CLASS 3A
 
AT SPORTS ARENA, HUTCHINSON
 

 
ELLSWORTH
 
Coach: Kristy Rodriguez
 
Record: 32-8 (No. 5 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. Trinity Academy (4: 28-5), 10 a.m.; vs. Silver Lake (1: 41-1), 1 p.m.; vs. Hesston (8: 26-12), 2 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Phillipsburg, 25-10, 25-10; beat Scott City, 25-22, 25-13; beat Goodland, 25-23, 25-16. Sub-state results: beat Beloit, 25-20, 25-19; beat Holcomb, 25-21, 25-19.
 
Key Players: Elyse Haxton, sr., OH; Lexi Moore, sr., MB; Kelli Rodriguez, sr., L Josie Keuser, sr., MB; Reagan Hansen, sr., S; Kinly Place, so., S.
 
Worth noting: Bearcats making first trip to state since 1997 when Ellsworth was Class 4A. … Bearcats went 0-3 in pool play that season. … Bearcats also qualified in 1987 and went 1-2. … Bearcats were co-champs of the North Central Activities Association, sharing title with Beloit, which had won the past nine league titles. … Bearcats won home tournament and took second at Norton and Trinity Academy Tournaments. … Moore leads team with 287 kills and Haxton is right behind with 266, both coming off first-team all-league seasons a year ago. … Moore surpassed 1,000 kills this season while Haxton went over 1,000 digs. … Place has 436 assists and 140 kills. … Hansen has 356 assists. … Rodriguez leads six Bearcats with at least 100 digs, recording a team-high 376, 65 more than Haxton’s 311. … Moore has 53 blocks and 34 aces. … Place has 36 aces and Hansen has 35. … Kristy Rodriguez is four wins from 200 in her nine years as head coach.
 

 
HESSTON
 
Coach: Delice Downing
 
Record: 26-12 (No. 8 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. Silver Lake (1: 41-1), 11 a.m.; vs. Trinity Academy (4: 28-5), noon; vs. Ellsworth (5 32-8), 2 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Wichita Collegiate, 25-11, 25-12; beat Fredonia, 25-10, 25-11; beat Neodesha, 25-22, 25-14. Sub-state results: beat Burlington, 25-19, 25-21; beat Garden Plain, 25-14, 23-25, 25-21.
 
Key Players: AJ Reiff, so., S; Jacy Proctor, so., MB; Kylie Warden, jr., OH; Cecelia Williams, sr., MB; Callie Yoder, sr., L; Tessa Martin, fr., OH.
 
Worth noting: Swathers making first state appearance since taking fourth in Class 3A in 2018. … That finish capped string of five straight appearances that included third-place finishes in 2015 and 2017 sandwiched around a runner-up finish in 2016. … Hesston also took second at state in 1992, 1994 and 1996 and third in 2002. … Trip to state is 15th overall. … Downing in first year as head coach of program after previously coaching a combined 21 years at Hutchinson and Coffeyville Community Colleges, leading Coffeyville to back-to-back national championships in 2017 and 2018. … Swathers finished first at the Preseason Central Kansas League Tournament, beating defending 3A state champion Halstead and 2A state qualifier Hillsboro. … Eight of 12 losses have come to state tournament teams – fellow 3A qualifiers Hoisington and Trinity Academy (twice each), 2A qualifier Hillsboro (twice), 4A qualifier Clay Center and 5A qualifier Kapaun Mt. Carmel. … Win over Garden Plain in sub-state final avenged regular-season loss to Owls. … Reiff has 648 assists this year and already is over 1,000 in her career as a sophomore. … Warden leads in kills with 246 and is one of five Swathers with more than 100 kills, joined by Proctor (158), Martin (112), Williams (160) and Maci Rhodes (167). … Proctor has 80 blocks and Williams has 61. … Yoder has 392 digs and went over 1,000 career digs this season.
 

 
HOISINGTON
 
Coach: Mykela Riedl
 
Record: 36-4 (No. 3 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. Holton (6: 34-9), 10 a.m.; vs. Osage City (7: 27-12), noon; vs. Riverton (2: 36-4), 3 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Larned, 25-5, 25-15; beat Colby, 25-10, 25-15; beat Beloit, 25-16, 15-25, 25-19. Sub-state results: beat Goodland, 25-21, 25-21; beat Lakin, 25-18, 25-18.
 
Key Players: Sofia Simic, jr., OH; Kelsi Maier, sr., MB/OH; Kinley Wilkens, jr., MB/OH; Brynn Tarlton, jr., S; Addi Hanzlick, jr., MB; Miya Nachtigal, sr., DS; Reese Vaughn, so., S; Mila Simic, fr., MB; Brynlee Schremmer, fr., OPP; Rylee Vaughn, sr., DS; Marley Bittel, jr., RS/MB; Reece Aylward, so., DS.
 
