STATE VOLLEYBALL STORYLINES

CLASS 6A

At Tony's Pizza Events Center, Salina

OLATHE WEST EYES BIGGER PRIZE AFTER BREAKTHROUGH STATE RUN A YEAR AGO

SALINA — A year ago, Olathe West made history just by getting there. The Owls’ first-ever trip to the Class 6A state volleyball tournament ended with a third-place trophy and the feeling that the program had officially arrived among Kansas’ elite. 

This weekend in Salina, they’re hoping to take the next step. 

Armed with eight seniors, a 26-7 record, and the confidence of co-owning the Sunflower League title with powerhouse Mill Valley, the third-ranked Owls return to state with one goal — winning it all. 

“Once we achieved third place last year, I knew the attitude would change,” said Olathe West coach Amy Hoffsommer-Griffin, who’s in her ninth season leading the program. “As soon as we started meeting in the summer, it was clear that the players believed a state championship was possible. Confidence grew and the belief in ourselves was stronger than it has ever been.” 

Olathe West opens pool play at 10 a.m. Friday at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina against Washburn Rural, followed by matches with Mill Valley and Olathe Northwest — three opponents the Owls have already faced this season. 

“We’ve seen everyone in our pool, and I think that’s an advantage,” Hoffsommer-Griffin said. “We are a smart team that can implement a scout report well. It will give us an edge.” 

That experience — and a lineup filled with battle-tested veterans — has been the foundation of Olathe West’s rise that include three Division-1 players.  

Senior Ella Stowell, a returning All-State outside hitter and Colorado State commit, has surpassed 1,000 career kills and leads the Owls this season with 350 kills, hitting .350 while adding 222 digs and 60 blocks.  

“Ella is having a standout season,” Hoffsommer-Griffin said. “She is truly excelling this season in so many aspects of her game.  Not only has her attacking improved significantly – specifically her out of system swings, but her floor defense and blocking are greatly improved.  She also is a strong passer for the team, with her stats showing a lot of growth from last year.  She is definitely a player that other teams will have trouble containing.” 

Middle hitter Cami Sher, a rare six-rotation middle hitter and Xavier commit, provides versatility and leadership with 222 kills, 71 blocks, and 187 digs despite battling through injuries.  

“Cami has had a solid year and continues to be a great performer for us,” Hoffsommer-Griffin said. “She has been struggling with staying healthy for a while this season but seems to be healing just at the right time.  She is one of our best passers and a great defender.” 

Setter Neely Leathers, the team’s floor general and Air Force commit, has already tallied more than 2,000 career assists, including 911 this season. 

“Neely is a huge part of our success,” Hoffsommer-Griffin said. “She is relentless in pursuit of the ball and puts up a great ball for our hitters.  But her edge is how smart she is as a player.  She knows who to set – based off the block, the hot hitter, the rotation, or reading the play as it happens.  She has exceptional court sense, which is why she is also a great attacker from the setting position.  Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that she loves playing for her team and is a great teammate.” 

Junior right-side hitter Kylee Webb has also emerged as a key piece, ranking second on the team in kills (236) in her first year as a varsity starter. 

The Owls’ season pivoted earlier this month during a trip north. At a high-level tournament in Omaha, Nebraska, Olathe West went 2-2, including a statement win over defending 5A champion St. Thomas Aquinas — a turning point Hoffsommer-Griffin said helped solidify their confidence heading into postseason play. 

“Playing that kind of competition was huge for us,” she said. “We grew a lot that weekend and came back even more determined.” 

Olathe West has proven it can compete with the best, with wins over several Kansas Volleyball Association ranked teams this season, including Washburn Rural, Olathe Northwest and Gardner-Edgerton. 

And while the Owls’ statistics and schedule are impressive, their coach believes what truly sets this group apart is its chemistry and maturity. 

“Having eight seniors is a blessing,” Hoffsommer-Griffin said. “They’re seasoned, motivated, and they love each other. We are truly blessed with talent and great attitudes.” 

