Kansas high school volleyball state schedule, results: Maize South, Cheney both advance

With their season on the line, the Maize South volleyball team rose to the occasion to deliver one of their best performances of the season.

The Mavericks took down Kansas City power St. James Academy in straight sets, 25-21, 25-16, in a pool-play match on Friday afternoon that determined the final spot in Saturday’s semifinals at the Class 5A state tournament at Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina.

Maize South (37-4) will face Topeka Seaman (36-6) in a 9 a.m. semifinal on Saturday. The program has a chance for its best finish ever at the state tournament, which currently is fourth place.

“It was a great team win, but we felt like it was a program and school win just as much,” Maize South coach Alexis Head said. “We had so much of our community and so many of our underclassmen in the program and their families there supporting us int he gym, so it felt like we were at home. I told the girls, ‘Go defend this place like it’s your house’ and I think they bought into that. That game was just electric.”

After losing in straight sets to defending state champion St. Thomas Aquinas to begin Friday, Maize South essentially faced two straight elimination matches.

The Mavericks came through in the clutch both times, as they rallied for a thrilling, third-set victory over Lansing (25-18, 23-25, 25-21), then handily beat a St. James team that had just taken Aquinas to a third set earlier in the day.

“We were serving really aggressively in that St. James match,” Head said. “We were trying to keep them out of system as much as possible because they have a really talented setter, so just trying to keep her off the net.”

Maize South’s offense was operated by Tennessee commit Camdyn Stucky at setter, while outside hitters Jillian Gregory and Gracie Morrow both had big days on Friday. The Mavericks have also received strong contributions this season from Carly Koster, Cece Young, Ashley Singhateh, Alyvia Herbig, Jenna Sokoll and Sydney Lamb.

In the other pool, Andover Central entered as the top seed with a 38-1 record but losses to Spring Hill (25-20, 25-22) and Topeka Seaman (25-19, 25-12) secured its fate. The Jaguars won their first match of the day in straight sets (25-15, 25-17) over rival Andover, which finished 0-3 in pool play.

Cheney, Smoky Valley advance to Class 3A semifinals

Much like Maize South, Cheney’s season came down to its final match in pool play. And just like Maize South, Cheney prevailed when it counted the most.

The Cardinals were pushed to a third set by Neodesha, but they ultimately cruised to a 25-11, 23-25, 25-11 victory to secure their spot in Saturday’s 9 a.m. semifinals in the Class 3A state tournament at Hutchinson Sports Arena.

“Sometimes playing with your back against the wall forces you to fight like you’ve never fought before,” Cheney coach Sara Walkup said. “I was proud of effort there.”

Cheney (37-5) will face three-time defending champion Olathe Heritage Christian (36-5) in the semifinals, while Smoky Valley (31-12) will face Silver Lake (31-11) on the other side of the bracket.

Cheney and Silver Lake played a competitive match to open the day with Silver Lake narrowly emerging the victor, 25-23, 25-23. That forced the Cardinals to play with urgency their next match, which they did in a 25-12, 25-9 win over Riverton to set up the do-or-die match against Neodesha to conclude the day.

Cheney has been led this season by Alex Bittner, Jailyn Adolph, Reese Hedstrom, Peyton McCormick, Taryn Bennett, Erika Block, Macey Batt, Savanna Griffin and Karstyn Inslee.

“It’s going to take us swinging away (Saturday) because I don’t think we’re going to be able to be careful and come away with two wins,” Walkup said. “We’re going to have to play confident and play like there’s no tomorrow because there really isn’t. We need to have that aggressive mentality against whoever is on the other side of the net.”

After a stunning upset with Beloit topping Heritage Christian to conclude pool play, Smoky Valley finished in a three-way tie at 2-1 for the top of its pool. Based on the points tiebreaker, Smoky Valley finished in second place after topping Beloit (25-22, 25-21) and Goodland (25-9, 25-10) with its lone loss to Heritage Christian (25-8, 25-9).

Kansas high school state volleyball schedule, results

Class 6A results

Note: Matches are still being played in Salina.

Pool 1 standings—Blue Valley North 3-0, Blue Valley West 2-1, Washburn Rural 1-2, Maize 0-3. Match results—Blue Valley West def. Washburn Rural, 25-19, 25-14; Blue Valley North def. Maize, 25-12, 25-7; Blue Valley West def. Maize, 25-14, 25-15; Blue Valley North def. Washburn Rural, 25-21, 26-24; Washburn Rural def. Maize, 25-10, 25-20; Blue Valley North def. Blue Valley West, 25-23, 25-23.

