By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The Bishop LeBlond volleyball team came back to St. Joseph late Saturday night a state runner-up - the highest finish for the Eagles, and for any St. Joseph volleyball team, in history.
LeBlond (27-10-1) fell 3-0 to Hermann in the Class 2 championship game at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau Saturday in the Eagles' third trip to the Final Four since 2012.
Hermann (31-5-1) set the tone early, taking the first set 25-18 and then the second 25-14. LeBlond rallied early in the third set, tying it at 14, but the Hermann Bearcats wouldn't be denied, as they went onto win the third and final set 25-17.
Senior Kianna Herrera and junior Paige Perry recorded seven kills each, while sophomore Kyla Conard finished with 17 assists. Senior Emily Welter leading the way with 19 digs.
The Eagles advanced to the final after a 3-0 win over Skyline in the semifinal round on Friday afternoon.
LeBlond is still, so far, the only school in St. Joseph history to qualify for a volleyball Final Four, and the 2021 team is now the only team in the city's history to play in a state championship match.