Poplar Bluff used one more emotional night to secure an undefeated home record for the season.
On senior night, the Mules beat Cape Central 25-16, 25-23 to go 8-0 at home this season. Poplar Bluff (15-10) still has the SEMO Conference tournament to play before districts begin next week.
"Our team plays well when we are excited about something," Poplar Bluff's lone senior Sophie Rowland said. "I figured we'd be excited about senior night."
The Mules will see Cape Central in both tournaments. The two will play in pool play today in Cape Girardeau, and then the fourth-seeded Mules and the fifth-seeded Tigers will play again in the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 Tournament quarterfinals at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Jackson, with the winner playing the host Indians in the semifinals.
Monday's game was back and forth early with eight lead changes until the Mules took the lead for good at 13-12.
Poplar Bluff was still ahead a point at 14-13 when it rattled off eight straight points.
Rowland had a pair of aces and a kill during the run to lead the team.
"She's very competitive, very serious about athletics in general," said of Rowland, who she has coached since seventh grade. "I absolutely love her and she will be greatly missed."
After a pair of Poplar Bluff errors, Kiley Bess came through with the block for game point.
Poplar Bluff jumped ahead 12-6 in the second game after hitting four aces, two by Khelie Spence and one each by Bess and Haley Slaughter.
However, Cape immediately rallied and got within a point at 14-13, just like the first game, after Kiana Newkirk hit an ace.
Jolie Kidd got a kill for the Tigers to tie the game at 18, and soon added another give Cape a 20-18 lead, capping a five point run.
Kidd's return landed wide to tie it at 21, and Bess put down a kill to give Poplar Bluff the lead.
After a Cape timeout, Kidd sent a kill long to give the Mules a two-point lead.
Leading 24-23, Poplar Bluff got a clean receive on a Cape serve and passed to Rowland, who tipped it over the net and Cape was called for a net violation for match point.
"Sophie said before the game she was going to play good," Lance said. "She's usually right when she tells me something like that."
Rowland said after the match the night was bittersweet, and it wasn't as sad as it otherwise might have been because she'll still get to wear a Mules uniform for soccer in the spring, but that senior night will probably be more emotional.
"It was exciting," Rowland said of senior night. "I did better than I thought I would."
Poplar Bluff has now won three, all at home, since going 1-3 in the Jackson Invitational. In non-tournament play, the Mules have won 7 of 8 going back to Sept. 20.
"I think we definitely got better as the season went on," Rowland said. "At the end of the season, I think we're ready."
The win over Cape also makes the Mules 2-2 against district opponents. Poplar Bluff won at home 2-0 against Sikeston and lost 2-1 at Jackson and 2-0 at Farmington.
"We have hit a surge and are getting better," Lance said. "Some things have improved and they are improving at the right time."