Pool 2 standings—Mill Valley 3-0, Olathe Northwest 2-1, Manhattan 1-2, Garden City 0-3. Match results—Olathe Northwest def. Garden City, 25-14, 25-9; Mill Valley def. Manhattan, 25-12, 25-18; Olathe Northwest def. Manhattan, 25-10, 25-18; Mill Valley def. Garden City, 25-8, 25-20; Manhattan def. Garden City, 15-25, 26-24, 25-19; Mill Valley def. Olathe Northwest, 27-25, 15-25, 25-16.

Saturday’s semifinals—Blue Valley North (37-3) vs. Olathe Northwest (33-6), 1 p..m.; Mill Valley (35-5) vs. Blue Valley West (31-10), 1.

Class 5A results

Note: Matches are still being played in Salina.

Pool 1 standings—Topeka Seaman 3-0, Spring Hill 2-1, Andover Central 1-2, Andover 0-3. Match results—Topeka Seaman def. Spring Hill, 25-15, 25-21; Andover Central def. Andover, 25-15, 25-17; Topeka Seaman def. Andover, 25-14, 25-21; Spring Hill def. Andover Central, 25-20, 25-22; Spring Hill def. Andover, 25-12, 25-20; Topeka Seaman def. Andover Central, 25-19, 25-12.

Pool 2 standings—St. Thomas Aquinas 3-0, Maize South 2-1, St. James Academy 1-2, Lansing 0-3. Match results—St. James def. Lansing, 25-18, 25-15; Aquinas def. Maize South, 25-13, 25-23; Aquinas def. St. James, 25-21, 22-25, 25-15; Maize South def. Lansing, 25-18, 23-25, 25-21; Aquinas def. Lansing, 25-17, 25-19; Maize South def. St. James Academy, 25-21, 25-16.

Saturday’s semifinals—Topeka Seaman def. Maize South, 25-17, 25-21; St. Thomas Aquinas def. Spring Hill, 25-12, 25-12. Championship—Topeka Seaman vs. St. Thomas Aquinas. Third place—Spring Hill vs. Maize South.

Class 4A results

Note: Matches are still being played in Hutchinson.

Pool 1 standings—Bishop Miege 2-1, Andale 2-1, Eudora 1-2, Clearwater 1-2. Match results—Andale def. Eudora, 26-24, 25-18; Clearwater def. Bishop Miege, 25-21, 25-18; Bishop Miege def. Eudora, 25-19, 25-12; Andale def. Clearwater, 30-28, 25-14; Andale vs. Bishop Miege, 7:30; Clearwater vs. Eudora, 8:30.

Pool 2 standings—McPherson 3-0, Louisburg 1-2, Circle 1-2, Holton 1-2. Match results—McPherson def. Louisburg, 25-22, 25-18; Circle def. Holton, 25-19, 25-10; McPherson def. Holton, 25-20, 25-15; Louisburg def. Circle, 26-24, 25-22; Holton def. Louisburg, 28-30, 25-22, 25-19; McPherson def. Circle, 25-19, 25-17.

Saturday’s semifinals—Bishop Miege (21-18) vs. Louisburg (25-16), 1 p.m.; McPherson (32-9) vs. Andale (29-11), 1.

Class 3A results

Note: Matches are still being played in Hutchinson.

Pool 1 standings—Heritage Christian 2-1, Smoky Valley 2-1, Beloit 2-1, Goodland 0-3. Match results—Heritage Christian def. Smoky Valley, 25-8, 25-9; Beloit def. Goodland, 25-12, 25-16; Heritage Christian def. Goodland, 25-7, 25-12; Smoky Valley def. Beloit, 25-22, 25-21; Smoky Valley def. Goodland, 25-9, 25-10; Beloit def. Heritage Christian, 25-21, 18-25, 25-18.

Pool 2 standings—Silver Lake 3-0, Cheney 2-1, Neodesha 1-2, Riverton 0-3. Match results—Silver Lake def. Cheney, 25-23, 25-23; Neodesha def. Riverton, 25-15, 25-16; Cheney def. Riverton, 25-12, 25-9; Silver Lake def. Neodesha, 25-22, 25-16; Silver Lake def. Riverton, 25-12, 25-16; Cheney def. Neodesha, 25-11, 23-25, 25-11.

