with 10. Gaines led Rock Port with 34 assists followed by junior Raylynn Jenkins with 26.

"All of these girls are my best friends. I'm just so happy that I could do it with them," said Wood. "We've made it in a lot of state appearances, but to win is just a different feeling."

"I can't describe it. I'm at a loss of words, it hasn't really hit me yet. But this is probably the best feeling ever, and it feels great to be a senior and go out on a big win with my friends and everything," said lone Rock Port senior Tatum Vogler.

"This is amazing to bring this home for Blue Jay Nation. That's a big deal. This team has worked so hard," said Rock Port head coach Stephanie Parsons. "It was the whole coaching staff. It was the whole team. It's that student section, that whole community coming here and making it feel like we're playing at home today."

The Lady Blue Jays finish the season with a 37-4-1 record. Rock Port returns all but one player next season, giving the team plenty of motivation to try and come back for a possible repeat.

"The confidence that these girls will have coming into next season is exactly what we need and building a program," said Parsons. "It's not about coming in and winning a state championship one year, it's making a legacy for Rock Port volleyball. To build a program the right way and I think that's what we've got with this group here."