Photo by Beverly Burcham Members of the Kennett Lady Indians tennis team pose with the Class 1, District 1 championship trophy they won Thursday at Sikeston. Kennett will host the Class 1 regional Tuesday at Kennett High School. [Click to enlarge]

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Over the last few years, the Kennett Lady Indians tennis team has become one of the school's best sports programs.

That run of success hit another peak Thursday, as the Lady Tribe won the Class 1, District 1 title for the second time in four seasons and earned a state playoff berth for the third time in that stretch.

"I'm very proud of the entire team," Kennett coach Janet Hilburn said. "It took a total team effort to win today. With the extra teams that they added to the district this year, we beat 11 other teams."

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Andy Sherrod (center) battles for the ball with a pair of Anna-Jonesboro defenders during Thursday's high school soccer game at Indian Park. [Click to enlarge]

Four of Hilburn's six seniors -- Brook Burcham, Hanna Lack, Susan Shetley and Anna Grantham -- are also state bound regardless of the outcome of Tuesday's regionals at Kennett

"These girls have worked hard all season," said Hilburn. "I told them the hard work would pay off. Today they came out on fire. Nothing could get in their way. They made it all the way to the finals and they made it all the way to state."

The tennis team was not the only Kennett team to have a special day Thursday. The volleyball team won the regular-season Bootheel Conference title with a 25-22, 25-13 win at Hayti.

At Sikeston, leading the way was Burcham, who brought home the district singles title. Burcham defeated Whitney Yancey of Arcadia Valley 6-0, 6-0 in the second round, then defeated Sara Johnson of Willow Springs 6-1, 6-1.

In the semifinals, Burcham defeated Farmington's Heather Lewis 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) before meeting teammate Lack in an all-Kennett final. Burcham got past Lack 6-2, 6-3 to earn the title.

Lack had a strong run of her own to make the final, including a 6-2, 6-2 win over top-seeded Katelyn Heil of Dexter in the semis.

In doubles play, Shetley and Grantham made it to the finals before dropping a 7-5, 6-2 decision to a Farmington team. Shetley and Grantham won their first two matches by scores of 6-0, 6-0 before taking a 6-3, 6-1 win in the semis.

With the win, Kennett will host the regional round on Tuesday. Play begins at 10 a.m.

"I'm very excited for my team," Hilburn said. "These six varsity members that won district today have been with me since they were five years old. They've worked hard with me since grade school up through middle school and through high school. They deserve everything they got today, the district title."

Volleyball
Kennett def. Hayti
At Hayti, the Lady Tribe swept past Hayti to go 6-0 in Bootheel Conference play and win the league's regular-season title for the first time since 2005.

"The girls have played hard all year," Kennett coach Laura Ort said. "It's a title that they have earned. We've just got to stay focused and keep our momentum carrying us into the conference and district tournaments."

Ciara Dewrock finished with a team-high nine kills, while Brea Riddle added six kills, six assists, two blocks and an ace. Megan Lack added three assists, two kills and a pair of aces, while Jodi Vancil and Taylor Wake each served three aces and Chrisie Burrow dished off six assists.

Kennett's jayvee also won the Bootheel title, downing Hayti 25-20, 25-16.

Boys Soccer
Anna-Jonesboro 3, Kennett 0
At Indian Park, the visiting Wildcats scored two first-half goals and kept the Tribe out of the goal to spoil Senior Day at Kennett.

Kennett (6-10-1) was also without Patrick Ratliff, who will miss the rest of the season with an illness.

Softball
Kennett 8, Ste. Gen 6
At Cape Girardeau, the Lady Tribe jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the fourth inning of its first-round Class 3, District 2 tournament game, then held off a furious comeback by Ste. Genevieve to advance to this evening's semifinal against Festus.

Kennett (11-5) pounded out 12 hits, led by a 3-for-3 day by Kasey Ellis, while Jordan Wagster and Haley Morrow each had a pair of hits.

Laurel Scales picked up the win, striking out 12 and scattering three hits in seven innings of work.