Saturday’s semifinals—Heritage Christian def. Cheney, 25-17, 25-17; Smoky Valley def. Silver Lake, 22-25, 25-23, 25-23. Championship—Heritage Christian vs. Smoky Valley. Third place—Cheney vs. Silver Lake.

Class 2A results

Note: Matches are still being played in Dodge City.

Pool 1 standings—Hillsboro 3-0, Smith Center 2-1, Maranatha Christian 1-2, Sedan 0-3. Match results—Hillsboro def. Maranatha Christian, 25-15, 25-16; Smith Center def. Sedan, 25-14, 25-9; Hillsboro def. Sedan, 25-10, 25-8; Smith Center def. Maranatha Christian, 25-22, 27-25; Maranatha Christian def. Sedan, 25-22, 25-12; Hillsboro def. Smith Center, 26-24, 25-20.

Pool 2 standings—Hoxie 2-1, Inman 2-1, Pittsburg-St. Mary’s Colgan 1-2, Valley Heights 1-2. Match results—Hoxie def. St. Mary’s Colgan, 25-19, 25-14; Inman def. Valley Heights, 25-18, 25-13; Valley Heights def. Hoxie, 25-21, 25-21; Inman def. St. Mary’s Colgan, 25-22, 25-18; St. Mary’s Colgan def. Valley Heights, 25-14, 21-25, 25-14; Hoxie def. Inman, 25-20, 25-23.

Saturday’s semifinals—Hillsboro (37-5) vs. Inman (37-5), 1 p.m..; Hoxie (35-5) vs. Smith Center (38-5), 1.

Class 1A Division I results

Note: Matches are still being played in Dodge City.

Pool 1 standings—South Gray 2-1, Centralia 2-1, Wichita Central Christian 1-2, Rawlins County 1-2. Match results—Centralia def. Wichita Central Christian, 27-25, 25-16; Rawlins County def. South Gray, 25-21, 12-25, 25-21; Centralia def. Rawlins County, 25-20, 25-23; South Gray def. Wichita Central Christian, 25-12, 25-21; Wichita Central Christian def. Rawlins County, 25-14, 25-20; South Gray def. Centralia, 24-26, 25-23, 25-16.

Pool 2 standings—Little River 3-0, Clifton-Clyde 2-1, Spearville 1-2, Olpe 0-3. Match results—Clifton-Clyde def. Spearville, 25-22, 21-25, 25-22; Little River def. Olpe, 25-12, 25-10; Spearville def. Olpe, 25-18, 19-25, 25-18; Little River def. Clifton-Clyde, 25-17, 25-8; Clifton-Clyde def. Olpe, 25-22, 25-21; Little River def. Spearville, 25-11, 24-26, 25-19.

Saturday’s semifinals—South Gray def. Clifton-Clyde, 25-21, 25-16; Little River def. Centralia, 25-17, 25-13. Championship—Little River vs. South Gray. Third place—Centralia vs. Clifton-Clyde.

Class 1A Division II results

Note: Matches are still being played in Emporia on Friday.

Pool 1 standings—Hanover 3-0, Lebo 2-1, Wheatland-Grinnell 1-2, Bucklin 0-3. Match results—Hanover def. Wheatland-Grinnell, 25-20, 21-25, 25-21; Lebo def. Bucklin, 25-12, 25-17; Hanover def. Bucklin, 25-22, 25-18; Lebo def. Wheatland-Grinnell, 25-15, 25-19; Wheatland-Grinnell def. Bucklin, 24-26, 25-14, 25-13; Hanover def. Lebo, 25-18, 25-22.

Pool 2 standings—Wallace County 3-0, Beloit-St. John’s Tipton 2-1, Argonia 1-2, McPherson Elyria Christian 0-3. Match results—Wallace County def. Argonia, 25-16, 25-11; St. John’s Tipton def. Elyria Christian, 25-14, 25-16; Argonia def. Elyria Christian, 20-25, 25-18, 25-18; Wallace County def. St. John’s Tipton, 14-25, 25-22, 25-19; Wallace County def. Elyria Christian, 25-15, 25-14; St. John’s Tipton def. Argonia, 25-15, 25-20.

Saturday’s semifinals—Hanover def. St. John’s Tipton, 25-10, 25-20; Lebo def. Wallace County, 25-22, 17-25, 25-14. Championship—Hanover vs. Lebo. Third place—St. John’s Tipton vs. Wallace County.