Lady Beaver volleyball goes 2-3 in Hays

Hays, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–The Scott City Lady Beaver volleyball team had a day of tests on Saturday at the Maroon And Gold Invitational at Hays High School. Seeing a variety of teams from Class 1A to 5A, the Lady Beavers saw some ups and downs, and came away with seventh place.

To open the day, Salina Central would be first team Scott City would face. The Lady Mustangs built a 10-1 lead early on, and the Lady Beavers had to play catch up from the get go. While they were able to get some mini runs throughout the opening set, Scott City wasn’t able to get any closer than four, and fell 25-21. It would be tight early in the second set, as there were eight ties and four lead changes early on. Trailing 14-13, the Lady Beavers put together a big run, closing the second set on a 12-1 run to take a 25-15 win and force a third set. The third set would be close throughout, with neither team building a bigger lead than three for a majority of it. After Salina Central pulled to within 16-15, Scott City took control with a 6-1 run to lead 22-16. The Lady Mustangs would make one late push before the Lady Beavers picked up the win 25-21 in set three. Kennedy Holstein had eight kills and Ella Rumford added five for Scott City.

Scott City moved into a new gym for their second match of the day against Buckin. The first set would see seven ties and four lead changes. After being tied at 18, the Lady Beavers scored six of the next eight points to get to set point at 24-20. However, the Lady Red Aces had something different in mind, scoring six straight to surprise Scott City with a 26-24 comeback win. Bucklin would lead early and for most of the first half of the second set, and led 12-11, before the Lady Beavers took charge with a 7-2 run to lead 19-13. Scott City eventually pulled away for a 25-18 victory, setting up their second consecutive three-set match of the day. The Lady Red Aces would come out with an early 7-1 surge, before the Lady Beavers slowly chipped away at the deficit. Scott City got it tied up at 14, before Buckin used a 9-1 run to lead 23-15. The Lady Beavers had one final surge, going on a 7-1 run, before the Lady Red Aces picked up the 25-22 victory. Ella Rumford had eight kills, and Brooklynne Zielke added four kills.

To wrap up pool play, Scott City would face Hays High. The Lady Beavers led early at 8-3, before the Lady Indians rallied to take a 16-11 lead, using a 13-3 run. It would be too much to overcome for Scott City and they couldn’t get any closer than four the rest of the first set, and fell 25-21. Hays trailed once in the second set at 4-3, and after they were tied at five, went on a 6-2 run. While it never got out of hand until the end, the Lady Beavers did pull to within 17-16, and after a Lady Indian timeout, Hays closed the match with an 8-2 run to take a 25-18 win. Kennedy Holstein led the way with four kills for Scott City.

Salina South would be the first opponent for the Lady Beavers in pool play. Scott City was slated fourth in their pool, due to losing the three-way tiebreaker in pool play with Bucklin and Salina Central. It would be a first set that would see a back and forth finish. The Lady Cougars built a 14-7 lead, using a 9-2 run. Scott City trailed 22-14 and scored nine straight to take the lead at 23-22. They would have their chances to take the opening set, with set point at 24 and 26, before falling in extra points 28-26. Salina South would break an eight-all tie in the second set in a big way, going on a 13-2 run to lead 21-10, before completing the sweep with a 25-14 victory. Kennedy Holstein had five service aces, four during their big run in the first set, to go along with three kills.

To end the day, it was a familiar foe for the Lady Beavers, as they faced Bucklin. Scott City would come out swinging early and often, and they saw their aggressiveness take over the match. They trailed early 4-1 in the first set and were tied at 10, before a 6-2 run put them up 16-12. The Lady Red Aces rallied to pull to within 18-7, before Scott City closed the door on the opening set with a 7-1 run to take the opening set 25-18. Bucklin led early in the second set 5-3, when the Lady Beavers strung together a 6-1 run to lead 9-6. They would never trail the rest of the match. Bucklin would get as close as 10-9, when Scott City four straight, and slowly pulled away for a 25-15 win to avenge a loss earlier in the day to the Lady Red Aces. Kennedy Holstein had 10 kills and three aces in the match,while Ella Rumford had four kills and an ace, and Brooke Hoeme added three kills.

TMP Marian would win the tournament over cross-town rival Hays High, winning the third set 25-23. Colby placed third, Salina Central fourth, Salina Central was fifth, Wheatland/Grinnell was sixth, Scott City came in seventh and Bucklin placed eighth in a competitive early season tournament. Ella Rumford was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Scott City is 4-3 on the year, and will next face Ulysses in a road dual at Ulysses on Tuesday, September 8.

Coach Shelby Kite