Young Scott City volleyball team struggles in Hays
Hays, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–In perhaps the deepest field that the Maroon & Gold Invitational in Hays has produced, the Scott City Lady Beaver volleyball team faced a tough challenge on Saturday at Hays High School. It would be a tough day overall, as the Lady Beavers would drop five matches during the day.
In their tournament opener against Salina South, Scott City hung tough early in the opening set. The Lady Cougars led 10-8, when they used a 7-3 rally to take a 17-11 lead. Scott City rallied back to within 18-15, but the Lady Cougars closed out the set with seven of the final 11 points to win 25-19. Salina South jumped out to a 7-2 lead early in the second set. Out of a timeout, the Lady Beavers scored the next three points, only to see the Lady Cougars counter with four straight. After Scott City pulled to within 15-11, Salina South closed the set and match with a 10-2 run to win the set 25-13, and the match 25-19, 25-13. Hannah Tucker had three kills, while Dayanara Castillo and Megan Trout had two kills.
Their second match in pool play would see them face Hays High. It was a match that saw 18 ties and 14 lead changes. Hays jumped out to a 6-2 lead, only to see the Lady Beavers slowly work their way back into the opening set. Trailing 12-9, Scott City rallied with seven consecutive points to take a 16-12 lead. The Lady Indians responded with five straight to retake the lead 17-16. Scott City held a 20-19 lead when Hays closed out the set with six of the final seven points to take the opening set 25-21. To begin set two, the Lady Indians carried the early momentum, taking an 8-2 lead. The Lady Beavers would come back with six of the next seven to pull to within one. Trailing 11-8 Scott City orchestrated an 8-2 run to lead 16-13, forcing Hays into their final timeout. The set would go back and forth, and eventually go to extra points. The Lady Beavers had set point at 25-24, but couldn’t get the final point. Hays would go on to have set point at 26, 27 and 28, before eventually winning 29-27, and sweeping the match 25-21, 29-27. Brooke Strine had four kills and two block points for Scott City.
A quick turnaround saw the Lady Beavers wrap up pool play with the No. 4 team in Class 3A, and last year’s fourth place finisher in 3A in Beloit. Scott City held their ground early in the first set, tying the set three times. After it was tied at six, the Lady Trojans went on a tear, scoring 11 of the next 13 points of the set to take a 17-7 lead. After that, it was played fairly even, as Beloit took set one 25-14. The Lady Beavers scored the first point of set two, and saw Beloit take full control early on with a 13-3 run. Scott City fought back however, using a 6-2 run to get to within 15-10 midway through the second set. The Lady Trojans would close out the set and match with a 10-1 run to take the set 25-11, and the match 25-14, 25-11. Brooke Strine, Avery Lewis and Megan Trout had two kills each, and Hannah Tucker had two service aces.
In bracket play, Scott City would take on TMP-Marian. The Lady Monarchs would never trail in the match, as they opened up a 13-4 set one lead, and coasted to the 25-13 victory. TMP opened up a 7-1 second set lead, and the Lady Beavers were only able to pull to within four early on at 8-4. Trailing 14-5, Scott City scored four of the next five points to get to within 15-9, but the Lady Monarchs responded with four straight. The Lady Beavers played even the rest of the way, but it was too much of a deficit to overcome, as TMP-Marian took the set with a 25-15 win, and the match 25-13, 25-15.
The final match of the day paired two teams that will see plenty of each other during the season, as Scott City and Colby were both looking for their first win of the day. Both sets would go down to the wire, as the match saw 20 ties and 11 lead changes throughout. In the opening set, neither side had a good rally, as the teams would trade points. Colby had 10 service errors, but the Lady Beavers were unable to capitalize on a run. Scott City trailed 22-18, and put together a 4-0 run to tie the set at 22 and 23, but the Lady Eagles scored the final two points to win the first set 25-23. The second set played fairly similar, as neither team led by more than three points throughout. Scott City took a 17-16 lead, when Colby responded with five straight to take a 21-18 lead. After that, the Lady Beavers could get no closer than two points the rest of the way, as the Lady Eagles took the second set 25-22, and the match 25-23, 25-22. Dayanara Castillo had five kills to lead Scott City.
Olathe West took the tournament title for the second straight year, as they knocked off tournament newcomer Maize South in the championship in straight sets. The Lady Owls also beat preseason No. 4 in Class 5A Maize South in pool play to win their pool. Beloit defeated Salina South in the third place match and Hays knocked off TMP-Marian in the fifth place match.
At 2-5 on the season, Scott City will have their home opener on Thursday against Goodland and Wichita County.
Coach Lauren Robinson
