From staff reports

sports@joplinglobe.com

Verona held off McAuley Catholic down the stretch in the second set and defeated the Warriors 25-10, 25-21 Thursday night in an Ozark 7 Conference volleyball match in the Warriors’ gymnasium.

The Warriors (3-6) rallied to pull into a 21-21 deadlock in the second set on a Sonya Kilongkilong kill. But Verona scored the final four points, including kills by Jessica Lombard and Jori Dodson and a Dodson block to account for the last three points.

“We played better,” Wildcats head coach Brad Stewart said. “We started hot, had some sickness, had a cool streak.... The first game we looked like world beaters, the second game was kind of shaky. But that’s volleyball, too.”

Tristan Carrasquillo led Verona with seven kills, and Jessica Smith served five aces. Beth Bigham had 15 assists, and Jenna Chadd led the defense with 16 digs.

McAuley’s leaders were Brittany Street with six kills, Kilongkilong with seven digs and Jae Stephens with seven assists.

“I don’t think we came to play,” McAuley head coach Amber Obert said. “We have been playing our hearts out. We have been playing so hard ... we didn’t come to play tonight until the last 10 points. And the other team could not hit a ball into the net if they tried.”

The Warriors play Monday night at Golden City before entertaining Southwest on Tuesday.

Glendale hurdles Joplin

The Eagles fell to 1-3 in the Ozark Conference with the 25-23, 25-11 loss to the visiting Falcons.

Joplin leaders included Emilee Dailey (five kills), Autumn Lewis (four assists) and Jessie McMullen (six digs).

Joplin entertains McDonald County on Tuesday with the freshman match opening the tripleheader at 5 p.m.

College Heights clips Jasper

JASPER, Mo. — The Cougars, who lost 25-25 in Game 2, prevailed 25-16 in Game 1 and 25-19 in the decisive game to take a Spring River Valley Conference showdown.