Randall and West Plains share District 4-4A volleyball championship

On the final day of the regular season, the West Plains Lady Wolves delivered when it mattered most — playing their best volleyball in the moments that would define their year. Behind an electric home crowd Saturday afternoon, West Plains capped off an impressive campaign with a commanding three-set sweep of rival Canyon, 25-21, 25-17, 25-21. The win not only gave the Wolves bragging rights but also secured a share of the District 4-4A championship with Randall.

The Lady Wolves finish the regular season at 30-11 overall and 12-2 in district play, earning the No. 1 seed in Division I for the upcoming Class 4A playoffs. It’s a milestone moment for a program that’s continued to establish itself as one of the Panhandle’s rising powers.

Leading the way for West Plains was Aaniyah Kitchen, who was unstoppable at the net. Kitchen tallied 13 kills and three blocks, setting the tone early with her aggressive play on the front row. Setter duo Bella Wineberg and Cecilia Murillo orchestrated the offense beautifully, combining for 34 assists on the afternoon. Wineberg posted 19 assists while Murillo added 15, keeping Canyon’s defense guessing throughout the match.

For Canyon, the loss ended a strong season with a third-place district finish at 11-3 and a 21-15 overall record. The Lady Eagles will enter the postseason as the No. 2 seed in Division II. Laney Jones led Canyon with eight kills and seven digs, while London Gibson contributed 12 assists and nine digs in a solid two-way effort.

While West Plains celebrated their share of the title, the other half of the district crown was earned a few miles away in a nail-biter. Randall faced a scrappy Hereford squad that was fighting to keep its playoff hopes alive — and it took every ounce of effort for the Lady Raiders to escape with a five-set victory, 25-22, 22-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-13.

With the win, Randall (26-14, 12-2) matched West Plains atop the standings and will carry the No. 1 seed from Division II into the postseason. Hereford, on the other hand, saw its season come to a heartbreaking close, finishing 18-19 and just outside the playoff picture.

Randall’s success was fueled by a breakout performance from freshman Chloe Brown, who turned in a remarkable double-double with 39 digs and 21 kills. Amber Matthews also delivered a big night with 16 kills, while Bennet Moore ran the offense smoothly with 41 assists.

Two Lady Raiders also hit personal milestones in the victory. Kambree Gonzalez notched 30 digs, surpassing 1,000 for her career, while Nevaeh Connor’s seven digs pushed her past the 500 mark.

As the dust settles on a dramatic final weekend, the stage is set for what promises to be an exciting postseason. West Plains and Randall share the district crown, but both will look to separate themselves where it truly counts — in the playoffs. For now, though, the Wolves can take pride in knowing they came through when the stakes were highest, proving that championship composure is part of their DNA.