St. Pius X rallies to beat Jefferson City for Class 4 championship

Jefferson City came out swinging, literally and figuratively, and cruised in the opening set against the Lancers, who swept the Jays in a regular season match on September 14.

“It was just go out stronger than we did before, and just know that they aren't a team that's going to hand it to us, and just know that they're a team that's going to come out with a lot of energy,” Raterman said. “So, I think the message was just go out and play our game.”

The Lancers found their game in a 14-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-22 victory.

St. Pius (37-2-1 overall), No. 1 in the STLhighschoolsports small school rankings, won its fourth state championship and first since 2017. It is their first championship in Class 4, with the previous three titles coming in Class 2.

“It means everything,” senior Hannah Leftridge said. “Last year we fell short in second place, so this was our revenge, and we got it done and we finished it.”

Raterman had 19 kills, Kate Sherry had 12 and Anne Makowski add 10 more for St. Pius. Hannah Leftridge had nine kills to go with 25 digs and Elena Ruble recorded 43 assists.

Nola Borgmeyer had 15 kills and Leah Heisler put down 13 more for Jefferson City (27-8). Maddie Mitchell had 43 assists.

“They were a whole different team for sure, and that's what we've been seeing throughout the season, teams that we saw in tournament play early on, everyone's so much better,” St. Pius coach Shannon Leftridge said. “Everyone's improved. And they were playing their ‘A’ game.”

Jefferson City did not go quietly in a tightly-played fourth set. Every time St. Pius seemed poised to get some separation, the Jays bounced right back.

“Just digging deep and like staying together and knowing that this could be our last set,” Makowski said. “Just playing as hard as we can the whole time, really just staying together as family.”

A tip by Jefferson City’s Sandra Ingram cut the Lancers’ lead to 23-22. Sherry answered with her fifth kill of the set to bring up championship point and Raterman followed with a kill to bring the trophy back to Festus after a 1 hour, 40-minute match.

“That felt really good,” Raterman said. “We've been working on this all year, and it was a very big reaction play, like it was really short. I knew I was going to have to play it, and it was really tight, so I just kind of took it over, not really thinking, and it ended up working in our favor.”

Jays roll early

Jefferson City dominated the opening set.

Borgmeyer put down four kills and Mitchell added an ace, kill and block while running the Jays’ offense. Kills by Lydia Gudde and Heisler brought up set point, where Gudde ended the frame with a block.

“I know that's not how we usually play,” Hannah Leftridge said. “So, the next set we came out and played 100%. Nothing hits the floor. Keep swinging, because that’s how we play our game.”

Pocket aces

St. Pius took control of the second set with an aggressive serve. Peyton Meyers set the tone with three aces and Raterman added another.

Raterman and Hannah Leftridge each had four kills and Makowski added two more. Sherry came up with a big block and she evened the match at a set apiece with a kill.

“Definitely just going up and swinging,” Hannah Leftridge said. “They have a big block, and I found the holes tipping, so I knew it was open. I knew it was working.”

Rat attack

Raterman took over in the second set. The 6-foot-4 Florida State recruit blasted eight kills and added a block for St. Pius.

“I just do my job,” Raterman said. “I just go out there and play how I know how to play, and just do what I can do, control what I can control. I don't really focus on any numbers.”

Hannah Leftridge and Makowski each put down two kills and an ace to help give the Lancers a 2-1 lead.

“I'm extremely proud of this team,” Shannon Leftridge said. “We always we keep our numbers small at Pius, so we're really close, and everyone has a role, and it just creates unity with the team.”