By Staff

            LINDSBORG – The Smoky Valley volleyball program had a strong week as they scored four between a triangular at home on Tuesday, and on the road Thursday.

            Besides the four wins, the Lady Vikings reappeared in the top-10 rankings by the Kansas Volleyball Association as they are now 10th in Class 3A.

            An individual highlight was made during the week as well as Hope Duncan, just a junior, broke the career 500 mark in a third category as she now had recorded 508 career kills. This goes with her 558 career digs and 547 career serve receives.

            The Lady Vikings was scheduled to take a glistening 22-6 season record on the road to Pratt on Tuesday for a set of matches with Pratt and Hesston.

            At home last Tuesday, the Smoky Valley spikers scored a straight set win over Halstead (25-14, 25-11) and then went to three sets before gaining a victory over Southeast of Saline (25-16, 22-25, 25-20).

            Junior Adrian Hazelwood continued her strong season by dishing out 52 assists between the two matches. Other team leaders for the home triangular included Hope Duncan with her 22 kills and 23 digs while Katja Blanchat recorded 18 kills and made 21 digs for the day.

            On Thursday, the Lady Vikings traveled to Claflin for a triangular hosted by Central Plains that also included Ellsworth.

            In the match with Central Plains, Smoky Valley hammered the host team for a straight set 25-15, 25-8 win. Hazelwood led the team with 13 assists and five digs while Hope Duncan recorded six kills and five digs, with Katja Blanchat putting six kills, seven digs and a pair of blocks on her stat sheet. Tinley Scott chipped in with five kills as well as a pair of both blocks and digs.

            The Lady Vikings took care of Ellsworth in the second match of the road trip, winning 25-11, 25-20.

            Blanchat recorded another eight kills and eight digs to go with a pair of service aces while Hope Duncan had seven kills and a dozen digs with Hazelwood directing the offense with 22 assists.

SMOKY VALLEY VOLLEYBALL:

October 4: Home Triangular with Halstead & Southeast of Saline

LADY VIKINGS – won over Halstead 25-14; 25-11

Team Leaders: Adrian Hazelwood with 19 assists, 2 digs; Hope Duncan with 6 kills, 8 digs; Katja Blanchat with 6 kills, 11 digs; Tinley Scott with 7 kills; Breanne Peters with 7 digs.

LADY VIKINGS – won over Southeast of Saline 25-16, 22-25, 25-20

Team Leaders: Adrian Hazelwood with 33 assists, 6 digs, 3 blocks; Hope Duncan with 16 kills, 3 service aces, 15 digs; Katja Blanchat with 12 kills, 2 service aces, 10 digs, 3 blocks; Tinley Scott with 8 kills, 3 blocks.

October 6: at Central Plains in Claflin with Ellsworth for Triangular

LADY VIKINGS won over Central Plains 25-15, 25-8

Team Leaders: Adrian Hazelwood with 13 assists, 5 digs; Hope Duncan with 6 kills, 5 digs; Katja Blanchat with 6 kills, 7 digs, 2 blocks; Tinley Scott with 5 kills, 2 blocks, 2 digs.

LADY VIKINGS won over Ellsworth 25-11, 25-20

Team Leaders: Adrian Hazelwood with 22 assists, 2 kills, 4 digs; Hope Duncan with 7 kills, 12 digs, 2 service aces; Katja Blanchat with 8 kills, 8 digs, 2 aces; Avery Ahlstedt with 6 kills, 4 digs; Tinley Scott with 4 kills, 3 aces.

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)