The Cotter Lady Warriors volleyball team clinched its second consecutive 2A-2 conference championship on Thursday night, defeating Alpena in a dominant 3-0 sweep. The Lady Warriors, now holding an impressive 23-2 overall record, completed league play with a flawless 8-0 mark this season.
The junior high team also celebrated a significant achievement by capturing their third straight conference title, a milestone regarded as unexpected by some. Head coach Nikki Guthrie expressed pride in the efforts and results of both teams, noting the hard work and commitment that have elevated the program’s reputation.
The junior high Lady Warriors are scheduled to begin their district tournament Saturday at Alpena, starting with a match at 10 a.m. against the winner of Omaha and Alpena’s earlier 9 a.m. game. Other bracket matchups will see Izard County facing Viola at 11 a.m., with the championship game set for noon.
For the senior high team, the district tournament will be hosted by Cotter beginning on Tuesday. The Lady Warriors are set to face the winner of Viola and Alpena at 7 p.m. Omaha and Izard County will meet on the other side of the bracket, with the victors advancing to Thursday’s championship match at 5:30 p.m.
Coach Guthrie remains focused on the Lady Warriors’ larger goal of pursuing a state championship. She emphasized the importance of taking the season one match at a time, cautioning against underestimating any future opponents. In the meantime, the achievements already earned this season continue to bring pride to Cotter School and the community at large.