By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Veteran Silver Lake volleyball coach Sarah Johnson expected her team to be good this fall, but she is quick to admit that she never really expected the 41-1 record that the Eagles will take into this week's Class 3A state tournament at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
Silver Lake volleyball celebrates a point in last Saturday's Class 3A sub-state tournament at Silver Lake. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Now the aim for top-seeded Silver Lake is to finish off its dream season with the school's 10th state title and first since 2018.
"I honestly wasn't expecting this record at this point in the season, however, I did have very high hopes for this squad,'' Johnson said. "My first feeling of, 'this team has the potential to go far,' was this summer at the Mokan volleyball tournament at Washburn University.
"We came out first at that tourney with some tough competition. There is just something special about them. They are all bought in, willing to give their all, okay with being held accountable, and have a love and respect for one another cheering the other one on.''
Silver Lake's only loss came against 5A sub-state finalist Shawnee Heights in its 10th match of the season and the Eagles have reeled off 32 straight wins entering 3A pool play Thursday.
"Leadership and unity is definitely part of it,'' Johnson said of the Eagles' success. "A good sign of leadership is the ability to listen. I feel that they are all open to each other's ideas and feedback. They take it and learn from it. A big thing I've seen with this group leading to the success they've had thus far is the ability to not get rattled.
"We talk about getting uncomfortable in practices so when we are faced with uncomfortable situations in matches, it's familiar and we are comfortable. They have that calm confidence that helps them in those tough situations.''
Johnson knows that the Eagles are likely to encounter some of those tough situations in a 3A field that includes five teams with at least 33 wins and all eight with at least 26.
But the Silver Lake coach knows her team is extrememly capable of answering the challenge.
"Yes, this weekend will be tough,'' Johnson said. "Our goal is to keep at it like we have all year -- limit our own errors, not let a team go on runs and adjust to different players/teams quickly and efficiently without getting rattled.
"(We want to) continue rising to the occasion and competing at a high level physically and mentally.''
In the brand new state tournament format installed by the Kansas State High School Activities Association, the 3A field will play its three pool matches on Thursday before a day off on Friday and the semifinals, championship and third-place matches on Saturday.
Silver Lake sophomore Karys Deiter spikes the ball during last Saturday's Class 3A sub-state tournament at Silver Lake. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Silver Lake junior Jaylie Whitehead makes a return during last Saturday's Class 3A sub-state tournament at Silver Lake. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
The Eagles will open their state bid at 11 a.m. Thursday with a Pool I match against No. 8 seed Hesston (26-12). After a match off, Silver Lake will return to the court at 1 p.m. to face No. 5 seed Ellsworth (32-8) before closing out pool play with a 3 o'clock match against No. 4 Wichita Trinity (28-5).
On the other side of the 3A bracket are No. 2 seed Riverton (36-4), No. 3 Hoisington (36-4), No. 6 Holton (34-9) and No. 7 Osage City (27-12).
The top two finishers in both pools will advance to 9 a.m. semifinals on Saturday, followed by the championship and third-place matches.
CLASS 3A VOLLEYBALL
At Hutchinson Sports Arena
THURSDAY'S POOL PLAY
Pool I
10 a.m. -- Wichita Trinity (4: 28-5) vs. Ellsworth (5: 32-8).
11 -- Silver Lake (1: 41-1) vs. Hesston (8: 26-12).
12 p.m. -- Wichita Trinity vs. Hesston.
1 -- Silver Lake vs. Ellsworth.
2 -- Ellsworth vs. Hesston.
3 -- Silver Lake vs. Wichita Trinity.
Pool II
10 a.m. -- Hoisington (3: 36-4) vs. Holton (6: 34-9).
11 -- Riverton (2: 36-4) vs. Osage City (7: 27-12).
12 p.m. -- Hoisington vs. Osage City.
1 -- Riverton vs. Holton.
2 -- Holton vs. Osage City.
3 -- Riverton vs. Hoisington.
SATURDAY
9 a.m -- Semifinals.
(Championship and third-place matches 25 minutes after conclusion of last semifinal).