For a program that’s only been around since 2017, Olathe West has already made remarkable strides. Now, the Owls want to make history again — this time by finishing on top. 

“As oversimplified as it sounds,” Hoffsommer-Griffin said, “it will rely upon attitude. If we embrace positivity and belief, we will perform well. And if we perform our best, we are capable of winning it all.” 

CLASS 5A

At Tony's Pizza Events Center, Salina
 

TIMBERWOLVES HUNGRY FOR MORE AFTER BACK-TO-BACK STATE APPEARANCES

The Blue Valley Southwest volleyball team has been here before — they’ve seen the gym, breathed the air and, as coach Austin Isham likes to say, “tasted the Tony’s Pizza.” 

Now the Timberwolves are back for seconds. 

After making the program’s first-ever state appearance a year ago, Southwest is back at the Class 5A state tournament this weekend at the Tony’s Pizza Event Center in Salina, this time looking to take the next step. 

The Timberwolves (33-4), the No. 3 seed, will open pool play Friday against Great Bend (27-9) at 10 a.m., followed by matches with Kapaun Mt. Carmel (27-10) at noon and Maize South (35-4) at 3 p.m. 

It’s a veteran lineup built for a deep run. Southwest returned nearly its entire roster from last year’s historic squad, led by Georgia Tech commit and multi-time state swimming champion Willow Weninger, Kansas volleyball commit Taylor Stanley, and a front line featuring Sofia Ricci, Catlin Shao, and Hailie Vaughn — all seniors. 

“We’ve talked a lot about practicing at a high level so our bodies are prepared to compete at the highest level when called upon to do so,” Isham said. “Having experienced state last year with a predominantly returning roster is huge. Nothing will be new to this team.” 

Southwest enters state as one of the most balanced and battle-tested teams in Kansas. The Timberwolves have spent most of the season ranked No. 2 behind two-time defending champion St. Thomas Aquinas, finishing runner-up to the Saints in the Eastern Kansas League. Their four losses came only to Aquinas (twice), Blue Valley West and 6A power Mill Valley — all top seeds in their respective classifications. 

But they’ve beaten plenty of heavyweights, too — including 6A qualifier Olathe West, 5A qualifiers St. James Academy and Lansing, and 4A qualifier Bishop Miege. 

Stanley, who competed with the USA U19 National Team in Indonesia this summer, has led the attack with 271 kills.  

Weninger, who surpassed 1,000 career kills this season and broke the career school record, has 241 kills, while Vaughn — a Princeton commit — adds 236.  

Ricci has become a force at the net, leading all 5A/6A players in total blocks with 103 this season and setting a school record for career blocks at 258 and counting. Shao, the team’s steady senior setter, has 819 assists this season and is Southwest’s career leader with 2,387. 

“Our offense can’t be ignored,” Isham said. “We have solid players at every position. I love our pins and how much of a threat they are to get a kill every time, but I also love the offensive threat of our middles, our setter who gets them the ball and our libero who gets her the ball. I love them all and I know they’re capable of accomplishing their mission.” 

Southwest has already won tournament titles this fall at Spring Hill, Lansing and Tonganoxie and looks to keep its momentum rolling in Salina. The Timberwolves are determined not to let last year’s pool-play exit define them. 

“All the teams that have made it to state are deserving,” Isham said. “It doesn’t matter who’s in our pool — we have to be ready to play our best. We want to win, but that doesn’t mean the other teams don’t want to. We’re not overlooking anyone.” 

This time, the Timberwolves know exactly what to expect under the bright lights in Salina — and they hope to stay awhile. 

CLASS 4A

At Hutchinson Sports Arena
 

RUN IT BACK: MCGREEVY’S RETURN, TALENTED YOUTH HAVE HAYDEN BACK AMONG 4A CONTENDERS
 
Even though Corrinne McGreevy wasn’t involved with the Hayden volleyball program for more than a decade, as a 2008 graduate who helped the Wildcats to their first Class 4A state title as an All-State player in 2007 she always kept track of how things were going for her alma mater.
 
