Ozark, Mo. – After more than twenty years apart, former Missouri State teammates Ashley Bough and Adeana Chrestman are once again working side‑by‑side at Ozark High School. Bough, who spent 13 years at Strafford in a variety of administrative and coaching roles, was hired earlier this year as Ozark’s athletic director, replacing longtime AD Yancey Little. Chrestman, the Tigers’ head volleyball coach since 2013, welcomed the familiar partnership, noting that having an AD who truly understands volleyball is “really exciting.”
Decades of shared experience
The bond between Bough and Chrestman dates back to 2001, when they played on the same club team as Missouri high‑schoolers. The following year, during Chrestman’s recruitment to Missouri State, Bough—then a freshman—served as her host player, sparking a friendship that would endure through college, a conference championship in 2005, and now a professional collaboration.
Coaching success and family ties
Chrestman boasts a 369‑97‑6 record, seven district titles and six Final Four appearances in her 13‑year tenure. Bough’s own coaching résumé includes a 351‑83‑24 record at Strafford, eight district titles and four Final Four trips. Their shared history translates into a cohesive athletic environment that benefits the entire school.
Adding a personal dimension, Bough’s daughter, Blair, an All‑State junior from Class 3 Strafford, has joined the Tigers. In two seasons at Strafford, Blair recorded 603 kills, 482 digs and 95 aces across 214 sets. She expressed excitement about competing at a larger class and praised the familiarity of playing for a coach who knows her strengths.
Program outlook
Ozark’s volleyball program continues to be a state powerhouse, capturing a state title in 2009 and finishing as runner‑up in 2017 and 2024. The Tigers posted a 30‑3 record last season and returned key players such as setter Lucy Roark, a Class 5 All‑State performer, and sophomore Brooklyn Brownfield, an Honorable Mention All‑District athlete.
Chrestman, reflecting on the reunion, said, “I feel like it was God’s plan for her to come back into my life. If things are meant to be, they’ll work out that way.” Both women emphasized their commitment to maintaining the program’s tradition of excellence while nurturing the next generation of student‑athletes.
Community impact
The partnership underscores the importance of strong parental involvement and faith‑based values in high‑school athletics. Parents like Bough, who now serves both as a mother and an administrator, model a dedication to family, community, and the pursuit of excellence that resonates throughout Ozark’s student body.
With the support of the athletic department, the coaching staff, and engaged families, Ozark volleyball looks poised to add more district titles, Final Four runs, and perhaps another state championship to its storied legacy.
Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.
