CLASS 2A
 
AT UNITED WIRELESS ARENA, DODGE CITY
 

 
CONWAY SPRINGS
 
Coach: Amanda Becker
 
Record: 26-12 (No. 7 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Friday: vs. Jefferson County North (2: 40-4), 11 a.m.; vs. Oakley (3: 36-4), noon; vs. Valley Heights (6: 29-9), 2 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Udall, 25-18, 25-14; beat Uniontown, 25-11, 25-5; beat Cedar Vale/Dexter, 25-13, 25-13. Sub-state results: beat Wichita Classical, 25-8, 25-13; beat St. Mary’s Colgan, 26-28, 25-22, 25-17.
 
Key Players: Macie Hartman, sr., OH; Reece Johnson, sr., OH; Miley Pauly, sr., MB; Lairen Pauly, jr., OPP; Lanie Hartman, so., S.
 
Worth noting: Conway Springs returns to state tournament for first time since capturing the Class 3A state title in 2005. … Cardinals have five state championships overall, all coming between 1997 and 2005, including three straight from 2000-02. … Cardinals also have three runner-up finishes, the last coming in 2004, and a fourth in 2003 as they qualified nine straight years from 1997-2005 and made the semifinals all nine years. … State trip is 11 overall, but first at the 2A level. … Cardinals won just 16 matches in Becker’s first two seasons before this year’s turnaround campaign. … Cardinals finished fourth in tough Central Plains League with only league losses coming to 3A qualifier Trinity Academy, Garden Plain and Medicine Lodge. … Conway beat Cheney for the first time in 20 years and also won the title at the Kingman Invitational and took second at the Medicine Lodge Invitational. … Lairen Pauly leads team in kills with 228, but Cardinals are balanced with four having at least 118 kills. … Johnson has 197 kills while Macie Hartman has 191 and Miley Pauly 118. … Lanie Hartman has 678 assists and 173 digs. … Lairen Pauly also has 194 digs, 55 aces and 70 blocks. … Johnson has 293 digs and 33 aces and Macie Hartman has 271 digs and 30 aces. … Miley Pauly has 64 blocks.
 

 
ELLINWOOD
 
Coach: Greg Maxwell
 
Record: 42-0 (No. 1 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Friday: vs. Rossville (8: 28-13), 11 a.m.; vs. Hillsboro (5: 32-9), 1 p.m.; vs. Humboldt (4: 34-9), 3 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Hutchinson Trinity, 25-7, 25-7; beat Wichita County, 25-1, 25-7; beat Stanton County, 25-12, 25-7. Sub-state results: beat Plainville, 25-5, 25-10; beat Smith Center, 25-12, 25-15.
 
Key Players: Kyndal Moore, sr., MH; Regan Widener, sr., RS; Mette Maxwell, so., S/OH; Alyvia Batchman, jr., S/OH; Bennett Jacobs, jr., L.
 
Worth noting: Eagles return to state for second straight season and placed fourth last year. … Eagles also finished fourth in 2021, matching best for program. … State appearance is sixth overall, including three in the past five years. … Ellinwood is lone undefeated team in the state and won its ninth straight Central Prairie League title and is on a 66-match league winning streak. … Eagles are 112-5 against league teams in Maxwell’s eight-year tenure. … Maxwell got 200^th win last season and has posted seven straight 30-win seasons. … Eagles handed three-time defending Class 1A Division I champion Little River its only two losses of the season and also beat 3A qualifiers Hoisington and Ellsworth (twice). … Senior class has won 148 matches in career and is 66-0 in league play. … Widener has 300 kills, 36 blocks and 45 aces. … Batchman and Maxwell each went over 1,000 career assists this year with Maxwell dishing out 556 this season and Batchman adding 401. … Moore has 266 kills while Maxwell has 214 and Batchman 162. … Maxwell also has 81 aces and Batchman has 67. … Jacobs has 255 digs and 23 aces. … Moore also has 56 blocks and 41 aces.
 

 
HILLSBORO
 
Coach: Sandy Arnold
 
Record: 32-9 (No. 5 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Friday: vs. Humboldt (4 34-9), 10 a.m.; vs. Ellinwood (1: 42-0), 1 p.m.; vs. Rossville (8: 28-13), 2 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Remington, 25-8, 25-15; beat Republic County, 25-10, 25-13; beat Valley Heights, 25-16, 25-20; Sub-state results: beat Sedgwick, 25-18, 25-18; beat Moundridge, 25-23, 25-22.
 
Key Players: Kingzley Ratzlaff, sr., OH; Lauryn Vogt, sr., OH; Amyah Werth, jr., L; Ella Potucek, jr., S; Talia Jost, sr., MH.
 