So it pained her to see the program go from being one of the state’s top powerhouses, in any classification, winning four state titles in a five-year span from 2015-19, to one that ran through three coaches in a three-year span and went from being a state contender to a bit of an also-ran with three straight seasons of 11 wins or fewer.
 
“I am such a competitor and I love volleyball and I love the school so much, so seeing their struggles really hurt me,” she said. “I said, ‘All right, we’ve got to get that thing turned back around.’”
 
Taking over as a counselor at the school in early 2023, McGreevy also stepped in and took over the program she so dearly loved, determined to bring Hayden back to volleyball prominence. After taking a small step with a 15-23 mark in her first season in 2023, McGreevy has done just that.
 
Hayden jumped to a 32-12 mark last season and returned to the Class 4A state tournament for the first time since winning the 2019 title. The Wildcats wound up placing third, falling to Rock Creek in a three-set semifinal before beating McPherson in the third-place match.
 
This season, the sights are set even higher. After fighting off a tough Eudora team 25-23, 24-26, 25-20 in Saturday’s sub-state championship, the Wildcats return to Hutchinson looking to add a sixth state title for the program.
 
“Hayden volleyball tradition when I was here was winning,” McGreevy said. “That’s what we wanted to get back to. It’s working hard, being gritty and going after state championships. When I started, that was the goal and I know that’s the mentality these girls have. We’re all on the same page.
 
“It showed today on the floor. They stuck together and that was a really good team we beat.”
 
Last season’s breakthrough not only coincided with McGreevy providing some consistency after the Wildcats had had three different head coaches in three straight seasons, but also with the arrival of some impact newcomers. Reagan McGivern transferred in after helping Seaman capture the Class 5A state title in 2023 and freshmen Hailey Schmidtlein and Blakely Walter burst onto the scene with Walter the daughter of former Wildcat coach Jesica Farmer-Walter, who led the Wildcats to all five of their state championships.
 
McGivern was only there for last season, taking her talents to Villanova, but Schmidtlein and Walter have become the backbone of the team with Schmidtlein the Wildcats’ leading hitter and Walter running things as the team’s setter.
 
Returning veterans such as seniors Ella Foster (libero) and Reese Huscher (outside hitter) and junior Mallory Tanking (outside/middle hitter) have flourished in complementary roles as the Wildcats have once again become a contender.
 
Hayden very much had the look as perhaps the favorite in Class 4A this season as the Wildcats rose to No. 1 in the Kansas Volleyball Association rankings early in the season, starting the year with 15 straight wins. Included in that run was Hayden’s first win over Centennial League rival Washburn Rural in several years and a win over Class 6A state tournament qualifier Manhattan, as well as titles at the De Soto Spikefest and Baldwin Invitational.
 
That roll came to a screeching halt, however. Starting with a night where the Wildcats were swept by league foes Manhattan and Emporia, Hayden hit a stretch where it lost five of six matches and eight of 14. That included a 1-3 showing at the Seaman Invitational and though all three losses at that tourney came to eventual state qualifying teams Maize South, Lansing and Bishop Miege, the outing caused the Wildcats to somewhat hit a reset button on the season.
 
“Sometimes in sports, and especially with volleyball, it’s momentum,” McGreevy said. “We were dealing with some injuries and we were just a little bit off. But I told the girls, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. If we can be peaking toward the end, great things can happen.
 
“Great teams, they adjust. We had a funk we were in but we got back into practice, broke it back down to basics and got the right mind set we needed.”
 
After a loss to 5A state qualifier St. Thomas Aquinas on Oct. 9 dropped the Wildcats to 21-8, they’ve lost just once – a three-set match to two-time reigning Class 6A state champion Mill Valley and have won eight of their last nine matches.
 
At 29-9, the Wildcats will be the No. 6 seed at state and are in the same pool as Clay Center (38-2), McPherson (34-5) and Buhler (15-22).
 
Spurred by the confidence of last year’s state showing, the Wildcats are a confident bunch going back to Hutchinson for the start of pool play on Friday.
 
