Middle School Volleyball: Harrisburg wins Class L State Championship

Harrisburg Middle School volleyball coach Heather Cox is a mere a seven weeks away from giving birth to her and her husband Zach's first child, a boy named Murphy.

That will undeniably be the happiest day of Heather's life, in the meantime, she will relish in the moment of Saturday's three set win over Murphysboro that captured the Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association Class L state championship at Pinckneyville High School.

Cox laughs off the notion, but doesn't joke about in terms of coaching, it being a fantastic way of finishing out the season.

The Bulldogs, who went 26-2 this year knocked off Murphysboro 27-25 and then lost 25-17, but won the tie breaker in dramatic fashion. 18-16.

There were plenty of stars on this year's squad, but the decisive factor in the final set had nothing to do with individuality, but a collective effort that even Cox admits is a rare-trait among many of today's teams.

"There were multiple times in that third set where we sat back as a coaching staff and said, 'there is a chance we might not win this' and these kids just refused to die," Cox said. "You cannot teach a kid how to be competitive. It's something that they are or they aren't, but it's not something that I have been able to figure out how to instill in them as of yet. This group of kids, for whatever its worth, has that. That competitive nature, when it comes down to the wire in those close games, is and did make a big, big difference. It's something that I'm glad our program has, is that competitive nature and that drive and hopefully they're going to start that trend."

HMS started off the SIJHSAA Class L tournament with a 25-16, 25-11 straight set win over Waterloo. It was a match up where Cox noted that once her team's adrenaline settled and mistakes were limited, the Bulldogs cruised.

"Overall, we had a good first game and set the tone for the tournament and its always good to get that first win under your belt, because then you are guaranteed a trophy and some of that pressure comes off."

Harrisburg then beat Carmi 25-16 and 15-18 in straight sets.

Again, Cox complimented her team on their play, despite a couple of serving errors in the second game, but nonetheless, got the job done.

Harrisburg won the first set against Murphysboro 27-25, dropped the second set 25-17, but sealed the deal with an 18-16 third set victory.

The elation of then and now set in for all involved, but for Cox it was a moment of reflection

"I was just excited for the kids, Cox said. "These girls are very competitive and they had set big goals in all of their sports this year, as far as making it to the state tournament in softball, basketball and to finally see them win that tournament and have something they worked so hard come true for was exciting for me to see.

"I think it was pretty evident when this group was in sixth grade that we had a lot of potential and a lot of talent that we could really tap into. Even last year, the success we had, going undefeated, set a positive tone heading into their eighth grade year. So yeah, I think it was an aspiration that they had and the coaching staff had and glad to make sure we could all see it come to fruition."

Like any team sport, Cox sat down with her kids prior to the year and talked about goals and aspirations. And like most, the crescendo is going to the state tournament and winning a state title. Even if for some it's far fetched.

It wasn't far fetched for Cox and this group.

"Absolutely, I always sit down and discuss with my kids what we want to accomplish. The big goal is always to be better at the end of the season than we were at the beginning, but we also wanted to win conference, which we were able to do and then ultimately make it to state and bring home that first place trophy.

It was something that we were aspiring to do without a doubt."

Now the anticipation begins for Cox and company for a program that has transitioned in recent years and the arrival of an eighth grade class that will be freshmen in some five months.

"The program is going in a new direction and I think these kids are going to fit into that mold perfectly and bring with them a lot of positive energy. They're a great group of kids to work with, win or lose."

Cox refuses to take a lot credit for breathing new life into a program that is heading on the upswing.

"I don't want to give myself too much credit," Cox said. "I ask the kids to work awfully hard in practice and they'll tell you that. I push them and I push them and I push them. They do everything I ask, so I think 99 percent of the credit has to go to them. I'm just there to help them, teach them and guide them, but they are the ones that have to put the work in and these kids do. It's evident with the success they have had."

Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.