The Ellinwood Eagles volleyball team capped off a historic season with a fourth-place finish in the Class 2A State Tournament with a 42-5 record—the most wins in Ellinwood volleyball history. Their journey this season has set a new benchmark for excellence in the program and left the community proud of their hard work and accomplishments.
At the tournament in Dodge City, the Eagles demonstrated resilience, skill, and determination on the court. Coach Greg Maxwell reflected on the team’s performance and the lessons learned from the state tournament experience.
"The girls learned a valuable lesson today,” he said. “The state tournament experience is about consistency and making impact plays both days. They now understand the significance of finding championship mentality and strength for the duration of the tournament. The effort was there Saturday, but our execution and composure were impacted by Championship Saturday pressure and emotion. We will learn from it, build from the experience, and know how to better handle the entire experience moving forward.”
With their record-breaking season and an experience to build on, the Eagles have set the foundation for future success. This young team will return with a renewed perspective, ready to go even further next year. For now, they celebrate an unforgettable season and a well-earned place in Ellinwood Volleyball history.
Ellinwood loses just one senior to graduation in Kennedy Behnke, who led the squad with 278 kills, 116 blocks, and 65 aces heading into Saturday's fourth-place match against Inman. Juniors Kyndal Moore and Regan Widener added 250 and 224 kills, respectively, and freshman Mette Maxwell had 154 kills. Widener had 57 aces entering the Inman match, sophomore Alyvia Batchman had 48, and Maxwell and sophomore Bennett Jacobs each had 44. Widener and Moore both had more than 50 blocks. Jacobs led the team with 327 digs, and Batchman, Maxwell, and sophomore Reece Stickney each had nearly 200 digs. Maxwell and Batchman finish as the team's leading passers with 527 and 414 assists, respectively, heading into the Inman finale.