“Corrinne’s come in and really flipped the program,” Foster said. “She’s done a great job of working us and getting us back in a rhythm and finding that fight. In the long run, the bump that we hit will be so much better for us at state. We know how to get through adversity and just fight when it matters most.
 
“Last year we were so close. But this year is the year and I know we can do it.”

Andale (31-1) is the No. 1 seed in the 4A state tournament this year while Rock Creek (32-6), Paola (26-8) and Bishop Miege (9-26) round out that pool. Miege is the three-time defending state champion while Rock Creek was runner-up a year ago.


CLASS 3A

At Hutchinson Sports Arena
 

HESSTON EXTENDS FIRST SEASON UNDER 2-TIME NJCAA CHAMP DOWNING
 
Believing something can happen and being surprised it did are concepts that can co-exist even if they seem contradictory.
 
At least that’s what the Hesston Swathers found themselves processing Saturday after earning their first state volleyball tournament berth in seven years.
 
“I definitely was surprised and I think the whole team was,” Hesston senior libero Callie Yoder said after the Swathers defeated Garden Plain 25-14, 23-25, 25-21 to win the Class 3A sub-state at Halstead. “Going into it knowing Halstead had won state (last year) and only lost one player, we were pretty hyped for them to go out first.”
 
After Garden Plain knocked off the top-seeded Dragons 25-19, 25-23 in the first semifinal, Hesston eliminated Burlington 25-19, 25-21. The Swathers then avenged a regular-season loss to the Owls to advance to state with a 26-12 record.
 
In doing so, Hesston prolonged a transitional season under head coach Delice Downing. Downing, an Atchison native who won two National Junior College Athletic Association titles at Coffeyville before a five-year run at Hutchinson Community College, is in her first year with the Swathers after replacing longtime coach Jason Peters.
 
“It’s been challenging at times but it’s been rewarding more than anything,” said Downing, who won more than 500 matches in 20 years with the two Jayhawk Conference programs. “I love a group of girls that are hungry and want to learn more and willing to change.”
 
With just three seniors on their state roster, the Swathers aren’t a particularly veteran squad. But there was enough playing experience under Peters, who notched his 500^th career victory last season, for some concern.
 
“I was skeptical to begin with, with it being my senior year and having a new coach,” said Yoder, an All-Central Kansas League honorable mention selection last season who surpassed 1,000 career digs this fall. “I was worried about having to adjust, but I’ve definitely learned so much more in my last year with her. It’s been a lot of fun. I’ve really enjoyed it.”
 
With Downing’s children active in competitive athletics, high school coaching has afforded her a little more time, though she missed several matches at Hutchinson High School, where her daughter, Aah’lice Jackson, recently completed her freshman volleyball season. Downing has overseen the development of 40 players who compete on four teams at Hesston.
 
“It just started with the seniors, especially,” Downing said. “They’ve been doing it the same way for years and now they’ve got a new coach and they’ve had to completely change their defense, change some of their platforms, some of their approaches. They’ve adjusted and they’ve done it well.
 
“Having four teams, they’ve been working and growing and learning and getting better.”
 
Hesston’s varsity hit the ground running, winning the CKL Pre-season Volleyball Tournament. The Swathers’ final two victories came against Halstead in three sets and Class 2A state qualifier Hillsboro, which had defeated Hesston earlier in the day in pool play.
 
“With our new coach, it was definitely a good boost for us and for other teams to open their eyes to see that we’re coming back and we’re ready,” said Yoder, who helped Hesston finish 26-13 and reach the sub-state finals a year ago.
 
While last year’s team leaned heavily on All-Class 3A second-team outside hitter Kendal Brueggen, the Swathers have found balance in their offense this season. Sophomore Kylie Warden leads Hesston with 246 kills, while senior Cecil Williams and sophomores Jacy Proctor and Maci Rhodes all have between 155 and 170.
 
A midseason injury to the left-handed hitting Rhodes disrupted Hesston’s production, Downing said, leading to a stretch where losses piled up. But the Swathers are healthy for their first trip to state since finishing fourth in 3A in 2018.
 
