Lady Beaver volleyball finishes as sub-state runner up

Colby, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Saturday’s Class 3A Sub-State Tournament at Colby High School turned out to be a competitive tournament, as the final three matches would go to three sets. As the top seed, the Lady Beavers would make their way to the finals, having their first two matches against familiar foes, and a new opponent in the finals. Scott City’s bid for a state tournament berth fell short, as Phillipsburg takes the sub-state title with a 25-18, 23-25, 25-17 win in the finals.

In their first match of the day, they wouldn’t waste any time with Hugoton, defeating the Lady Eagles 25-9, 25-11.

Their semi-final match would be intense from start to finish. A match that saw 16 ties and nine lead changes saw a back and forth opening set. Colby would jump out to a 16-13 lead, but Scott City would come back with a big time run to close the first set, using a 12-1 run to end the first set with a 25-17 win. The Lady Beavers started out hot with a 4-0 lead and led 5-1, before the Lady Eagles made a huge run. An 8-1 run give Colby the 9-6 lead. Scott City couldn’t get any closer than one, and late in the second set, trailed 21-20, before the Lady Eagles scored four of the final points to force a third set with a 25-21 win. Colby started out the third set with the early lead, and took an 11-4 lead. The Lady Beavers would begin their first of two rallies in that set. A 7-1 run pulled them to within 12-11, and the Lady Eagles would push their lead to 19-14. That’s when something special took place for Scott City. When it looked like Colby was going to take a six-point lead, Kennedy Holstein would bump the ball from near the gym wall over the net into play on the third hit, and eventually, the Lady Beavers would get the point. That started a rally of eight straight to take a 22-19 lead. Scott City would have match point a 24-23, when the Lady Eagles tied it at 24. However the Lady Beavers would close it out with two straight points to defeat Colby for a fifth time this season 26-24. It was the third straight week that the two teams faced each other.

Onto the finals for Scott City, as they faced Phillipsburg for the first time this season. The Lady Beavers would score the first point in each set, but in the opening set, the Lady Panthers scored six straight, and Scott City would be playing catch up the whole set. Scott City pulled to within one point on three occasions midway through the first set, with the last at 15-14. Phillipsburg would take a 20-15 lead, and leading 20-18, they finished the set with the final five points to take a 25-18 win. The second set would be back and forth, as it saw 11 ties and eight lead changes. Phillipsburg led for most of the set, but Lady Beavers would rally and take leads of 11-9 and 15-12. After the Lady Panthers had a 17-15 lead, Scott City would retake the lead and closed the set on a 7-3 run after it was tied at 18, and took the second set with a 25-21 win. In the third set, the teams would exchange leads five times and would be tied in nine of the first 12 points. That’s when Phillipsburg would pull away. They pulled out to a four point lead, and leading 18-16, closed the set and match with a 7-1 run to qualify for the state tournament with a 25-17 third set win.

Scott City finishes their season at 33-4. Three seniors closed out their volleyball career, and were three-year contributors their record over that span was 84-28.

Sub-State Scores
First Round
Scott City def Hugoton 25-9, 25-11; Colby def Holcomb 25-16, 25-22; Lakin def Goodland 25-22, 25-20; Phillipsburg def Norton 25-23, 25-6
Semi-Finals
Scott City def Colby 25-17, 21-25, 26-24; Phillipsburg def Lakin 25-14, 23-25, 25-20
Championship
Phillipsburg def Scott City 25-18, 21-25, 25-17

Coach Shelby Kite