By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
HUTCHINSON -- Silver Lake's fourth volleyball match of the season against Holton Saturday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena ended the same way the previous three had, but this time Lake's 25-21, 25-19 win over the Wildcats clinched the state's biggest prize for the Eagles -- a Class 3A state championship.
Silver Lake volleyball poses for a team picture after winning the 2025 Class 3A state championship Saturday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena. [Photo by Charles Spurlock/TSN]
Silver Lake's seniors accept the Class 3A championship trophy after Saturday's 25-21, 25-19 win over Holton in the title match. [Photo by Charles Spurlock/TSN]
Saturday's win in the title match put the capper on a 46-1 Silver Lake season, which ended with a 37-match winning streak.
“This feels so good and even more for the girls,'' said Silver Lake coach Sarah Johnson, who won her fifth state title while leading the Eagles to the 10th championship in school history. "They’re deserving and have worked so hard. We had the right group of girls out there to make it happen and I’m so proud of them.
"I wasn’t expecting only one loss throughout the season. We try to play tough teams and play in tournaments with good competition. The girls didn’t let themselves get rattled in matches and could adjust quickly in the moment. They have a belief in themselves and a confidence in one another and that was huge for us today.”
Top seed Silver Lake defeated Heston, Ellsworth and Wichita Trinity in pool play on Thursday and advanced to the championship match with a 25-22, 26-24 semifinal win over Hoisington.
Holton made a surprising run to the title match from the No. 6 seed, defeating second-seeded Riverton, third-seeded Hoisington and seventh seeded Osage City in pool play on Thursday. The Wildcats then defeated fourth-seeded Wichita Trinity 23-25, 25-23, 25-20 in the semifinal on Saturday morning.
Silver Lake senior Jaiden Wise celebrates a kill with her teammates in Saturday's Class 3A championship match against Holton. [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]
The opening set of the final began as a back-and-forth affair with neither team having a lead larger than two, when Holton went ahead 12-10. Silver Lake responded with a 6-1 run to take a 16-13 lead, forcing a timeout by Holton. Lady Eagle seniors Jaiden Wise, Paige Heiman and Paige Winsor had huge kills during the decisive run.
Holton had to take its final timeout when Silver Lake extended the lead to 21-17. The Lady Wildcats battled back with three straight points, trimming the Eagle lead to 21-20, leading to the first timeout by Silver Lake.
Silver Lake sophomore Karys Deiter spikes the ball in Saturday's Class 3A title match against Holton. [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]
Silver Lake junior Kylie Hanni (22) attempts a block in Saturday's Class 3A state championship match against Holton. [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]
After Holton tied the set at 21, Silver Lake scored four straight, behind the outstanding hitting of sophomore Karys Deiter, closing out the first set, 25-21.
Set two began with Holton jumping out to a 4-1 lead, but two blocks by Heiman cut the Wildcat lead to 4-3. Holton took their first timeout of the second set when Silver Lake tied the score at 8.
A kill and block by Winsor put the Lady Eagles up 11-9, but the Lady Wildcats came back to tie the set at 12. Silver Lake then ran off four straight points, taking a 16-12 lead, causing Holton to take their final timeout.
Wise had a huge solo block, then a kill to give Silver Lake a 20-14 lead. The teams traded points and Silver Lake won the championship on a kill by Winsor, 25-21, 25-19, giving the Eagles their first championship since 2018.
The Eagles' performance in the championship match came after a solid performance in the semifinal against Hoisington.
“We definitely upped our game since Thursday,'' Johnson said. "I was proud of their composure and poise, not letting one mistake lead to the next. We were able to get out of tough situations and did a good job converting.”
CLASS 3A STATE VOLLEYBALL
Semifinals -- Silver Lake def. Hoisington, 25-22, 26-24; Holton def. Wichita Trinity, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20.
Third place -- Wichita Trinity def. Hoisington, 25-22, 15-25, 25-21.
Championship -- Silver Lake def. Holton, 25-21, 25-19.