“It’s not one hitter,” Downing said. “We’ve got four coming at you at one time. My offensive scheme is we want more hitters than blockers at all times so even when our setter is front row, we still have a hitter coming out of the back row, ready to score. The girls have been really receptive to that.”
 
Hesston will open pool play Thursday against top-seeded Silver Lake, which is 41-1 and on a 32-match winning streak. The Swathers also face Wichita Trinity, which has defeated them twice this season, and Ellsworth.
 
Like their sub-state run, it might require a little believing – and the element of surprise.
 
“We obviously have to play the No. 1 seed, which is tough,” Yoder said. “But also, we can beat any team going in, I feel like. I don’t think anyone expected us to be here and so there’s probably that mindset out there that we’re not as good as we are. I’m excited to prove them all wrong.”
 

CLASS 2A

At United Wireless Arena, Dodge City
 

OAKLEY PERSEVERES THROUGH 'CRAZY' INJURY ISSUES 

At this point, Oakley coach Lindsay Hodges can only laugh at the injury absurdity the Plainsmen have experienced this season. 

Oakley saw two key players suffer season-ending injuries early on, with two other players missing time later in the season. 

“You can add me to the injured list now,” Hodges said. 

A day after Oakley captured the sub-state championship in Medicine Lodge, Hodges blew out her knee during a pickup volleyball game on Sunday. She suspects she suffered ligament damage that could require surgery. 

But that’s a problem for next week. 

Hodges’ current focus is helping Oakley cap a tremendous season with a run in the 2A state tournament at Dodge City. 

She’ll be one of three members of the Plainsmen on crutches on the sideline, along with Jade Beckman and Jayde Kahle, who both suffered season-ending injuries. 

“I told the girls, ‘Better me than another one of you,’ ” Hodges said of her recent mishap. “All any of us can do at this point is just laugh at it, because it’s crazy. You can’t make any of it up.”

Kahle, who was going to be Oakley’s starting middle hitter, broke her ankle in practice right after Oakley’s jamboree. Beckman, one of the top players in western Kansas, tore her ACL just six matches into her senior season. 

Then, Alexa Weiser, a standout sophomore, was sidelined for three weeks after suffering a high-ankle sprain in an early-season tournament at WaKeeney. 

Through it all, Oakley won its first 31 matches of the season. 

“We continued to find a way to win,” Hodges said. “It wasn’t always very pretty, but the girls really showed their grit and determination. Nothing has come easy. They’ve truly persevered with each other.”

Just when Oakley was getting continuity in its lineup, the Plainsmen had one more injury hurdle to overcome when Breckyn Selensky, a key freshman contributor, suffered a sprained ankle that sidelined her for the Mid-Continent League tournament, where the Plainsmen took two losses. 

By sub-state, Oakley was able to go back to its normal rotation and turn in a strong performance, advancing to state for the second straight season after beating Medicine Lodge 15-25, 25-19, 25-19 in the sub-state final. The Plainsmen will take a 36-4 record into state. 

Hodges credited the versatility and the unselfishness of her team, with several players shuffling around to different positions throughout the season. 

“Everybody’s role brings this team together, and that’s our strength,” Hodges said. 

Weiser leads the team in kills with 350 and also has 291 assists and 63 aces, despite missing several matches with the injury. 

“She’s a force to be reckoned with,” Hodges said. “She sees the floor really well, and she has remarkable hands. She’s a very skilled, high-level player.”

Libero Mary Carman has 501 digs and is just 76 away from 1,500 in her career.  Brynn Johnson has recorded 257 kills and 30 blocks, while Kylee Hodges has added 124 kills, 353 digs and 35 aces. Jocelyn Ritter leads the team with 545 assists and has 32 aces, and Madeline Crotts has 124 kills and 36 blocks. Payton Kuhlman has also been a valuable piece for the Plainsmen, playing multiple positions, and Selensky has answered the call after being pressed into action due to the early-season injuries. 

