Lady Zizzers fall to Helias in state opener, cap 32-win season

Published 4:30 pm Friday, November 6, 2026

By John Deatherage/For th eQuill

Having already repeated as district champions, West Plains saw its volleyball season close with a loss to Helias Catholic High School of Jefferson City in the opening round of the Class 4 state tournament on Oct. 31 at West Plains High School.

The Lady Zizzers finished the season 32-6-1, capping another successful campaign with a second consecutive Class 4 District 6 championship.

After falling behind 5-1 in the opening set, the Lady Zizzers battled back and pulled within a point at 23-22 before Helias closed it out 25-22. West Plains struggled to regain that rhythm in the next two sets, falling 25-17 in both for the 3-0 final.

Lady Zizzers Head Coach Hailey Beasley said Helias’ ability to blend its attack made the difference in the opening set, while the Crusaders’ consistency left little space for West Plains to recover.

“Helias started mixing up their shots a lot, and that’s what helped them pull away in the first set,” Beasley said. “I thought we competed really well in the first set.”

Beasley said the Lady Zizzers had difficulty getting their offense and defense working together consistently in the final two sets against a Helias team that rarely gives away easy points.

“After the first set, we just struggled getting everything firing at once, and Helias is a team that doesn’t make any errors for breathing room,” Beasley said.

Delani Wahome led West Plains with 11 kills, while Ashlyn Tinsley and Violet Hafer added six apiece. The Lady Zizzers recorded seven team blocks, with Tinsley accounting for five.

Emersyn Brunson paced the defensive effort with 25 digs, followed by Natalie Ell with 13 and Hafer with 12. Aubrey Tidwell finished with 25 assists.

“This group was so special. Zero selfishness,” Beasley said. “Everyone completely committed to doing what they needed to do for the team.”

District Championship

The Lady Zizzers’ postseason run included a pair of convincing wins before their Class 4 District 6 championship showdown with Carl Junction.

West Plains defeated the Lady Bulldogs 3-2 on Oct. 27 at Logan-Rogersville High School to claim the district crown. The Lady Zizzers won the match (25-21, 20-25, 25-14, 18-25, 15-13) in a contest packed with momentum swings and a fierce fifth-set comeback.

The championship was particularly meaningful for the program. In 2025, West Plains captured its first district championship since 1992, then repeated the accomplishment this season. Beasley noted the opportunity to face Carl Junction again carried extra significance after the Lady Bulldogs defeated West Plains in the conference championship match Oct. 15.

“That night we played really timid and played not to lose,” Beasley said. “We were excited to get another chance at them and play to win this time with no regrets.”

The match came down to a fifth set in which West Plains trailed 12-9 before Brunson put together a pivotal service run that helped the Lady Zizzers take a 14-12 lead. Freshman Kinley Smith iced the cake with the championship-winning kill. Smith had rolled her ankle in the fourth set but returned to the floor after receiving treatment and having it taped.

“She had the game-winning kill, and it was so cool to see her battle and play through the pain for her team,” Beasley said.

Hafer led West Plains with 15 kills, while Tinsley recorded 11 and Ell and Smith added nine apiece. Tidwell finished with 44 assists, Brunson had 25 digs and Smith contributed seven blocks. The Lady Zizzers also recorded nine aces, including four from Brunson.

“The comeback in the fifth is a testament to how bad this team wanted it and how much they believe in each other,” Beasley said. “They have grown so much over the season, and they are all team-first.”

Road to the Finals

West Plains advanced to the district championship after defeating Logan-Rogersville 3-1 in the semifinals on Oct. 24. After dropping the opening set (25-21), the Lady Zizzers rallied to win the next three (25-21, 25-18, 25-20) over the Lady Wildcats.

West Plains originally opened district play with a 3-0 sweep of McDonald County on Oct. 20 (25-9, 25-14, 25-12).

Beasley said the season marked an important milestone for four seniors who devoted the past four years to Zizzer volleyball.

“Once a Zizzer, always a Zizzer,” she said, referring to Jocelyn Denny, Aubrey Tidwell, Wahome and Tinsley. “They are leaving a legacy of hard work, resilience and team-first attitudes. We are forever cheering them on and will always remember what they did for our program.”

As for the returning players, Beasley said they are already looking ahead.

“They are hungry,” Beasley said. “They want to get to the final four, and coming up short two years in a row leaves a sting that will motivate them in the offseason. They all love each other and love the game of volleyball. They enjoy their time together playing the sport they love so much.”