MALDEN -- Of all the reasons to get emotional about winning a district championship, it was a pack of fruit gushers that broke Gracie Thomas down.
Malden was a handful of points away from winning 25-20, 25-11 against top seed and defending champion Twin Rivers when Malden superfan Jerry Darby walked into the gym.
Darby had suffered a stroke and missed most of the volleyball season. He had spent the previous seven weeks at in-house hospital therapy and was released the day before the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 championship.
Thomas, who led Malden with nine kills and a block, made it through the trophy presentation relatively composed, as well as the team picture, teammate pictures and moms with cell phone pictures. The dam burst when Darby handed her that package of fruit gushers, just like he did for her and the softball team last spring.
"It just took it all in, it broke me down completely," Thomas said. "It's the first time we've seen him on his feet in months. To see him here at our game, with our favorite snacks, it's just like 'wow.'"
Malden (26-7-1) will face St. Piux X (Festus) at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Vashon High School in St. Louis. The winner advances to play in the quarterfinal against either Metro (26-4) or Bloomfield (28-7-1).
Malden had lost in the district final four of the past five years, including last year to Twin Rivers.
The Royals (23-7-2) brought back 11 seniors from that district championship team and beat Malden in three sets during the regular season. The two teams also split sets at a tournament before meeting a third time in the district final.
"We knew going in that whoever hit more would win, so we just hit, hit, hit, hit, hit. Luckily all of our hitters were on tonight," Malden coach Brittany Crane said. "Tonight we could use all parts of the net, we weren't scared to, and we didn't play timid like we did last year because we've been swinging away all season."
The second-seeded Green Wave led 12-11 in the first set when Lexi Campbell's kill started a five-point run.
"We have a fantastic libero, Catey Hester, and she'll get everything she can. But the problem is, she is just one person and she can't cover the whole back line," Twin Rivers coach Whitney Stanford said.
The Royals got kills from Hester, Hannah Finley and Brooke Blume as they steadily cut the lead to 21-19.
Lana Reed then got a kill to get the serve back for Malden. After a Twin Rivers passing error, Julianna French's serve skimmed the net and landed for an ace.
Katie Baxter kept the Royals going with a block kill, but a net violation on the following point handed Malden the set.
Malden went to Thomas over and over to start the second set. She had three kills in the first set and then hit three straight as Malden opened with an 8-0 run.
"For the past couple weeks we have been feeding her the ball constantly. She can switch it up, hit both back corners," Crane said. "After about seven points we knew we were going to take it home because we were prepared for this."
A little later, Malden's Lydia Harris made a swinging dig from her knees and nearly underneath the net. The desperate pass sailed high and somehow over the net. Twin Rivers returned it, and Reed got a kill to put Malden ahead 14-4.
Twin Rivers got as close as eight points after that and its biggest run was two points.
"Everything we put right over into their blockers hands or the people who were covering them. We didn't hit into the open lanes at all even though we have been practicing trying to find those spots," Stanford said. "When they got up, I think honestly, the girls felt so much pressure because they won last year, to not let everyone down. Instead of playing for them and playing a good game, they kind of self-imploded."
Madi Earnheart polished off the district championship with a tip and a kill off the block.
"This means everything. We've been working our whole entire lives for this and to finally win districts is a dream come true," Earnheart said. "I've been playing ever since I was born. I love it so much. It is my family and I just love each and every teammate so much."
Prior to the game, Darby and his son were buying groceries in Poplar Bluff for his restrictive diet, watching the clock and hoping they could make the 45-minute drive in time for the game. With wishful thinking, he thought the match might go three sets and take 90 minutes, but Malden opened the second set with an 8-0 run and made quick work of the Royals.
With an eye patch helping his vision and a walker helping his balance, Darby made his was across the gym floor to catch maybe the last 10 minutes of play.
"I've been laid up for a few weeks with a stroke and I just got out of the hospital yesterday, but I wanted them to know they were still in my thought and prayers," Darby said. "I have supported these girls and followed them in all kinds of sports for the past several years and we've gotten to this point two, three times and couldn't get over the hump. I felt like it was important for them to know I was still behind them."