Eight-time Class 6A state champion Washburn Rural will be making its ninth straight state tournament appearance this weekend in Salina. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural takes aim on ninth Class 6A state crown
Eight-time Class 6A state champion Washburn Rural will be looking for title No. 9 this weekend in its ninth straight state appearance.
The 30-7 Junior Blues earned the No. 4 seed for Friday and Saturday's 6A event at Tony's Pizza Event Center in Salina with a 30-7 record.
Six of Rural's seven losses have come against state tournament teams in 6A, 5A and 4A, while the seventh defeat came at the hands of a Gardner-Edgerton team that played in a 6A sub-state final.
And now Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick, who has led the Junior Blues to all eight of their state titles and ranks No. 2 on Kansas' all-time wins list, is hoping his team can step up its game even more this weekend.
"It's all about raising your level of play and your level of intensity, your mental toughness, and all those factors go into it,'' Bordewick said. "But we still have to be us. We can't be somebody we're not.
"The greatest teams make the routine plays more often than just making great plays and if we can just make routine plays more often than the other team we should be alright.''
The Junior Blues will open Pool I play in Friday's first match of the day at 10 a.m., facing No. 5 seed Olathe West (26-7), and Bordewick said he wants all of his team's focus to be on that match against an Owls team that defeated Rural 15-25, 25-19, 25-22 early in the season.
"We're just worried about Olathe West,'' he said. "We haven't really talked about any other teams yet. We did not feel like we played well against them, but they had a lot to do with that, too, when we played them way back in early Sept.
Brynn Anderson has turned in a banner freshman season, helping lead the Junior Blues to a ninth straight Class 6A state tournament berth. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
"I think overall, when you put everything together, we've come a really long way. We expect a lot out of ourselves and we have standards that people strive to get to and I think they've done that. They've continued what we've had for several years really, really well. I'm pretty proud of all of them.''
After a match break after facing Olathe West, Washburn Rural will face No. 8 seed Free State (20-12) at 12 p.m. before closing out pool play at 3 p.m. against top seed and two-time defending state champ Mill Valley (31-4).
On the other side of the 6A bracket are No. 2 seed Blue Valley West (30-4), No. 3 Wichita Northwest (30-6), No. 6 Manhattan (27-8) and No. 7 Olathe Northwest (28-9).
The top two finishers in both pools will advance to 1 p.m. semifinals on Saturday, followed by the championship and third-place matches.
CLASS 6A VOLLEYBALL
At Tony's Pizza Events Center, Salina
FRIDAY'S POOL PLAY
Pool I
10 a.m. -- Washburn Rural (4: 30-7) vs. Olathe West (5: 26-7).
11 -- Mill Valley (1: 31-4) vs. Free State (8: 20-12).
12 p.m. -- Washburn Rural vs. Free State.
1 -- Mill Valley vs. Olathe West.
2 -- Olathe West vs. Free State.
3 -- Mill Valley vs. Washburn Rural.
Pool II
10 a.m. -- Wichita Northwest (3: 30-6) vs. Manhattan (6: 27-8).
11 -- Blue Valley West (2: 30-4) vs. Olathe Northwest (7: 28-9).
12 p.m. -- Wichita Northwest vs. Olathe Northwest.
1 -- Blue Valley West vs. Manhattan.
2 -- Manhattan vs. Olathe Northwest.
3 -- Blue Valley West vs. Wichita Northwest.
SATURDAY
1 p.m -- Semifinals.
(Championship and third-place matches 25 minutes after conclusion of last semifinal).
Hayden volleyball poses for a team picture after capturing a Class 4A sub-state title last Saturday at Hayden. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden opens 4A state as No. 6 seed
After finishing third in last year's Class 4A state tournament, Hayden will begin its quest for state title No. 6 Friday and Saturday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena as the No. 6 seed.
Hayden sophomore Hailey Schmidtlein has helped lead the Wildcats to a 29-9 record and a return trip to the Class 4A state tournament. [File photo/TSN]
Corrinne McGreevy's Wildcats are 29-9 on the season, with eight of those losses coming against teams that are headed to state in 6A, 5A and 4A, including two-time defending 6A champ Mill Valley, defending 5A champ St. Thomas Aquinas and 4A champ Bishop Miege.
