Expectations are high for the Ellinwood Lady Eagle volleyball team this fall. After a fourth-place finish at the Class 2A state tournament last year, Ellinwood enters the new season ranked No. 3 behind Smith Center and Hillsboro. Tuesday night, the Lady Eagles opened the season by sweeping Wichita Independent in a best-of-five match 25-7, 25-11, 25-10.
Seniors Gabby Jacobs and Brittany Simpson combined for 25 kills in the win. Senior Bella Baker and sophomore Kennedy Behnke each added five kills. Jacobs, one of KSHSAA Covered's 25 Western Kansas Volleyball Players to Watch, led the service game with six aces. Baker and junior Caylee Rowan split another six aces. Baker accounted for 32 of the team's 38 assists in the sweep. Jacobs also paced the defense with nine digs, while Behnke and Rowan added seven and six respectively.
The test gets a little more difficult tonight as Ellinwood travels to Beloit to face the fourth-ranked Lady Trojans (3A). The teams will also play Ellsworth.