In her first season as head coach last year, Hodges guided the Plainsmen to their first state tournament appearance since 2006. The Plainsmen went 0-3 at state, leaving them hungry to reach the next level this year. 

“It was an incredible experience to make it last year, but they were disappointed we didn’t win a game,” Hodges said. “That’s what they’ve had their eyes on this entire season. We wanted to go back, but we want to win games at state.”

Oakley will play Valley Heights, Conway Springs and Jefferson County North in pool play. 

On the other side, Ellinwood is the top seed with a 42-0 record. The Eagles will see Rossville, Humboldt and Hillsboro in their pool.
CLASS 1A DIVISION I

At United Wireless Arena, Dodge City
 

QUINTER ENJOYS TURNAROUND SEASON, FIRST STATE TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE SINCE 2002 

Katie Blackwill’s first priority was instilling belief and confidence in the Quinter Bulldogs. 

Blackwill returned as head coach this season after previously coaching from 2009-15 before taking time off to raise her family. 

She inherited a team that was coming off a 10-win season in 2024. 

“Just buy into my program,” Blackwill said of her initial message. “At our meeting I said, ‘I expect us to be at that state tournament, and that should be the goal you have. We're gonna work hard and we're gonna achieve that goal.’ 

“The whole season, we just kept believing and didn't quit.”

Not even when their backs were against the wall. 

Quinter found itself on the brink of elimination in Saturday’s home sub-state final against Oberlin, trailing 23-19 in the second set after dropping the first. 

The Bulldogs responded by winning the next six points to force a third set. Quinter and Oberlin were locked at 22 in the third set before the Bulldogs won three of the next four points to secure their first state tournament appearance since 2002. 

The Bulldogs (28-10) had gone 1-2 in the regular season against Oberlin.

“We took the focus off it being a sub-state championship, but just getting revenge because our last game with Oberlin, they beat us,” Blackwill said. “And so I said, ‘Let's get revenge today.’ ”
 
In the decisive set, junior Kamry Getz came up with a big block to break the 22-all tie. 

“When Kamry went in, I looked at her and I said, ‘Be a fire out there. We need somebody,’ ” Blackwill said. “You need somebody to inspire them. You get a big block or big kill, you just take the momentum and run with it. 
 
“I had girls come up huge off the bench. They were fired up, stepped up and made plays. It took every single one of us.”

Shaylee Baalman leads the Bulldogs with 231 kills and 156 blocks. She went over 300 solo blocks this season. Kendyl Johnson went over 1,000 career assists with 734 this season and she serves at 97%. Braelyn Blackwill has 221 kills, 48 aces and 365 digs, while Ka’Mara Harvey has recorded 181 kills and Getz has notched 109 blocks. Libero Blaire Beougher has a team-high 440 digs and also leads in aces with 61 and serve receptions with 957.

Middle hitter Lexi May, who has 117 blocks, will miss the state tournament after suffering an injury at sub-state. 

No. 7-seeded Quinter will meet South Gray, Spearville and Greeley County in Thursday’s pool play at Dodge City’s United Wireless Arena. 

“I'm just so thankful for having the opportunity to be with these girls, and I'm so thankful for them and their commitment and their fire, desire and dedication,” Blackwill said. “We just need to take care of business on our side. Keep fighting, don't give up and compete.”

Three-time reigning state champion Little River enters with a 39-2 record, with both losses coming against undefeated Ellinwood, the top seed in 2A. The Redskins will face Frankfort, Goessel and Centralia in pool play.
CLASS 1A DIVISION II

At White Auditorium, Emporia
 

NEVER-SAY-DIE ATTITUDE PROPELS VICTORIA BACK TO STATE 

It took Sarah Nuss a couple days to process what transpired in the late stages of Saturday’s sub-state title match. 

It was no surprise when the Victoria Knights punched another ticket to state, but the way they did it was unlike anything Nuss had witnessed in her 10 years as Victoria's coach.

Victoria trailed Wheatland-Grinnell 24-19 in the third set before staving off five consecutive match points and ultimately pulling out a 28-26 win to claim its second straight state tournament berth. 

