Thirty years ago, the Montgomery County volleyball team won its sixth consecutive Eastern Missouri Conference crown.

This year, the Wildcats are setting their sights on pulling off another six-peat in EMO play. MCHS has won league championships in each of the last five years.

Even though the conference has just four teams – Bowling Green, Wright City and North Callaway are the other competitors – the Wildcats are still determined to finish with another strong season in conference play. They have won 43 straight conference matches.

“Obviously, we have a target on our backs, which we welcome,” MCHS coach Rachel Leu said. “I know each team is going to be better than last year. So we’re just hoping to go out there and do our best and go for another conference championship. That’s kind of an expectation we have for ourselves. We have added pressure, too. So far, we have responded well to the pressure. I do expect us to come out with another championship this year. We’ll be disappointed if we don’t.”

A conference championship is one of the goals for the Wildcats, who bring back eight players from last year’s varsity team that finished 12-14-2. MCHS is also looking to finish with its first winning season since 2020.
Leu said her team had a very competitive schedule last year, playing against a team that went to the Final Four, two teams that advanced out of the sectional round and four teams that won district championships.

“I felt like while we didn’t get the wins on the win-loss record, we competed and we were in situations where we were able to keep it close and gave ourselves a chance to win,” Leu said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t fall that way. I think last year was a good year for experience for some of our girls and just being in those more high-pressure situations.”

The Wildcats will play another tough schedule this year. Their schedule includes a trip to the Orchard Farm Tournament on Sept. 16.

“We have to beef up our schedule,” Leu said. “We have to make it tough. We have to make it competitive. If Hermann ends up at our district again, we have to spend as much time as we can competing against higher level teams. If that means going to play bigger schools, that means playing bigger schools.”

The Wildcats have a strong senior class that includes Claire Cobb, Morgan Koch, Madi Polston, Ellie Robinson and Olivia Shaw. Last year, Shaw led the team in kills (270) and blocks (51), Robinson had 250 assists and Koch finished with 199 digs and 125 kills.

“It’s unique because they all play a different position, so they all bring different aspects of the game to the game for us,” Leu said. “Whether it’s defense or blocking or setting, I have a leader who can step up and help our juniors who spent all of last season sitting on the varsity bench as well as playing some JV. We have leaders in every aspect of the game.”

Juniors Avery Leu, Ava Rakers and Alexis Ramo also return for the Wildcats.

MCHS begins its season on Aug. 29 with a road match against Hermann. Last year, the Wildcats lost to their Highway 19 rivals twice, including in the Class 2, District 6 finals.

“We’re excited for it,” Leu said. “It kind of feels like mentally-wise the girls are going in wanting to beat them, not hoping to beat them. They want to show what they can do and what kind of team they want to be. For us, it’s good because it gives us a little extra motivation.”

MCHS begins its quest for its sixth straight EMO crown on Aug. 31, when it plays North Callaway in its home opener.

The Wildcats have won 11 conference championships. They won titles from 1988-93. MCHS began its current streak of league crowns in 2018.