CLASS 1A DIVISION I
 
AT UNITED WIRELESS ARENA, DODGE CITY
 

 
CENTRALIA
 
Coach: Cindy Osterhaus
 
Record: 33-8 (No. 4 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. Goessel (5: 31-10), 10 a.m.; vs. Frankfort (8: 11-29), noon; vs. Little River (1: 39-2), 3 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Lincoln, 25-9, 25-7; beat Seabury Academy, 25-14, 24-26, 25-22. Sub-state results: beat Beloit-St. John’s, 25-19, 25-17; beat Wabaunsee, 25-20, 25-19.
 
Key Players: Malayna Becker, jr., OH; Hayden Kramer, jr., OH; Josie Haverkamp, jr., MB; Keelyn Rempe, jr., S; Taylee Wells, jr., L; Claire Heinen, sr., RS/DS.
 
Worth noting: Panthers return to state for third straight season and finished runner-up a year ago, falling 25-18, 25-14 to Little River in the championship match. … Centralia is one of most storied programs in state history, capturing 15 state championships overall, second only to Bishop Miege. … Last title came in 2018, the last of three straight crowns. … Panthers also won eight straight from 1997-2004. … All eight losses this season have come to state-qualifying teams – 4A Rock Creek, 2A Valley Heights (twice), 1A II Linn (three times), 1A II Hanover and 1A II Axtell. … Panthers won the Hiawatha Invitational title and took second at the Wabaunsee and Valley Falls Tournaments. … Three Panthers have over 200 kills with Kramer leading the way with 258, followed closely by Haverkamp (234) and Becker (203). … Rempe has 573 assists. … Kramer also leads team in digs with 231 and is second in aces with 27. … Sophomore Caylie McKee leads in aces with 33. … Haverkamp has 76 blocks and freshman Carlee Steinlage has 75.
 

 
FRANKFORT
 
Coach: Vicki Adams
 
Record: 11-29 (No. 8 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. Little River (1: 39-2), 11 a.m.; vs. Centralia (4: 33-8), noon; vs. Goessel (5: 31-10), 2 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Beloit-St. John’s, 28-26, 25-19; beat Sylvan-Lucas, 27-25, 26-24; beat Burlingame, 25-11, 28-26. Sub-state results: beat Seabury Academy, 25-27, 25-17, 25-7; beat Rock Hills, 23-25, 26-24, 25-16.
 
Key Players: Ashlyn Dalinghaus, sr., OH; Savannah Jackson, sr., MH; Loralei Loiseau, sr., MH/MB; Tessa Parthemer, jr., OH; Mylee Haug, jr., S; Shayne Anderson, so., S.
 
Worth noting: Wildcats knocked off highly ranked Rock Hills in sub-state finals to secure first state berth since 2010. … Frankfort won the Class 1A state title in 2009 and also has a state title in 1986 prior to the arrival of Adams, who is now in her 27th year as head coach of the program. … Wildcats were just 4-25 going into the Twin Valley League Tournament and winless against league opponents before picking up two wins at league tourney to finish sixth and start late-season surge that has seen them win seven of their last 11 matches. … Adams calls Dalinghaus the glue of the team after returning from shoulder surgery. … Loiseau and Jackson have become forces at the net.
 

 
GOESSEL
 
Coach: Crysta Guhr
 
Record: 31-10 (No. 5 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. Centralia (4: 33-8), 10 a.m.; vs. Little River (1: 39-2), 1 p.m.; vs. Frankfort (8: 11-29), 2 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat West Elk, 25-15, 25-8; beat Colony-Crest, 25-15, 25-8. Sub-state results: beat Canton-Galva, 25-19, 25-14; beat Flinthills, 25-16, 25-22.
 
Key Players: Delaney Duerksen, so., OH; Bella O’Neill, fr., OH; Jenna Flaming, jr., S; Isabelle Alderfer, jr., OPP; Mackenzie Voth, fr., L.
 