Worth noting: Hoisington making second straight state appearance after having not qualified since 2018. … Cardinals finished third last year, falling to Nemaha Central in three sets in the semifinal before beating Neodesha in the third-place match. … Trip is sixth since 2008 with best finish during that span a runner-up finish in 2011 when Riedl was a junior on the team. … Riedl is 128-35 in four years as head coach of alma mater, recording her 100th win earlier this season. … Cardinals won titles at Russell and Hoisington Invitationals and were third at the Central Kansas League tournament. … Hoisington won the CKL regular-season title. … Half of Cardinals’ losses came to 2A qualifier and league foe Hillsboro and another to 2A unbeaten Ellinwood. … Sub-state win over Goodland avenged loss to Cowgirls earlier in the season. … Sofia Simic had 464 kills going into sub-state play and went over 1,500 career kills this season. … She also has 220 digs. … Maier has added 261 kills and 252 digs and Mila Simic has 120 kills and Wilkens has 145 kills. … Nachtigal has 285 digs. … Vaughn has 490 assists and 44 aces. … Talton has 443 assists this year and over 750 in her career.
 

 
HOLTON
 
Coach: Kristal Bontrager
 
Record: 34-9 (No. 6 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. Hoisington (3: 36-4), 10 a.m.; vs. Riverton (2: 36-4), 1 p.m.; vs. Osage City (7: 27-12), 2 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Oskaloosa, 25-6, 25-17; beat Riverside, 25-13, 25-10; beat Perry-Lecompton, 25-12, 23-25, 25-16. Sub-state results: beat Hiawatha, 25-9, 25-19; beat Maranatha, 25-17, 23-25, 25-20.
 
Key Players: Tinley Wilson, jr., OH; Khloe Black, so., OH; Emily Ditzler, sr.. MH; Beka Lassey, jr., MH.
 
Worth noting: Holton qualified for Class 4A state tournament the past two seasons before dropping down to Class 3A this fall. … Third straight state appearance is record for program with this year’s trip just the eighth overall for program, with Wildcats finishing fourth in 2004 and 2011. … Three of losses came to 3A No. 1 seed Silver Lake, all three going to three sets. … Wildcats won the title at the Sabetha Invitational and took runner-up at the Marysville, Wamego and Rossville Tournaments. … Wilson reached 1,000 career kills and digs this season and has 338 kills and 421 digs this season. … Black has 387 kills and 489 digs to lead Wildcats in both categories. … Lassey has 88 blocks and Ditzler has 80. … Bontrager got her 100th career win in her fourth season as head coach.
 

 
OSAGE CITY
 
Coach: Carly Spicer
 
Record: 27-12 (No. 7 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. Riverton (2: 36-4), 11 a.m.; vs. Hoisington (3: 36-4), noon; vs. Holton (6: 34-9), 2 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat West Franklin, 25-18, 25-16; beat Cherryvale, 25-4, 25-14; beat Galena, 22-25, 25-18, 25-23. Sub-state results: beat Wellsville, 25-13, 25-15; beat Frontenac, 25-17, 21-25, 25-18.
 
Key Players: Jewelia Kitselman, sr., OH; Emory Speece, sr., L; Addison Watson, sr., S; Kaelyn Boss, so., OH; Amelia Stark, fr., MH; Hayden Lieber, fr., MH; Jayla Jenkins, fr., RS.
 
Worth noting: Osage City returns to state for the first time since capturing the Class 3A state championship in 2010. … Indians making sixth stat appearance overall and also finished fourth in 2006. … Spicer was top player on 2010 state title team and now is in fourth year as head coach. … She also led Emporia to a 37-10 record and state berth in 2015. … Indians won second Flint Hills League title in past four years and finished third at league tournament. … Kitselman has 321 kills and 384 digs this season, going over 1,000 career digs and closing in on 900 career kills. … She also has 37 aces. … Speece has 465 digs and helped Indians qualify for state in volleyball after qualifying for state in cross country earlier in the day. … Watson went over 1,000 career assists, recording 627 this season. … Boss has 281 kills, while Stark has 162 kills and Lieber has 152. … Lieber has 61 blocks. … Jenkins was hurt most of the season but has come on strong late with 25 kills in 29 sets.
 

 
RIVERTON
 
Coach: Kellyn Lipasek
 
Record: 36-4 (No. 2 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. Osage City (7: 27-12), 11 a.m.; vs. Holton (6: 34-9), 1 p.m.; vs. Hoisington (3: 36-4), 3 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Columbus, 25-10, 25-8; beat Anderson County, 25-12, 25-17 beat Wellsville, 25-15, 25-14. Sub-state results: beat West Franklin, 25-9, 25-14; beat Girard, 25-20, 25-18.
 
Key Players: Avery Barnett, sr.; Ava Price, sr.; Alexa Price, sr.; Kynlee King, so.
 
