Nixa volleyball dominated its way to another berth in the Class 5 Final Four.

The Eagles swept the host Blue Spring Jaguars 25-8, 25-16, 25-13, securing their spot in the state semifinals for the first time since 2020, when Nixa was the runner-up.

Nixa quickly went up 10-5 early in the first set. The Eagles extended their lead to 19-7 following a 10-2 run, and a Gwen Kubik block secured the 25-8 opening-set victory.

The second set provided a more competitive tale. After an exchange of a few points, Nixa held a two-point advantage, 9-7. From there, momentum began to swing. The Eagles went on a 10-5 run, upping their lead to 19-12, and forced a Jaguars timeout. Blue Springs South managed one more point following the timeout, and another block at the net secured the win, putting Nixa up 2-0. This time, it was six-foot-one Kimberlyn McCowan for point 25.

In the third set, it was all Eagles from the start. Peyton Creed set up Alivia Wood, who killed the ball by the Jaguar blockers and gave the Eagles a 10-2 lead. Creed made a diving dig to keep the rally alive, then a block by Addy Bybee at the net notched point 25, and sent Nixa into jubilation as the Eagles were victorious in set three, 25-13.

Offensively, Nixa totaled 35 kills in the game, led by Kubik's 12 and Taylor Wood's nine. Wood also added 16 assists, to go along with Creed's 10. Creed also had three aces, for half of Nixa's game total (6).

Defensively, the Eagles were everywhere and tallied 67 digs, with four in double figures – Mara Coutler (15), Bybee (12), Addie O'Connell (10), and Wood (10). Coulter also added 12 receptions off serves.

The win marked the Eagles (28-9) 13th straight victory and sends Nixa (28-9) to its first Final Four appearance since 2020. The Eagles went to back-to-back state finals in 2019 and 2020, hosting the title in 2019 over Lafayette (Wildwood) and falling short to Liberty North the following year.

Nixa faces the three-time defending state champs and No. 22 nationally-ranked Lafayette (Wildwood) in the semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 6, in the Civic Arena in St. Joseph, Mo., at 10 a.m. Lafayette (38-1) knocked off Cor Jesu 25-18, 25-19, 25-16 in its quarterfinal. The matchup between Nixa and Lafayette will mark the second of the year, as the Eagles fell 2-1 (25-21, 14-25, 16-25) at the Rockwood Invitational.