By Staff
While three McPherson County area schools qualified for appearances at a state volleyball tournament, three others – Elyria Christian, Canton/Galva, and Moundridge all ended their seasons with losses at their own sub-state tournaments.
Qualifying for the state tournament in Class 2A was the Inman Lady Teutons, while at the same substate hosted by Whitewater/Remington the Moundridge Lady Wildcats won a match and lost a match to close out their 2022 season.
As the number four seed, the Lady Wildcats began their substate play with a three-set win over number five seed Chase County, winning the first set 25-16, then losing set two 15-25, before bouncing back to get a 25-12 win in set three.
Making it to the semifinal match of their side of the bracket, Moundridge found itself battling top seeded and unbeaten Sedgwick who promptly closed out the 2022 season for the Lady Wildcats with a straight set beating 12-25, 15-25.
Moundridge closed out their season with a 18-20 record.
Over in the Class 1A Division I substate at Goessel, Little River scored a championship win for their second trip in a row to the state tournament while both Elyria Christian and Canton/Galva battled hard but lost to close out their 2022 seasons.
For Canton/Galva, they came in the number five seed and knocked off the number four seed in Solomon with a straight set 25-22, 25-20 win. This then pitted the Lady Eagles against top seeded Little River where the Lady Redskins ended their season with a straight set 20-25, 11-25 win over Canton/Galva. Canton/Galva ended their 2022 season with a record of 15-16.
In their two matches, Canton/Galva was led in recorded kills by sisters Lili and Trinity Espinoza with 16 and 13, respectively. Brecken Pearson directed the offense and dished out 19 assists on the day while digs made were evenly spread around between Adi Alcala who made 28, Jayden Orth had 27, Trinity Espinoza made 22, Lili Espinoza had 20 and Pearson contributed 16.
Also, at the Class 1A Division I substate in Goessel was Elyria Christian who earned the number three seed only to be upset by the number six seed, Rural Vista. Elyria dominated the first set 25-13 before dropping the final two sets by the five points each, 20-25, 20-25.
Laney Reiff directed the Elyria offense with 15 assists while Macy Reiff made 23 digs and Raegan Hawkinson recorded nine kills and had five blocks. Brooke Davidson chipped in with seven blocks and four kills and Julia Allen contributed 10 digs and a pair of service aces.
Elyria Christian finished the 2022 season with a mark of 19-14.
In Class 3A, the Lady Vikings of Smoky Valley also qualified for a state tournament trip.
(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)