Worth noting: A perennial powerhouse, Hillsboro returns to state after a one-year absence. … Trojans won back-to-back Class 2A state titles in 2022 and 2023 before missing out on state last year. … State titles were fifth and sixth for the program, which also captured state three straight championships from 2011-13 and won its first state title in 1987 – the first three of those titles coming in Class 3A. … Arnold is in 22nd year as head coach of program and has a 650-233 record with five of the six titles under her watch. … Hillsboro also has four runner-up finishes, a third and a fourth in 18 overall trips. … Trojans have two wins over both Hesston and Hoisington, 3A qualifiers, and won a title at the Douglass Invitaitonal, beating Garden Plain in the finals. … Trojans beat 2A qualifier Valley Heights at regionals, avenging a loss to the Mustangs in last year’s regional. … Vogt, a multi-time state swimming champion who has signed with Kansas, leads Trojans with 401 kills and sits at 928 in her career. … She also has 37 aces, 37 blocks and 319 digs. … Ratzlaff has 973 career kills as a four-year starter with 320 coming this season. … She also has 41 blocks, 231 digs, 204 assists and 42 aces. … Werth has 603 digs this season and 1,726 in her career, while also having 41 aces and 75 assists. … Potucek missed first seven matches with wrist injury but has racked up 436 assists and 147 digs, going over 1,500 career assists this season. … Jost has 182 kills, 75 blocks and 40 aces in her first year serving for the Trojans.
 

 
HUMBOLDT
 
Coach: Terry Meadows
 
Record: 34-9 (No. 4 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Friday: vs. Hillsboro (5: 32-9), 10 a.m.; vs. Rossville (8: 28-13), noon; vs. Ellinwood (1: 42-0), 3 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Belle Plaine, 25-11, 25-10; beat Eureka, 25-13, 25-14; beat Erie, 25-11, 25-17. Sub-state results: beat Southeast-Cherokee, 25-9, 25-7; beat Bluestem, 25-15, 22-25, 25-18.
 
Key Players: Skylar Hottenstein, sr., L; Ricklyn Hillmon, sr., MH; Lakyn Meadows, jr., S.
 
Worth noting: Humboldt ending a 10-year state tournament drought with last appearance coming in 2016, Meadows’ first year as head coach. … Trip to state is fifth overall and Cubs have never reached the semifinals in previous four. … Cubs were Tri-Valley League champions, going undefeated in league play. … Hottenstein will finish her career holding most if not all school records for digs and had school-record 29 in a match this year. … She has 513 digs this year and 2,157 digs in her career. … She’s also had 109 aces this season. … Hillmon leads team with 360 kills while senior Laney Hull has 203 kills and Meadows has 155 kills. … Meadows has 463 assists and sophomore Bailey Daniels has 320. … Hillmon also has 54 blocks and in her career has 910 assists and 419 digs.
 

 
JEFFERSON COUNTY NORTH
 
Coach: David Schuler
 
Record: 40-4 (No. 2 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Friday: vs. Conway Springs (7: 26-12), 11 a.m.; vs. Valley Heights (6: 29-9), 1 p.m.; vs. Oakley (3: 36-4), 3 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Atchison County, 25-4, 25-9; beat Horton, 25-11, 27-25; beat Cair Paravel, 25-16, 25-23. Sub-state results: beat Mission Valley, 25-15, 26-24; beat Lyndon, 25-22, 25-23.
 
Key Players: Taylor Schrick, jr., OH/S; Rylee Thompson, sr., OH; Annalie Bell, so., RS/S; Carina Johnson, jr., MH/RS; Laykin Kramer, jr., L.
 
Worth noting: Chargers return to state for the first time since taking third in 2022. … State appearance is fifth in Schuler’s 12 years as head coach and 21st overall for the program. … Chargers have four state titles in program history, going back-to-back in 1975-76 and then again in 1985-86, the last of those titles coming in Class 3A. … Chargers were undefeated Northeast Kansas League champions this season and also won the title at the Lyndon Invitational. … Two of four losses came to 3A state qualifier Riverton and 1A Division I qualifier Centralia. … Schrick leads team with 375 kills and also has 42 aces, 143 assists, 362 digs and 16 blocks. … Thompson has 290 kills, 96 digs and 16 blocks. … Bell has 769 assists, 31 aces, 65 kills and 43 blocks. … Johnson has 160 kills, 55 blocks and 227 digs. … Becker has 215 digs and 43 aces.
 

 
OAKLEY
 
Coach: Lindsay Hodges
 
Record: 36-4 (No. 3 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Friday: vs. Valley Heights (6: 29-9), 10 a.m.; vs. Conway Springs (7: 26-12), noon; vs. Jefferson County North (2: 40-4), 3 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Sublette, 25-13, 25-4; beat Hoxie, 25-11, 25-23; lost to Smith Center, 25-20, 20-25, 25-21. Sub-state results: beat TMP-Marian, 25-19, 25-21; beat Medicine Lodge, 15-25, 25-19, 25-19.
 
