By Staff
WHITEWATER – They did it, the Inman volleyball team made the 2022 Class 2A state tournament in dramatic fashion by winning all three of their sub-state matches on Saturday in Whitewater.
“The girls played amazing,” noted Lady Teuton head coach Megan Heckel. “We have been working a lot on blocking better as well as being more consistent and encouraging. They came out and did that Saturday.”
Now 34-5 for the season, the Lady Teutons will be the number three seed for the state tournament in Dodge City on Friday and Saturday. Inman will begin Friday in pool play at 8:30 a.m. on Friday when they battle sixth-seed Garden Plain (30-9). The other two teams in the Lady Teutons pool play will be second-seed Smith Center (36-4) and seventh-seed Blue Rapids/Valley Heights (25-13).
The other four teams in the state tournament will be s first match will be top seed Hillsboro (39-1), fourth-seed Meade (31-7), fifth-seed Winchester/Jefferson County North (30-8), and eighth-seed Pittsburgh St. Mary’s Colgan (23-1).
To get to the state tournament the Lady Teutons took down both Hutchinson Trinity (25-16, 25-18) and Berean Academy (25-19, 25-21) in straight sets.
In the sub-state finals, Inman was up against Sedgwick who came into the tournament ranked number two and unbeaten at 36-0. After Sedgwick took the first set 23-25, the Lady Teutons bounced back and scored a hard fought second set win, 26-24, before closing out the upset with a 25-19 victory in set three, earning themselves a trip to the state tournament.
About the final match of the day, coach Heckel added, “Not once did they hang their heads when they got down a few points. We had goals all year and checked one off on Saturday!”
Leading the Lady Teutons was fabulous freshman Suttyn Harris as she made 27 kills on 57 attacks while making 21 digs and recording four blocks. Chloe Schmidt, a junior, held task at the net as well as she recorded three blocks while making 12 kills on 32 attacks.
Directing the Inman offensive attack was Kambrey Woods who dished out 39 assists on the day. Helping out with important digs were freshman Kenna Woods with 16 as well as seniors Maci Neufeld and Alyssa Johnson with 11 and 10 digs, respectively.
Coach Heckel concluded her sub-state reflections by saying, “Suttyn (Harris) had a phenomenal day with hitting and passing as she dug some great balls in the championship game while seeing the open floor. Chloe (Schmidt) had some great kills around double and triple blocks as well. My back row girls and front side girls read the ball well and moved their feet. Just a great day to be a Teuton!”
(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)