[heading]District tournament primer: Rock Bridge, Helias lead the bracket[/heading]

The RBHS volleyball team begins district play tonight at 5pm against Wentzville Holt (12-11-1). The Bruins enter district play with a strong 25-2 record, the second seeded team at district and ranked seventh in the state by the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association. The only blemishes on the year came  on the road at tenth ranked Helias Catholic and against fifth ranked Park Hill South in the Bronco Invitational at Lee’s Summit North.

Trying to continue on a successful regular season the Lady Bruins have a relatively easy road to the district championship game, if they are able to advance past Holt they’ll either play Hickman or Smith Cotton in the district semifinal. The Bruins have previously defeated both teams. RBHS beat Smith Cotton in three sets at home Sept. 3 and in the last regular season game this past Thursday defeated Hickman in two sets. Despite easy wins against these two squad, the Bruins keep a humble mindset.

“We don’t think about it because anything can happen,” junior outside hitter Sophie Cunningham said. “But we also need to have fun and not forget how special our team is.”

On the opposite side of the bracket the Bruins have defeated every team besides Helias holding wins over Battle, Troy Buchanan and Hannibal. Helias holds the No. 1 seed and most likely will be the team to beat.

“They are very scrappy and well coached,” Cunningham said.

The Bruins hope to cap off a successful year with a district title and a shot at the state championship.

“In order to be successful we just need to keep focused and take one point at a time,” junior defensive specialist Carly Offerdahl said. “We all need to realize that every game could be our last time playing with each other. And that needs to be our motivation to win and keep moving on.”

 By Graham Raterman