Worth noting: After losing in sub-state finals to three-time reigning state champion Little River the past three years, Bluebirds broke through this season and are returning to state for the first time since finishing as Class 2A state runner-up in 2017. … That season capped stretch where Goessel qualified five straight years and finished top four all five times. … Bluebirds were 44-0 Class 1A Division I state champions in 2015. … Goessel also was state runner-up in 2014 in 1A Division I. … Guhr picked up her 600th career victory this fall, all coming at Goessel where she is now 612-0223 in 21 years. … Three of 10 losses this year came to Little River and other seven losses came to teams that were ranked by KVA at the time. … Bluebirds have win over 1A II qualifier Ingalls. … Bluebirds play three freshmen and two sophomores and have only one senior and two juniors on roster. … Duerksen has 392 kills to lead team, hitting at a .383 clip. … She also has 317 digs and 57 aces. … O’Neill has 298 kills, 282 digs and 57 aces. … Flaming has 851 assists and 202 digs. … Alderfer has 185 kills and 200 digs. … Voth has 371 digs and 34 aces.
 

 
GREELEY COUNTY
 
Coach: Jordan Stewart
 
Record: 28-10 (No. 6 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. Spearville (3: 35-6), 10 a.m.; vs. South Gray (2: 36-4), 1 p.m.; vs. Quinter (7: 28-10), 2 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Ellis, 25-14, 25-17; beat Central Plains, 25-21, 25-13. Sub-state results: beat St. Francis, 25-16, 25-23; beat Hodgeman County, 25-17, 25-12.
 
Key Players: Jadence Stewart, sr.; Jeryn Stewart, so, S; Hailey Nolan, sr.; Charlize Shafer, so.; Addy Kennedy, jr.; Tylee Cavenee, fr.
 
Worth noting: After making first-ever state appearance last season, Jackrabbits are back at state for second straight year. … Jackrabbits have had five straight seasons with 20-plus wins. … Greeley County went 1-2 in pool play last year. … Three of 10 losses have come to 1A Division II qualifier Dighton and another two have come to 2A state qualifier Oakley. … Jackrabbits are 2-1 against fellow 1A Division I qualifier Quinter. … Jackrabbits are young with just two seniors. … Jadence Stewart is primary attacker and has 645 of team’s 1,309 kills. … Younger sister Jeryn Stewart has 248 kills, 542 assists and 64 aces. … Nolan has 160 assists and 55 aces. … Six Jackrabbits have at least 125 digs with Kennedy leading the way with 369 and Jadence Stewart right behind with 313.
 

 
LITTLE RIVER
 
Coach: Kim Rolfs
 
Record: 39-2 (No. 1 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. Frankfort (8: 11-29), 11 a.m.; vs. Goessel (5: 31-10), 1 p.m.; vs. Centralia (4: 33-8), 3 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Pleasanton, 25-7, 25-10 beat Central-Burden, 25-10, 25-14. Sub-state results: beat Sedan, 25-7, 25-7; beat Olpe, 25-13, 25-15.
 
Key Players: Arika Feldman, sr., MH/S; Adelynne Strecker, sr., L; Havana Olander, sr., OH/MH; Evie Look, sr., S; Lucy Wright, sr., OPP; Saelyn Raleigh, jr., OH/MH; Avery Lafferty, jr., OPP; Macy Schubert, so., OH/OPP; Kate Hendrickson, jr., DS.
 
Worth noting: Redskins are three-time defending 1A Division I state champions, beating Centralia 25-18, 25-14 in last year’s title match. … Redskins beat South Gray for 2023 title in three sets and Flinthills for 2022 title, also in three sets. … Redskin seniors are 158-14 in their career and are two wins from averaging 40 per season in their career. … Little River won Wheat State League for fifth straight year. … Little River also won a state title in 1984 and had runner-up finishes in 1989 and 2005 and have 11 state appearances overall, all but one resulting in top-four finishes. … Only two losses this season came to 2A unbeaten Ellinwood and Redskins have wins over 3A qualifier Ellsworth (twice), 2A qualifier Hillsboro and fellow 1A I qualifier and league rival Goessel (three times). … Feldman is reigning KVA 1A Division I player of the year and has 310 kills and 871 assists this season as well as 145 digs, 75 blocks and 33 aces. … Strecker has 421 digs and 32 aces. … Olander is a three-time state triple jump champion and has 285 kills, 246 digs and 47 blocks. … Raleigh has 321 kills and 186 digs. … Look has 1,051 assists, 150 digs and 36 aces. … Rolfs picked up her 450th career win in state finals last year and is 489-161 in her 18 years.
 

