State-bound: EHS netters win Sub-State
By Michael Ashford
Originally published 03:11 p.m., October 22, 2007
Updated 03:11 p.m., October 22, 2007
After all the Emporia High volleyball team had accomplished this season, the biggest feather in the Lady Spartans’ cap so far came on Saturday, as EHS qualified for the State tournament thanks to two victories at the Sub-State tournament in Winfield.
Emporia, which already had surpassed its season goal of 20 wins long ago, picked up victories over Winfield and Kapaun Mt. Carmel to run its record to 27-13 and make the first State tournament in head coach Kendra Bloomquist’s 11 years.
“The girls are just beyond excited,” Bloomquist said. “They worked so hard all year, and I’m just happy that I can enjoy this with them.”
Before the Lady Spartans could entertain any thoughts about making the State tournament, they first had get past the host school, Winfield, in the first round of Sub-State.
Emporia, the No. 2 seed, had little trouble with seventh-seeded Winfield, dominating the match in two games, 25-5, 25-14.
“We came in and didn’t want to look past the lower-seeded team,” Bloomquist said. “We wanted to give them respect they deserve, and we simply dominated.”
Bloomquist said getting the big victory to start the day put her team’s nerves at ease, especially after a minor car accident that morning forced the team to leave without one if its top players, middle hitter Hilary Heinrichs.
Heinrichs made it to the match in time and came through with three kills against Winfield, as did Ashley Lake, Lindy Arndt and Jessica Decker.
“The girls needed that,” Bloomquist said of the big win. “That settled us down after a morning filled with a bunch of stuff that we didn’t need.”
Also against Winfield, Decker led the way with nine digs, while Rachelle VanGundy and Cali Schelling dished out nine and seven assists, respectively.
In the championship match, Emporia took on the third seed, Kapaun Mt. Carmel. The two teams split the first two matches — Emporia won Match One, 25-21, while Kapaun won Match Two, 25-20 — before the Lady Spartans ran away with the match in Game Three, 25-14, to earn the State berth.
“They (Kapaun) are a good team,” Bloomquist said. “They were a lot like us, and I was only hoping we would be the better team that day.”
A 6-0 EHS run midway through the first game helped Emporia turn a 15-14 lead into a 21-14 edge en route to grabbing a 1-0 lead in the match. A kill from Decker started the run, and then she followed that with two service aces. In fitting fashion, Decker put down the winning kill to give EHS the first game, 25-21.
In Game Two, Kapaun used its own 6-0 run to put the Lady Spartans out of it early, using the scoring burst to turn an 8-7 lead into a 14-7 advantage. EHS got no closer than four points the rest of the way in losing Game Two, 25-20.
In the deciding Game Three, Emporia inched out to an 8-5 lead before Kapaun pulled back to within one at 8-7. That’s when the Lady Spartans went on a 10-3 run over the middle of the game to seize control, and Kapaun never threatened after that.
In the run, Decker, VanGundy and Schelling each had service aces.
“We held onto that lead like pitbulls,” Bloomquist said. “They didn’t close the gap and we never let them back in the game.”
Sadie Webb slammed home her 11th kill of the match to give Emporia the 25-14 victory and the Sub-State title.
“The girls went berserk,” Bloomquist said. “They were crying, jumping and yelling — it was pandemonium.”
Along with Webb’s 11 kills, Lake finished with seven while Taylor Hollond had five and Heinrichs and Decker each had four. Lake also had 17 digs while Schelling dished out 21 assists.
The Class 5A State tournament will begin Friday at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka. Emporia, the seventh seed, will play second-seeded Lansing at 8:30 a.m., followed by matches against Newton (11:30 a.m.) and Great Bend (1:30 p.m.) to close out pool play. Should Emporia advance to bracket play on Saturday, the semifinals would begin at 10 a.m.
Sub-State
Saturday at Winfield
Semifinals — Emporia def. Winfield 25-5, 25-14; Kapaun Mt. Carmel def. Arkansas City 25-14, 25-3.
Championship — Emporia def. Kapaun Mt. Carmel 25-21, 20-25, 25-14.