By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
The Seaman volleyball team, ranked No. 3 in Class 5A, hosted a triangular on Tuesday with United Kansas Conference rivals Piper and Lansing.
Seaman improved to 15-1 while running its win streak to 15 matches with UKC sweep Tuesday night. [File photo/TSN]
After slow starts to begin each set, Seaman won its first match of the night, taking a 25-21, 25-13 win over Piper.
The opening set was back and forth, with Seaman taking a 9-5 lead before Piper came back to take a 10-8 lead. Seaman regained the lead at 19-16, forcing a Piper timeout, before the Vikings closed out the first set, 25-21.
Set 2 began as a repeat of the first with no team building a lead more than two points. Seaman was able to extend its lead to 13-9, which caused Piper to use a timeout. Seaman continued its scoring surge with three straight service points from junior Kinsley Smith, stretching the lead to 18-11. Seaman finished out the second set and the match, winning 25-13.
The Lady Vikes were led in service points by Kinsley Smith and senior Kinley Wilhelm. Seniors Maegan Mills and Ava Esser led the team in kills. Senior Maggie Moulden led in blocks, while senior Campbell Chabot and junior Harper Hafenstine led in assists. Wilhelm and Mills led the Vikings in digs.
In the final match of night, Seaman battled the Lions from Lansing. After a great start in Set 1, the second set was a close battle, but the Vikings swept the Lions, 25-15, 25-23.
Set one saw the Lady Vikes start aggressively, both offensively and defensively, taking an 11-5 lead. Seaman extended the lead to 17-10, forcing Lansing to take their final timeout of the set. The Lady Vikes finished off the set, winning 25-15.
In Set 2 Lansing jumped out to a 7-3 lead, but the Lady Vikes charged back to take a 10-8 lead, causing a Lansing timeout. The remainder of the set saw neither team have a lead larger than two points. The Vikings held on to win the set and the match, 25-23.
Seaman, now 15-1 with 15 straight victories, was led by Hafenstine in service points. Mills led the team in kills, Chabot and Hafenstine led in assists and Wilhelm led the team in digs.
Coach Tatiana Dowling discussed the difference between the starts of both matches:
“After the Piper match, we all agreed that we needed to focus in.”
Dowling also spoke about the tournament coming up this Saturday at Seaman along with the remainder of the regular season:
“Our schedule only gets tougher as the season goes on - which we are excited about - and with that needs to come more focus and intensity. I’m looking forward to playing a bunch of ranked teams. It will be a good opportunity for us to see where we are at and to play at a high level. It’s great sub-state and state preparation.”
Match results
Seaman def. Piper: 25-21, 25-13; Lansing def. Piper: 25-17, 25-23; Seaman def. Lansing: 25-15, 25-23.