 
QUINTER
 
Coach: Katie Blackwill
 
Record: 28-10 (No. 7 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. South Gray (2: 36-4), 11 a.m.; vs. Spearville (3: 35-6), noon; vs. Greeley County (6: 28-10), 2 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Stockton, 25-14, 25-9; beat La Crosse, 25-15, 25-19. Sub-state results: beat Hill City, 21-25, 25-19, 25-16; beat Oberlin, 17-25, 25-23, 25-23.
 
Key Players: Shaylee Baalman, sr., MH/MB; Ka’Mara Harvey, sr., OH; Kendyl Johnson, jr., S; Blaire Beougher, jr., L/DS; Kamry Getz, jr., RS; Braelyn Blackwill, so., OH; Lexi May, jr., MH/MB.
 
Worth noting: Bulldogs qualified for state for the first time since 2002, ending a 23-year drought. … Trip to state is sixth overall for the program, but only second in Class 1A after previous appearances came in Class 2A. … Bulldogs took second at the Gove County Classic and Ellis Invitational, losing to 1A II qualifier Victoria in the finals at Ellis. … Blackwill in first year back as head coach after previously coaching program from 2009-15 before taking time off to raise her family. … Baalman leads team with 231 kills and 156 blocks and she went over 300 solo blocks this season. … Johnson went over 1,000 career assists with 734 this season and she serves at 97%. … Beougher has a team-high 440 digs and also leads in aces with 61 and serve receptions with 957. … Blackwill has 224 kills, 48 aces and 365 digs. … Harvey has 181 kills and Getz has 109 blocks. … May suffered injury at sub-state and will miss state tournament after recording 117 blocks.
 

 
SOUTH GRAY
 
Coach: Rick Moyer
 
Record: 36-4 (No. 2 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. Quinter (7: 28-10), 11 a.m.; vs. Greeley County (6: 28-10), 1 p.m.; vs. Spearville (3: 35-6), 3 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Kinsley, 25-9, 25-14; beat Macksville, 25-11, 25-12. Sub-state results: beat Pretty Prairie, 25-16, 25-14; beat South Central, 25-16, 25-15.
 
Key Players: Jacee Deges, sr., OH; Lakin Goossen, sr, OH; Jonalee Zweggart, jr., S; Mekayla Friesen, jr., MB; Melia Hixon, so., MB.
 
Worth noting: Rebels making third straight state appearance and finished runner-up in 2023 to Little River. … State trip is fifth overall for program. … Rebels won the SPIAA regular season championship and also took first at the Kiowa County Invitational. … South Gray also took second at SPIAA League Tournament. … Two of four losses came to 1A Division II qualifier Ingalls and another came to fellow 1A Division I qualifier Spearville. … Other loss came to 2A Medicine Lodge. … Goossen leads Rebels with 267 kills and 248 digs, tied for the digs lead by Deges. … Deges also has 160 kills. … Zweygaardt has 78 aces while Goossen has 54 and Deges has 38. … Zweygardt also has 699 assists and 134 digs. … Hixon has 167 kills and 42 blocks. … Zweygardt went over 1,000 career assists while Goossen hit 500 career digs.
 

 
SPEARVILLE
 
Coach: Syble Thompson
 
Record: 35-6 (No. 3 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. Greeley County (6: 28-10), 10 a.m.; vs. Quinter (7: 28-10), noon; vs. South Gray (2: 36-4), 3 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Kiowa County, 25-9, 25-12; beat Pretty Prairie, 21-25, 25-4, 25-12. Sub-state results: beat Macksville, 25-6, 25-19; beat St. John, 25-13, 23-25, 26-24.
 
Key Players: Makiah Kliesen, sr., MB/MH; Makenzie Preisner, sr., MB/MH; Cheyenne Ackerman, sr., S; Morghyn Rucker, sr., L; Damaris Alcala, sr., DS.
 
Worth noting: Lancers return to state after one-year absence. … State appearance is 11th for the Lancers. … Spearville captured Class 1A Division I title in 2021, the program’s only state championship. … They also took second in 2019. … Four of this year’s six losses came to 1A Division I qualifier South Gray and 1A Division II qualifier Ingalls, twice each. … Lancers have four wins over state-qualifying teams. … Kliesen went over 1,000 career kills this season. … Ackerman went of 2,000 assists this season.