Hayden owns victories over 6A state qualifiers Washburn Rural and Manhattan and 5A state qualifier St. James Academy.
The Wildcats will open Pool II competition at 10 a.m. Friday against No. 3 seed McPherson (34-5).
After a two-match break, Hayden will play back-to-back matches at 1 and 2 p.m., facing No. 2 Clay Center (38-2) and No. 7 Buhler (15-22).
On the other side of the 4A bracket are No. 1 seed Andale (31-1), No. 4 Rock Creek (32-6), No. 5 Paola (26-8) and No. 8 Bishop Miege (9-26).
The top two finishers in both pools will advance to 1 p.m. semifinals on Saturday, followed by the championship and third-place matches.
Hayden, which posted a third-place state finish a year ago, will be looking for its first state title since 2019.
CLASS 4A VOLLEYBALL
At Hutchinson Sports Arena
FRIDAY'S POOL PLAY
Pool I
10 a.m. -- Rock Creek (4: 32-6) vs. Paola (5: 26-8).
11 -- Andale (1: 31-1) vs. Bishop Miege (8: 9-26).
12 p.m. -- Rock Creek vs. Bishop Miege.
1 -- Andale vs. Paola.
2 -- Paola vs. Bishop Miege.
3 -- Andale vs. Rock Creek.
Pool II
10 a.m. -- McPherson (3: 34-5) vs. Hayden (6: 29-9).
11 -- Clay Center (2: 38-2) vs. Buhler (7: 15-22).
12 p.m. -- McPherson vs. Buhler.
1 -- Clay Center vs. Hayden.
2 -- Hayden vs. Buhler.
3 -- Clay Center vs. McPherson.
SATURDAY
1 p.m -- Semifinals.
(Championship and third-place matches 25 minutes after conclusion of last semifinal).
Rossville volleyball celebrates a point during last Saturday's Class 2A sub-state tournament at Rossville. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Bulldawgs aiming to mount title charge in 2A
Rossville enters Friday and Saturday's Class 2A state tournament at Dodge City's United Wireless Arena as the No. 8 seed at 28-13, but all of the Bulldawgs' losses have come against bigger schools, including two against 3A top seed Silver Lake and three losses in four meetings with 3A qualifier Holton.
Rossville junior Nora Burdiek makes a return during last Saturday's Class 2A sub-state tournament at Rossville. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Dani Dodge's Rossville team, which is looking for its first-ever state crown, will open Pool I play at 11 a.m. Friday against top seed Ellinwood (42-0) before taking on No. 4 Humboldt (34-9) at 12 p.m. and closing out pool play with a 2 p.m. match against No. 5 Hillsboro (32-9).
On the other side of the 2A bracket are No. 2 seed Jefferson County North (40-4), No. 3 Oakley (36-4), No. 6 Valley Heights (29-9) and No. 7 Conway Springs (26-12).
The top two finishers in both pools will advance to 1 p.m. semifinals on Saturday, followed by the championship and third-place matches.
CLASS 2A VOLLEYBALL
At United Wireless Arena, Dodge City
FRIDAY'S POOL PLAY
Pool I
10 a.m. -- Humboldt (4: 34-9) vs. Hillsboro (5: 32-9).
11 -- Ellinwood (1: 42-0) vs. Rossville (8: 28-13).
12 p.m. -- Humboldt vs. Rossville.
1 -- Ellinwood vs. Hillsboro.
2 -- Hillsboro vs. Rossville.
3 -- Ellinwood vs. Humboldt.
Pool II
10 a.m. -- Oakley (3: 36-4) vs. Valley Heights (6: 29-9).
11 -- Jefferson County North (2: 40-4) vs. Conway Springs (7: 26-12).
12 p.m. -- Oakley vs. Conway Springs.
1 -- Jefferson County North vs. Valley Heights.
2 -- Valley Heights vs. Conway Springs.
3 -- Jefferson County North vs. Oakley.
SATURDAY
1 p.m -- Semifinals.
(Championship and third-place matches 25 minutes after conclusion of last semifinal).