Worth noting: After making four straight trips to state from 2020-23, Rams return after a one-year absence. … Trip to state is eighth overall for the program, which has a best finish of fourth in 2022. … Rams were co-champs of the CNC League this year with Frontenac, each going 6-1 in league play. … Rams won titles and Humboldt and Osawatomie Tournaments and were fifth at the tough Carl Junction Invitational. … Only losses came to Frontenac, Louisburg, Chanute and Nevada (Mo.). … Lipasek is in second year as head coach after replacing mother Rebecca, who won more than 800 matches in her career. … Barnett has 465 kills this year and 906 in her career. … she also has 393 digs and 25 blocks this season and 838 career digs. … Ava Price has 1,015 assists this year and broke the school record for assists in a match with 53 against Nevada. … She has 1,815 career assists and 718 career digs. … Alexa Price has 526 digs this year and 931 in her career. … King has 279 kills and 354 digs.
 

 
SILVER LAKE
 
Coach: Sarah Johnson
 
Record: 41-1 (No. 1 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. Hesston (8: 26-12), 11 a.m.; vs. Ellsworth (5: 32-8), 1 p.m.; vs. Trinity Academy (4: 28-5), 3 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Council Grove, 25-9, 25-8; beat Hiawatha, 25-16, 25-11; beat Pleasant Ridge, 25-11, 25-18. Sub-state results: beat Perry-Lecompton, 25-12, 25-9; beat Riley County, 23-25, 25-21, 25-15.
 
Key Players: Kylie Hanni, jr., S; Jaylie Whitehead, jr., L; Jaiden Wise, sr., OH; Karys Deiter, so., OH; Paige Heiman, sr., MB; Paige Winsor, sr., RS; Kinley Weber, so., MH.
 
Worth noting: Eagles missed out on state trip a year ago after placing third in 2023. … Johnson has led Eagles to four state titles – 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018 – after Eagles won championships in 1998, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007 under Angie Bittner., giving program nine state titles overall. … Eagles also took second in 2015 ad third in 2012 and 2019 under Johnson. … Silver Lake won Big East League title with undefeated league mark and won tournament titles at Salina South, Rossville and Silver Lake. … Only loss came to Shawnee Heights on night where the Eagles also beat 3A qualifier Manhattan. … Eagles have beaten fellow 3A qualifier Holton three times – all three-set victories -- and 2A qualifier and arch rival Rossville twice. … Only one other victory went to three sets, the sub-state championship win over Riley County in which the Eagles dropped the first set before taking the next two. … Hanni has posted back-to-back seasons of 1,000 assists, recording 1,045 this year and now has 2,274 in her career. … Five Eagles have at least 122 kills led by Wise’s 367. … Deiter has 276, Winsor 221, Heiman 184 and Weber 122. … Heiman leads in blocks with 45 and Weber has 36. … Whitehead went over 1,000 career digs with a team-high 464 this year. … Wise has 251 digs, Winsor has 242 and Deiter 211. … Winsor’s 52 aces lead team and is one of seven Eagles with at least 20 aces with Deiter having 43 and Whitehead 41.
 

 
TRINITY ACADEMY
 
Coach: Katelyn Turner
 
Record: 28-5 (No. 4 seed)
 
Pool-play matches Thursday: vs. Ellsworth (5: 32-8), 10 a.m.; vs. Hesston (8: 26-12), noon; vs. Silver Lake (1: 41-1), 3 p.m.
 
Regional results: beat Southeast of Saline, 25-17, 25-22; beat Smoky Valley, 25-17, 25-18; beat Garden Plain, 25-12, 21-25, 25-15. Sub-state results: beat Wichita Collegiate, 25-18, 25-11; beat Cheney, 26-24, 20-25, 26-24.
 
Key Players: Audrey Smith, sr., MB; Dominique Schellenger, sr., MB Ava Deutsch, sr., L; Jordyn Whitfield, sr., OH; Krista Eklund, sr., S; Grace Barrett, sr., S; Gracie Liggett, fr., OH; Olivia Johnson, so., DS/OH; Sloane Cary, fr., RS.
 
Worth noting: Knights return to state for the first time since 2018. … Trinity also qualified for state in 2013, finishing as Class 3A state runner-up, and 2017, taking third in 3A. … Knights trailed Cheney 24-18 in third set of sub-state championship match, but rallied for 26-24 win to clinch state berth. … Knights won title at home tournament. … One of losses came to 4A qualifier Clay Center and Knights have two wins over fellow 3A qualifier Hesston and also bawt 3A qualifier Ellsworth and 2A qualifier Conway Springs. … Knights have seven seniors who draw inspiration from memory of classmate Madison Moore, who died from injuries sustained in a car accident, along with her mother, Monica, in December 2023 and was the younger sister of first-year head coach Katelyn Turner. … Smith leads team in kills with 256 and also is tops in hitting percentage (.350) and blocks (99). … Schellenger, who has helped lead the softball team to multiple state berths, has added 206 kills while Whitfield has 131, Liggett 130 and Eklund 104. … Eklund is tops in assists with 453 and Barrett has 278. … Deutsch has 253 digs this year and went over 1,000 career digs this season. … She also leads the team in aces with 36.