By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High's volleyball team struggled for much of Wednesday night's USD 501 triangular at Topeka West.
But the Trojans came to life in time to earn district bragging rights, outlasting West in three sets in the final match of the night to cap a 2-0 record with a 16-25, 25-17, 25-20 win over the Chargers.
Topeka High senior Jo'Mhara Benning (23) celebrates a point with her teammates during Wednesday's USD 501 triangular at Topeka West. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I think it's a really big deal and I'm glad that we could get the title back of being the top one in 501,'' Topeka High senior standout Jo'Mhara Benning said. "Last year we beat Topeka West at home but lost to them two out of three times.''
Topeka High, now 10-8, opened its night with a 25-13, 25-21 win over the Scots, who led 21-19 in the second set before the Trojans ran off six straight points.
"We were learning a new rotation, so we were getting comfortable with that,'' Topeka High senior standout Jo'Mhara Benning said. "I think that was what our problem was, we weren't used to playing with each other, so we just learned to talk and to know where you're at on the court ... just in time.''
Topeka High coach Bridget Bargmann agreed that Wednesday was an uphill battle, but she was proud of her team for finding a way to get the job done.
"I'm so proud of my girls,'' Bargman said. "That first set against West was a little scary but they dug deep and I'm so proud of them.
"I love the drive and the perseverance and everything else that goes along with it.''
Topeka High senior Jo'Mhara Benning reached the 100 milestone for service aces in Wednesday's USD 501 triangular. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Another highlight for the Trojans was a milestone-reaching performance by Benning, who recorded a service ace for the first point of the third set against Topeka West, reaching the 100-ace mark for her career.
The High multi-sport standout said she knew she was closing in on the milestone.
"It was supposed to be a surprise, but I knew,'' she said. "I'm just glad I can help my team out in any way I can.''
Bargmann said Benning was very deserving of the milestone.
"I was part of the staff when we won state with softball her freshman year and she's been on varsity for four years in volleyball and she's played numerous roles,'' Bargmann said. "She's had to jump into the setter position this year and she has great hands for never ever setting and I love it.
"And you know what, she's the heart and soul of our team and she's trying to keep everybody together and I couldn't ask for a better senior leader.''
Topeka High sophomore Campbell Dawson (20) helped the Trojans top USD 501 rivals Highland Park and Topeka West Wednesday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
After trailing early in their first set of the night against Highland Park, Topeka High steadily took control, opening up a 22-13 advantage on a kill from sophomore Campbell Dawson and going on to close out the 12-point win.
The Scots, 5-9 on the season, jumped out to a 16-10 lead over the Trojans in the second set and Highland Park led 21-19 late before a Dawson kill got High back on track, including an ace by Dawson that put her team up 24-21 before the Trojans took advantage of a Scot hitting error to end the match.
Topeka West sophomore Sydney Van Dyke (5) helped the Chargers post a 1-1 record in Wednesday's USD 501 triangular. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West started the Topeka High match with leads of 4-0, 7-1 and 10-4 and went in front 13-5 on an ace from senior Callie Jones and took 18-8 and 20-9 leads on kills from sophomore Sydney Van Dyke before closing out the nine-point win.
Topeka High scored the first five points of the second set against West and survived a Charger rally to force a third set as Dawson had big kills to put the Trojans in front 16-14, 18-14 and 20-16 on the way to the win.
The third set was tied at 10 before Topeka High got back-to-back Benning aces to help the Trojans open up a commanding 17-11 advantage.
Topeka West (5-16) went 1-1 on the night, rolling to a 25-10, 25-11 win over the Scots.
West ended the first set with Jones sandwiching a pair of aces around a kill from freshman Kendall Munoz.
Highland Park led 9-8 in the second set before West rallied for a 20-10 lead on a kill from senior Aniyah Sanders and went on to close out the 14-point victory.
USD 501 VOLLEYBALL TRIANGULAR
At Topeka West
Match scores
Topeka West def. Highland Park, 25-10, 25-11; Topeka High def. Highland Park, 25-13, 25-21; Topeka High def. Topeka West, 16-25, 25-17, 25-20.
