Central Prairie League members St. John and Otis-Bison qualified for their respective 1A volleyball state championships.
St. John (29-13) upset No. 1 seed Spearville, 25-15, 25-18 in the substate championship after beating Pretty Prairie, 25-20, 25-7. St. John captured state volleyball titles in 1993, 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Tigers contributing were Mia Meyer (1), Lily Brummer (2), Jalyn Fisher (3), Karly Rochenbach (5), Allison Lopez (7), Gentri Bright (9), Lydia Reed (11); Yanelly Acosta (12), Averi Fisher (20) and Jorja Blakeslee (23). The Tigers avenged a loss to Spearville 25-5, 17-25, 25-20 for a state volleyball berth in 2023.
"The girls played aggressive at the net," said St. John coach Trish Wade. "Lydia (Reed) and Mia (Meyer) got blocks and kept attacking," she said. "The girls kept attacking and kept their foot on the gas. We controlled the first pass, passed to our setter Gentri Bright and our hitters played aggressive and smart. Our dig percentage was good. We played with great energy."
All Central Prairie League 6-2 Reed is the Tigers' top hitter. Meyer is an all-around standout and Fisher has emerged as a outside hitting threat and high-level defender.
The Central Prairie League features four state qualifiers. The Tigers played state qualifiers Hoisington, Halstead, South Gray and Ingalls and multiple 3A and 2A schools.
"When we play the tougher teams, they play a powerful, aggressive net game," Wade said. "It's a faster pace with higher quality athletes. I like to see our girls step out of their comfort zone and play better volleyball than we've played. I enjoy seeing the girls rise to the occasion and come close to beating about every team. We beat Hoisington one set and Lydia Reed created issues with her blocks. Lydia is a game-changer who can alter the other team's hitters."
The tough competition makes the Tigers improve during a match.
"We've played high-quality teams that's good to see how our blockers adjust and see how we can attack the other team," she said.
St. John (29-13) is paired with Little River (35-6), South Gray (35-6) and Clifton-Clyde (24-15) at Dodge City Nov. 1.
OTIS -- Otis-Bison defeated Bucklin, 25-15, 25-20 in the substate championship after the Cougars beat Hodgeman County, 25-20, 25-12 in the semifinals. Bucklin defeated Pawnee Heights, 25-11, 21-25, 25-20 in the semifinals. The Cougars qualified for 1A state in 2020.
"We played really well Saturday," said Otis-Bison coach Janelle Maier. "It's great to see the girls come together with their common goal. It made it a lot of fun. We had contributions from all our players. Kudos to the Central Prairie League. Our league has always been tough. We have been fortunate in that aspect because the tougher the competition the better we get."
Destiny Mitchell sparks the Cougars with winners and served received. Emma Bahr leads in assists and contributes digs and serves. Zoey Schwindt contributed winners and serves received. Other contributors are Briana Croisant, assists, digs and serves; Lily Schwindt, blocks and winners; Grace Smith, digs and serves received; Allie Smith, blocks.
Other squad members are Jade Holman, Madyson Chapman, Shaelyn Richmeier, Brooklyn Roth and Marissa Pechanec. Senior hitter Kaylee Ficken is sidelined with a severe ankle injury.
Otis-Bison (25-14) is paired with Ingalls (35-3), Victoria (26-14) and Lebo (39-3) in pool play at Emporia Nov. 1.
COLDWATER — St. John downed top-seed South Central 25-17, 25-22 to earn a substate berth at Spearville Saturday.
OTIS — The Otis-Bison Cougars (22-14) earned a home Div. 2 substate against Hodgeman County (12-21) with Bucklin (19-16) playing Pawnee Heights (12-20) in the second match. The Cougars downed Minneola, 25-6, 25-15 in the championship match.
SPEARVILLE — Macksville downed Fairfield 25-17, 25-16 to earn a spot in Saturday's Montezuma substate.
1A DIV. 1 STATE DODGE CITY
POOL PLAY 1—Centralia 34-7 vs. Tribune Greeley County 28-9, 3:30; Flinthills 37-2 vs. St. Francis 24-16; Centralia vs. St. Francis; Flinthills vs. Greeley County; Greeley County vs. St. Francis; Flinthills vs. Centralia
POOL PLAY 2—Little River 35-6 vs. St. John 29-13, 3:30; South Gray 35-6 vs. Clifton-Clyde 24-15; Little River vs. Clifton Clyde; South Gray vs. St. John; St. John vs. Clifton-Clyde; South Gray vs. Little River
SPEARVILLE—CHAMPIONSHIP—St. John def. Spearville, 25-15, 25-18; Spearville def. Meade, 25-20, 25-19; St. John def. Pretty Prairie, 25-20, 25-7
