For the first time since 2019, Excelsior Springs can claim a winning season in varsity volleyball. That season ended Oct. 18 with a road loss to Oak Grove in the Class 3 District 15 Tournament semifinals, as the Panthers downed the Tigers in the bestof- five match 3-1. The defeat dashed Excelsior Springs’ hopes of avenging a regular-season loss to Oak Grove and of appearing in a second straight district title match. Oak Grove took the first set 25-18. The Tigers answered with a 25-16 win. The Panthers cruised 25-11 in the third set and then edged the Tigers 25-23 in a back-and-forth fourth set to advance to the championship match. Oak Grove fell to Odessa 3-0 Oct. 19 at Oak Grove in the title match. Senior Reagan Block led the Tigers (14-12) offensively in their finale with 15 kills. Other contributors on offense included senior Baylee O’Dell with eight kills and senior Alani Price with seven. Defensively, se...