DODGE CITY – It's not like it has been an annual rite for the Smith Center Lady Red volleyball team to earn a ticket to the state tournament each year. 

But perhaps it only feels that way since during a three-plus decade of coaching at the north central school, Nick Linn has delivered his team to either a Class 3A or 2A site near the end of October no fewer than 16 seasons in a 33-year distinguished coaching career. 

But never, never, never has he watched his team enjoy the final day of the two-day tournament as much as he was able to do so in the minutes afterward on a sunny afternoon in the Boot Hill City after watching his girls dismantle Hillsboro in a straight-set triumph, 25-23, 25-12, to claim the school's first volleyball title, with this one coming in Class 2A at United Wireless Arena. 

The celebration was joyous, often switching back and forth from jubilation to near-disbelief. It was that kind of moment. 

"You know, we've had some good teams here before and not been able to get a win," Linn said afterward. "With the group we had coming back this year, I think all of us would have been highly disappointed if we didn't get this one today." 

It was only a year ago that the Lady Red walked off the same court with a runner-up trophy and silver medals after losing to Olathe-Heritage Christian in the title match. It was ninth state appearance in the last 11 seasons for Linn's squads, trips that had earned them the one runner-up place, three third-places and two fourth-places. Three times they had been unable to make it out of Friday Pool Play. 

But that all changed on Saturday.  

And the biggest celebration came from the team's three seniors.

Rightly so. It was senior Tallon Rentschler, a 6-0 power outside hitter who delivered the final point, a smashing kill down the middle of the Lady Trojans defense to ice this one away. 

"It's my fourth trip to state and this just feels insane," Rentschler said with the biggest smile one could see on this Halloween Eve day. "Coming off second with all the seniors who graduated last year, this just seems surreal." 

On a day when a typical volleyball match sees the ebb and flow of momentum, the Lady Red rarely had a letdown. And if Hillsboro made things uncertain at times, it's only because the Lady Trojans have a wealth of success of their own at the state tournament. They have four state championships of their own (1987-2011-2012 in Class 3A, 2013 in Class 2A). And they were in the semifinals of 2020 when they matched up with Smith Center only to come out on the short end of that score. 

 

In the first set, which had its dramatic moments down the stretch, the Lady Red were in front the entire way, leading by five points midway through (12-7) and then maintaining that margin at 20-15. Still up, 21-16, Smith Center watched a feisty Hillsboro squad battle back to tie the set at 23-all. It was Rentschler who got the critical kill to make it 24-23 and then a Hillsboro shot just missed being in on the sideline, giving Smith Center a hard-earned 25-23 win. 

"I think being able to get that first set was big for us," said another senior, Ashlyn Long. "We just were able to make the plays when we needed to, and everybody was positive and encouraged each other." 

For Long, seeing her teammate, Rentschler, score the match-winning and championship-winning point was as good as it gets. 

"I think we were all hoping she'd get the kill, and she came through," Long said of Rentschler. "I think we've been in such pressure situations so often that we just kind of play through it. We've got great teammates and I think those experiences really help when you have to come up with big plays." 

After escaping the Hillsboro challenge in Set 1, the second set was determined by an improbable 9-0 run near the mid-point as the Lady Red went from up 9-6 to separate from the Trojans and take what would become an insurmountable lead at 18-6. From there, it was a simple 7-6 trade-off of points to close it out in dominating fashion, 25-12. 

"We knew their game plan and if we played our game, we'd have a good chance to win," said Long of their match-up with the familiar Hillsboro program. "Right now, this doesn't feel real, and I've never experienced such happiness. We knew we had to keep our excitement up and keep talking to each other. Our blocking was great, our digs were awesome and we did a great job of serving." 

Linn echoed the sentiments of his seniors, who finally erased all of the past disappointments on their final day of being in a Smith Center uniform. 

"The two seniors (Rentschler and Long) are the studs on this team and they've carried us a lot," Linn said. "They're going to be missed big time, but to see them win this today makes it all worthwhile." 

Linn had expressed concern about whether his team would start fast or slow, especially the semifinal match against Ellinwood, in which they won in straight sets, 25-20, 25-11. 

"We didn't have that letdown today," Linn said. "I thought we played consistently well all day. Ellinwood's a tough team and Hillsboro is really tough. I think the fact they had not beaten us worked in our favor. These kids have worked so hard and they are so deserving." 

In the process of not only grabbing the school's first volleyball championship trophy, the Lady Red set a school record for wins, finishing at 43-2 and owners of a 19-game match winning streak. 

"This is something that I'll never forget," Rentschler added with another big smile on her face. "What a way to end it all!" 

Hillsboro reached the title game with an impressive three-set marathon win over another traditional power in Garden Plain. The Trojans lost the opening set, 19-25, but came storming back to rally for wins in the final two sets by margins of 25-17, 25-22. The Trojans end their season with a record of 35-10. 

In the consolation match, it was another three-setter with Garden Plain rallying from a one-set deficit, losing 23-25 to Ellinwood before roaring back with a lop-sided 25-6 second-set triumph. That set up the deciding third set and the Owls led throughout, winning 25-19. The Owls finished their season at 33-10. The Eagles' season ended at 35-8. 

In Friday's Pool Play, Smith Center came out of Pool 1 with a 3-0 mark with wins over Pittsburg-St. Mary's Colgan (25-20, 25-9), Wabaunsee (25-21, 25-20) and Hillsboro (25-15, 25-22). Garden Plain had earned Pool 2's top spot with victories over Winchester-Jefferson County North (25-17, 25-20), Ellinwood (25-20, 24-26, 25-22) and Shawnee Maranatha Christian (25-19, 25-20). Ellinwood had toppled Shawnee Maranatha Christian (25-20, 24-26, 25-18) and Jefferson County North (25-21, 21-25, 26-24).