Powerhouse Volleyball Teams, Festus and Jefferson, Ready to Battle Thursday Night in 1st Ever Red Game

(FESTUS) The (20-2) Jefferson volleyball team is hosting (16-1) Festus Thursday night on KJFF for its very first Red Game, a way for the Blue Jays to raise awareness for heart disease after their head coach Ashleigh Nagel suffered a heart attack this summer.

The issue of heart disease extends across the Jefferson sideline to the Festus sideline and Tigers head coach Karen Biehle, whose husband died of a heart attack just 11 days after Nagel survived hers. Nagel and acting Blue Jays volleyball head coach Tara Fish actually played for coach Biehle at Festus. During the pregame ceremony, Nagel and Biehle will both be honored.

Coach Biehle says she, Nagel, and Tara have already had their moment.

Coach Biehle is happy that Festus is associated with this game and is looking forward to facing the Blue Jays.

Jefferson senior defensive specialist Maddie Fuller had high expectations for the season, but getting off to a 20-2 start was a bit unexpected. Fuller credits team chemistry to their excellent record.

Blue Jays head coach Tara Fish says her players are familiar with some of the talent Festus possesses.

To hear the full interview with acting Jefferson volleyball head coach Tara Fish and her eight seniors, tune in to KJFF Sports Talk Thursday at 4:15. KJFF will be broadcasting the Red Game with Festus and Jefferson Thursday night, right after Tiger Talk ends at 7.

In a related note, Tigers head coach Karen Biehle picked up her 600th career win during the Festus victory over Liberty in the 2nd game of the Seckman tournament this past weekend. Coach Biehle says it was a pretty cool moment.