MONTEZUMA—CHAMPIONSHIP—South Gray def. Skyline, 21-25, 25-15, 29-27; South Gray def. Macksville, 25-18, 25-17; Skyline def. South Central, 25-16, 25-15
1A DIV. 1 REGIONALS
SPEARVILLE—Spearville def. Fairfield, 25-7, 25-11; Macksville def. Fairfield, 25-17, 25-16; Spearville def. Macksville, 25-9, 25-5
MONTEZUMA—South Gray def. Kiowa County, 25-12, 25-13; Meade def. Kiowa County, 25-17, 25-15; South Gray def. Meade, 25-18, 25-17
COLDWATER—St. John def. South Central, 25-17, 25-22; St. John def. Ashland, 25-10, 25-14; South Central def. Ashland, 25-17, 25-12
PRATT—Skyline def. Elkhart, 25-6, 25-6; Pretty Prairie def. Kinsley, 25-9, 25-14; Skyline def. Kinsley, 25-9, 25-14; Pretty Prairie def. Elkhart, 25-10, 25-10; Skyline def. Pretty Prairie, 25-14, 16-25, 25-22; Kinsley def. Elkhart, 25-18, 25-14
1A DIV. 1 SUBSTATES 10-26
MANKATO—CHAMPIONSHIP—St. Francis def. Rock Hills, 27-25, 21-25, 28-26; Rock Hills def. Osborne, 25-12, 15-25, 25-11; St. Francis def. Ellis, 25-18, 19-25, 25-17
TRIBUNE—CHAMPIONSHIP—Greeley County def. Rawlins County, 25-19, 25-20; Stockton def. Ness City, 25-19, 25-20
1A DIV. 1 REGIONALS
MANKATO—Rock Hills def. Oberlin, 25-17, 25-11; Rawlins County def. Oberlin, 25-21, 22-25, 25-19; Rock Hills def. Rawlins County, 25-22, 25-9
TRIBUNE—Greeley County def. Central Plains, 25-10, 25-14; Osborne def. Central Plains, 25-21, 25-23; Greeley County def. Osborne, 25-23, 25-14
STOCKTON—Stockton def. Lakeside, 25-12, 25-9; Ellis def. Lakeside, 25-13, 25-5; Stockton def. Ellis, 25-16, 23-25, 25-23
WAKEENEY—Ness City def. La Crosse, 25-14, 25-15; Quinter def. St. Francis, 25-15, 25-17; Ness City def. Quinter, 20-25, 25-20, 25-19; St. Francis def. La Crosse, 25-13, 25-16; St. Francis def. Ness City, 26-24, 25-23; La Crosse def. Quinter, 25-19, 25-23
1A DIV. 2 EAST
LINN—Linn (20-15) def. Burrton, 25-4, 25-4; Axtell def. Chase, 25-4, 25-12; Linn def. Chase, 25-5, 25-7; Axtell def. Burrton, 25-5, 25-5; Linn def. Axtell, 25-20, 16-25, 25-15; Chase def. Burrton, 25-8, 25-9
OTIS -- Otis-Bison defeated Bucklin, 25-15, 25-20 in the substate championship after the Cougars beat Hodgeman County, 25-20, 25-12 in the semifinals. Bucklin defeated Pawnee Heights, 25-11, 21-25, 25-20 in the semifinals. The Cougars qualified for 1A state in 2020.
"We played really well Saturday," said Otis-Bison coach Janelle Maier. "It's great to see the girls come together with their common goal. It made it a lot of fun. We had contributions from all our players. Kudos to the Central Prairie League. Our league has always been tough. We have been fortunate in that aspect because the tougher the competition the better we get."
Destiny Mitchell sparks the Cougars with winners and served received. Emma Bahr leads in assists and contributes digs and serves. Zoey Schwindt contributed winners and serves received. Other contributors are Briana Croisant, assists, digs and serves; Lily Schwindt, blocks and winners; Grace Smith, digs and serves received; Allie Smith, blocks.
Other squad members are Jade Holman, Madyson Chapman, Shaelyn Richmeier, Brooklyn Roth and Marissa Pechanec. Senior hitter Kaylee Ficken is sidelined with a severe ankle injury.
Otis-Bison (25-14) is paired with Ingalls (35-3), Victoria (26-14) and Lebo (39-3) in pool play at Emporia Nov. 1.
1A DIV. 2 STATE EMPORIA
POOL PLAY 1—Argonia 38-6 vs. Wheatland 31-9, 10 a.m.; Hanover 37-1 vs. Linn 23-17; Argonia vs. Linn; Hanover vs. Wheatland; Linn vs. Wheatland; Hanover vs. Argonia
POOL PLAY 2—Ingalls 35-3 vs. Victoria 26-14, 10 a.m.; Lebo 39-3 vs. Otis-Bison 25-14; Ingalls vs. Otis-Bison; Lebo vs. Victoria; Victoria vs. Otis-Bison Lebo vs. Ingalls
OTIS—CHAMPIONSHIP—Otis-Bison def. Bucklin, 25-15, 25-20; Otis-Bison def. Hodgeman County, 25-20, 25-12; Bucklin def. Pawnee Heights, 25-11, 21-25, 25-20
VICTORIA—CHAMPIONSHIP—Victoria (25-14) def. Western Plains, 25-11, 25-11; Victoria def. Minneola, 25-16, 25-11; Western Plains def. Cunningham, 25-20, 25-20
1A DIV. 2 REGIONALS
OTIS—Otis-Bison def. Minneola, 25-6, 25-15; Minneola def. Logan-Palco, 25-22, 25-20; Otis-Bison def. Logan/Palco, 25-13, 25-12
VICTORIA—Victoria def. Thunder Ridge, 25-7, 25-4; Hodgeman County def. Thunder Ridge, 25-22, 25-10; Victoria def. Hodgeman County, 25-16, 25-8
RANSOM—Western Plains def. Stafford, 25-4, 27-25; Pawnee Heights def. Stafford, 25-13, 25-8; Western Plains def. Pawnee Heights, 23-25, 25-15, 25-14
BUCKLIN—Bucklin def. Northern Valley, 25-12, 25-13; Cunningham def. Natoma, 25-20, 25-5; Bucklin def. Natoma, 25-14, 25-14; Cunningham def. Northern Valley, 25-17, 23-25, 25-23; Bucklin def. Cunningham, 25-5, 25-23; Northern Valley def. Natoma, 25-21, 25-16
