Lady Beaver volleyball falls shy of sub-state final; TMP-Marian sub-state champions

Hays, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Scott City knew that to have a chance to get to the state volleyball tournament, they were going to have to play their best volleyball of the season. With six teams that had winning records, the road to Emporia was going to be tough. It proved to be just that. Unfortunately for the Lady Beavers, their run came to a halt in the semi-final round, where they played their best match of the season, dropping the third set to Colby 25-22 in a thriller at Al Billinger Fieldhouse.

TMP-Marian would go on to win the sub-state, sweeping Colby.

The first match of the day saw Scott City take on a much improved Norton team. They trailed 7-6 in the first set, and took control of the set quickly with a 13-0 run to go up 20-7. Norton would battle back getting to within 20-11, only to see the Lady Beavers close the set out on a 5-2 run to win the first set 25-13. The Lady Beavers would stumble in the second set. Norton started out with an 8-0 lead and led 12-4. Scott City was only able to pull to within 12-9 before the Lady Bluejays coasted to a 25-15 win, setting up a third and final set. In the third set, the Lady Beavers started out on a 9-2 run, and would grow their lead to 18-11, and eventually to 24-16, before winning the set and match 25-20, advancing to the semi-final round.

In the semi-final round, Scott City would meet up with Colby for the fifth and final time of the year. Both teams won two matches in the first four matchups, so it was only fitting that the fifth time would go to three sets. It felt like a throwback match between the two schools from the past decade when they were competing at the Class 4A level. The Lady Beavers were up early in the opening set, but gave up six straight points to trail 11-6 midway through. They would rally and eventually tie the set up at 18, only to see the Lady Eagles take a 20-18 lead. Scott City would then close out the set on a 7-0 run to win 25-20. In the second set, the Lady Beavers went up early 4-2, only to see Colby use an 8-2 run, and eventually take a 20-13 lead. The Lady Beavers were able to close the gap to 20-19, but were unable to get over the hump, dropping the set 25-22. Scott City had all the momentum in the middle of the third set with an 8-1 run to go up 14-7. When it looked like the Lady Beavers were going to advance to the championship match, Colby came back in a fury. A 10-2 run gave the Lady Eagles a 17-16 lead. Both teams would trade leads late, but in the end it was Colby that would advance to the sub-state championship match with a 25-22 set three victory.

Scott City finished their year out at 25-13, ending the careers of four seniors in Jalynn Habiger, Bailey Latta, Macie Price and Emily Smith.

TMP-Marian advanced to the Class 3A State Tournament in Emporia on Friday morning. They are the top seed with a 38-2 record, and will face Wellsville at 9:30, Beloit at 11:30 and Cheney at 1:30.

Scores
Quarterfinals
TMP-Marian def Goodland 25-18, 25-9; Lakin def Cimarron 25-21, 25-17; Scott City def Norton 25-13, 15-25, 25-20; Colby def Phillipsburg 25-20, 25-22

Semi-Finals
TMP-Marian def Lakin 25-18, 25-20; Colby def Scott City 20-25, 25-22, 25-22

Championship
TMP-Marian def Colby 25-13, 25-23

Scott City Coach Shelby Kite