After eliminating rival and ten-time defending district champion Ozark, top seed Nixa still had work to do in Wednesday night's Class 4 District 10 tournament.

The battle-tested Lady Eagles were ready for the program's biggest moment in a decade.

Nixa defeated a competitive Kickapoo squad 25-23, 25-21 in the district finals.

The Lady Eagles last won a district volleyball title in 2010.

"Long time coming," said Nixa coach Annie Zimmerman.

Lady Eagles senior Lauren Weber served an ace to clinch the district championship.

Nixa's players dogpiled in celebration. That dogpile quickly grew as the Nixa student section stormed the court to join in.

"It was just an overwhelming experience," said Weber, who added 13 digs and three kills.

Nixa will host its Class 4 sectional on Saturday. Start times will be announced Thursday.

The Lady Eagles (32-4 overall) will face Webb City (28-6 overall) in the first sectional, followed by Willard vs. Jefferson City.

The winners will play later that day for a spot in the Class 4 state volleyball championships next weekend in Cape Girardeau.

"It's a real honor because it shows to the people who follow us that, 'This is what you can do and this should be what you play for every year,'" Weber said. "This is how it should be."

Nixa needed three sets to defeat Ozark in the semifinals Wednesday night.

Facing No. 2 seed Kickapoo in the finals, Nixa faced a 21-19 deficit in the first set.

The Lady Eagles rallied and scored the final three points of the set, thanks to a Jaycee Fixsen kill and a pair of Kickapoo errors.

"Districts, it's a crazy time of year," Zimmerman said. "Teams are going to play their absolute best. They're going to come at you, and keep coming at you. We had to be able to stick to our gameplan and everything we do. And we did."

For the full game recap, game photos and highlights, click here.