“This one holds a special place in my heart because of what they came back from,” said Nuss, who has guided the Knights to five state appearances in her decade as Victoria coach. “The next day, I’m like, ‘I’m not sure if this has still sunk in that they pulled this off.’ ”

Nuss said the team's scrappiness has impressed her all season, but they took it to an extreme level after coming back from the brink of elimination against a perennial power in Wheatland-Grinnell. 

“They fight for every point until the whistle blows,” Nuss said. “Sometimes I have to tell them, ‘No,’ because they’re running 100 miles an hour into a brick wall.”

After the Knights fell behind 24-19 in the decisive set, Nuss said the Knights were all over the floor keeping plays alive. 

“I hollered at them and said ‘We are in cooperative team pepper,’ ” Nuss said. “It’s a drill where you don’t have to do anything fancy, you just have to keep it in play.”

Even after Victoria squared the match, they still had to fight off two more match points, not gaining the advantage until the Knights went up 27-26 before clinching the match for a 19-25, 25-22, 28-26 win on their home floor. 

“I had no words,” Nuss said. “The crowd, every single point they won, they got a little more excited, and the girls were feeding off that. 

“When we were all done. I told them, ‘I’m so stinkin’ proud of you. Not just because of the win, but that fight, that grit, that resilience are skills that are going to take you much further in life than the volleyball court.’ ”

Victoria (34-6) also had to rally in its sub-state opener, outlasting Wallace County 24-26, 25-21, 25-22.

The Knights play one of the tougher schedules of any team in Class 1A Division II. They went 0-3 against Central Prairie League juggernaut Ellinwood, which takes a 42-0 record in the Class 2A tournament. Victoria’s other losses came against St. John (twice) and Class 2A TMP-Marian. 

“[Ellinwood was] our last regular-season game,” Nuss said. “But when we were done, I told the girls, ‘There’s no better game to prepare us for postseason than what we just played. We’ll take our loss because we’re going to get better from it.' ”

The Knights have a balanced top-nine lineup with four seniors (Myah Younger, Emma Dinkel, Shelby Dorzweiler and Brinly Lichter), four sophomores (Lyla Rodger, Grace Younger, Addison VonLintel and Cidnee Werth) and one junior (Kaylee Kuhn).

“The sophomores don’t play like sophomores because they played as freshmen,” Nuss said. “I have a group of seniors that are just amazing leaders, which helps for the younger players to have people they can look up to.” 

VonLintel leads team in kills with 270 and also broke the school’s single-season blocks record with 73. Myah Younger has added 256 kills, while Dinkel has 183 and Grace Younger 115. Grace Younger also has 359 assists and Dinkel has 339.  Myah Younger broke the school record for digs and Dinkel broke the school record for assists, each going over 1,000 in those respective categories. Rodger has recorded 329 digs, and Grace Younger leads six Knights with at least 20 aces, having a team-high 61.

Victoria won the La Crosse/Otis-Bison and Ellis Tournament titles, beating 1A I qualifier Quinter in three sets in the finals at Ellis.

The 34 wins are the most for the program since it began in 1973. The Knights have six overall state appearances with their best finish a fourth-place showing in 2021. 

“Most of them have a year of state experience under their belt,” Nuss said. “It’s the same thing you’ve done all season. Yes, you’re at the state tournament and it feels different, but it’s not. Do what you’ve done all year. If there are nerves, usually that makes us play worse. But if we’re excited, that makes us play better.”

Victoria will face Hanover, Axtell and Marais des Cygnes Valley in pool play on Friday. The other pool features Ingalls, Bucklin, Linn and Dighton. 

A sub-plot of the 1A Division II tournament is Ingalls senior Olivia Stein’s pursuit to become the state’s all-time kills leader. Stein currently ranks No. 2 in state history in kills with 2,548, just 87 shy of the state record of 2,635 set by Hutchinson Central Christian’s Jamie Patrick from 2008-11. 

Stein has 616 kills on the season, averaging 7.3 per set for the 35-5 Bulldogs.