Area Volleyball at state: South Gray runner-up in 1A, DI

Garden City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–The high school volleyball season in Kansas wrapped up on Friday and Saturday, as seven state champions were crowned. 

Just one area team earned a spot in Saturday’s bracket play. In Dodge City, the South Gray Lady Rebels earned a runner-up spot in Class 1A, Division I, as they fell to defending champion Little River. 

Garden City made the trip to Salina for the Class 6A State Tournament. The Lady Buffaloes went 0-3 in pool play, falling to Olathe Northwest 25-14, 25-9; Mill Valley 25-8, 25-20 and Manhattan 15-25, 26-24, 25-19. MIll Valley defeated Blue Valley North to win the state championship. Garden City closes their season at 25-16

In Class 1A, DI at the United Wireless Arena in Dodge City, two area schools were able to make up of the eight-team field. Spearville was in Pool II, and went 1-2 on the day. The Lady Lancers dropped their opening match to Clifton-Clyde 25-22, 21-25, 25-22, while they won their second match over Olpe 25-18, 19-25, 25-18, and lost to Little River 25-11, 24-26, 25-19. They ended their season at 30-10. 
South Gray would make their way to the finals. On  Friday, they would be upset by Rawlins County 25-21, 12-25, 25-21, but bounced back to defeat Central Christian from Wichita 25-12, 25-21, and Centralia 24-26, 25-23, 25-16. Saturday’s semi-finals saw them defeat Clifton-Clyde 25-21, 25-16, and fell to Little River in the championship match 25-15, 23-25, 25-7. The Lady Rebels finshed 41-3 on the season.

In Emporia at the Class 1A, Division II Tournament, Bucklin came in as the eighth seed, and would drop all three matches. The Lady Red Aces were defeated by Lebo 25-12, 25-17, Hanover 25-22, 25-18, and to Wheatland/Grinnell 24-26, 25-14, 25-13. Lebo would repeat as the state champions. Buckin closed their season out at 24-21.