Key Players: Mary Carman, sr., L; Alexa Weiser, so., S/OH; Brynn Johnson, sr., MH; Jocelyn Ritter, jr., S; Kylee Hodges, jr., OH/RS; Madeline Crotts, jr., MH.
 
Worth noting: Hodges has led Plainsmen to state tournaments in each of her first two years as head coach, last year ending a drought since last qualifying in 2006. … Plainsmen were just 10-23 in season before her arrival. … Oakley has nine overall state trips and captured four straight 3A titles from 1981-84 and a fifth in 1993. … Program also has three runner-up finishes. … Oakley started season 31-0, winning tournament titles at Syracuse, WaKeeney and their home invitational. … Plainsmen have made the finals of every tournament except league and bounced back from a regional finals loss to Smith Center to win their sub-state. … Oakley beat 1A I qualifier Greeley County twice at the Syracuse Tournament. … Two of four losses came at Mid-Continent League Tournament. … Weiser leads team in kills with 350 and also has 291 assists and 63 aces. … Carman has 501 digs and is just 76 away from 1,500 in her career. … Johnson has 257 kills and 30 blocks. … Hodges has 124 kills, 353 digs and 35 aces. … Ritter leads team with 545 assists and has 32 aces. … Crotts has 124 kills and 36 blocks. … Oakley lost returning all-leaguer Jade Beckman to injury just six matches into season.
 

 
ROSSVILLE
 
Coach: Danielle Dodge
 
Record: 28-13 (No. 8 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Friday: vs. Ellinwood (1: 42-0), 11 a.m.; vs. Humboldt (4: 34-9), noon; vs. Hillsboro (5: 32-9), 2 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat McLouth, 25-10, 25-8; beat Central Heights, 25-13, 25-8; beat Mission Valley, 25-9, 25-14. Sub-state results: beat Cair Paravel, 27-25, 19-25, 25-20; beat Maur Hill, 22-25, 25-23, 25-12.
 
Key Players: Nora Burdiek, jr., OH; Kenna Perine, fr., S; Ady Henry, jr., L; Shailee Hubbell, sr., MH.
 
Worth noting: Bulldawgs making first trip to state in 20 years, finishing third in their last appearance in 2005. … Rossville also finished third in 1996 and was state runner-up in 1997. … Bulldawgs won their home tournament this year, beating 3A qualifier Holton in the finals. … Bulldawgs also took third at the Silver Lake Tournament. … Five of 13 losses came to either Holton or 3A No. 1 seed Silver Lake. … Burdiek is far and away Bulldawgs’ go-to hitter with her 549 kills more than 400 more than the next-highest Bulldawg, Hubbell’s 138. … Hubbell leads team in blocks with 31. … Perine has stepped in as freshman setter and has 912 assists and 260 digs. … Henry has 502 digs and 58 assists. … Rossville started season 9-0. … Bulldawgs have won at least 20 matches each of last seven seasons.
 

 
VALLEY HEIGHTS
 
Coach: Susan Steinfort
 
Record: 29-9 (No. 6 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Friday: vs. Oakley (3: 36-4), 10 a.m.; vs. Jefferson County North (2: 40-4), 1 p.m.; vs. Conway Springs (7: 26-12), 2 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Republic County, 25-20, 25-15; beat Remington, 25-14, 25-9; lost to Hillsboro, 25-16, 25-20. Sub-state results: beat Berean Academy, 27-25, 25-15; beat Inman, 25-20, 22-25, 25-14.
 
Key Players: Ava Smith, sr., OH; Mia Vermetten, sr., OH; Paige Miller, jr., S; Josie Parker, sr., MH; Teagan Spoonts, so., L.
 
Worth noting: State trip is fourth straight for Mustangs and seventh in the last eight years with 21 overall trips. … Heights finished at Class 2A runner-up last year, falling to Maranatha 25-23, 25-19 in state championship match. … Program has two state titles overall with Steinfort a member of first title team in 1992. … Ten of last 12 trips to state have produced top-four finishes, including a title in 2001 and runner-up finishes in 2002, 2006 and 2024. … Heights was undefeated regular-season champion Twin Valley League, which produced six state qualifiers. … Mustangs have 10 wins against state tournament teams and bounced back from a regional loss to fellow 2A qualifier Hillsboro to knock off Inman in sub-state finals. … Miller is just 34 assists from hitting 2,000 in her career. … Smith is the reigning 2A KVA player of the year and has 418 kills this season.