By William / www.mcpherson-county-ks.com

HALSTEAD – Ranked number two in Class 3A, the Smoky Valley volleyball team went 6-1 in sets to score the sub-state championship in Halstead on Saturday and qualify for next Saturday’s state meet in Hutchinson.

The Lady Vikings began the day by scoring a commanding 25-10, 25-2 straight set win over Douglass before going three sets against Hesston before getting win number two (25-13, 25-27, 25-21).

This set up a battle between sub-state number-one seed Smoky Valley and number-two seed Wichita Trinity Academy where the Lady Vikings secured a three-point 25-22 victory in the first set before grabbing the championship trophy with a 25-17 second set win.

With the wins the Lady Vikings will go into the state meet with an overall record of 37-3.

“The girls played with such grit and determination Saturday,” noted Lady Viking head coach Sharlene Ramsey. “The Hesston game was a battle of strategy and attacks while being fast paced. After taking the first set 25-13, we were immensely proud of how our girls responded after being down in the second set to Hesston 13-20. In the second set, we came back and matched them at 25-25 only to have them score the final two points. We then matched them point-for-point in the third set until we finished 25-21.”

Among the team leaders for Smoky Valley were Adrian Hazelwood who scored 37/43 on serves with four aces while recording 79 assists. Avery Vanderwege hit 32/33 on serves with seven aces while Madi Tolle hit 26/27 on serves with one ace.

Abby Rose led the team in kills with 34 while Tolle had 29. Hope Duncan led the Lady Vikings in digs with 33 while Rose had 28.

Coach Ramsey pointed out where the championship match was won by saying, “In the Trinity game, three points was the biggest spread in the first set with us winning 25-22. In the second set, we were down 12-15 before scoring the next 13 points to just two for Trinity and finishing out the championship match with the 25-17 victory.”

Concluding her post sub-state reflections, Coach Ramsey discussed the upcoming state meet by adding, “We coaches felt like the previous close games this season really helped prepare our girls to manage this type of pressure. Our Central Kansas League was a beast with so many strong volleyball programs (like Nickerson, Hillsboro, Hesston) but it also helps us handle games like these. We also feel like since our seniors had the state experience last season, they were determined to return to Hutchinson this year.”

The Lady Vikings will go into the state meet as the number-five seed which means they will be in the same pool play as number-one seed Eureka who is 35-1 on the season. Smoky Valley’s first match will be on Friday when they play Riverton at 8:30 a.m., followed by a battle with Eureka at 11:30 a.m. and then Beloit at 12:30 p.m. The top-two of pool play will earn their way to bracket play on Saturday which begins play at 9:00 a.m.

SMOKY VALLEY LADY VIKING INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS =

Madi Tolle = 26/27 on serves with 1 ace; 3 solo & 4 assisted blocks; 29 kills; 4 digs.

Abby Rose = 16/19 on serves with 2 aces; 1 assist; 34 kills; 28 digs; 2 solo & 2 assisted blocks.

Adrian Hazelwood = 37/43 on serves with 4 aces; 79 assists; 8 kills; 26 digs.

Aubrey Boldra = 16/20 on serves with 2 aces; 7 kills; 10 digs; 1 solo & 1 assisted blocks.

Hope Duncan = 21/25 on serves; 16 kills; 2 assisted blocks; 33 digs.

Avery Vanderwege = 32/33 on serves with 7 aces; 15 digs.

Breanne Peters = 4/4 on serves with 1 ace.

Maliyah Koster = 3/3 on serves; 3 digs.

Katja Blanchat = 3 kills; 10 digs; 6 assisted blocks.

Chloe Patrick = 11 digs.

Laini Haigh = 4 digs.

Tinley Scott = 1 kill.

{We are looking for Smoky Valley Viking SPONSORS to help cover costs – $40/month during the school year to keep your school’s activities reported. Inquiry by email to William at crossdovewriter@gmail.com}