By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
A season, maybe even a summer, of hard work is paying off for several area athletes as state volleyball and cross country championships take place today across the state. Leading the charge, the Ellinwood High School volleyball team is a favorite to repeat as Class 2A champion after extending its nation-best winning streak to 92 games Thursday in Salina.
Ellinwood moved to 45-0 this season with a 3-0 run Thursday in pool action. The Eagles defeated Rossville, Wabaunsee, and St. Mary's Colgan, all in straight sets Thursday. As the No. 1 seed, Ellinwood will play No. 7 seed TMP in Saturday's 9 a.m. semifinal at the Tony's Pizza Events Center. The winner will play No. 2 Moundridge or No. 8 Rossville in the championship match at approximately 10:30 a.m.
Also in Salina, Little River is still in the mix for a fifth-straight state title in the Class 1A, Div. I bracket. As the No. 5 seed, the Redskins went 2-1 in pool play with wins against Goessel and St. John, and a 2-set loss to state rival Centralia. Little River plays No. 3 seed Linn in the 1 p.m. semifinals at the Tony's Events Pizza Center. No. 1 Centralia and No. 7 Blue Valley play in the other semifinal. St. John, as the No. 8 seed, did not advance out of pool play.
In Overland Park, everything came down to the final pool match of the day as No. 1 seed Great Bend played No. 4 seed Lansing. No. 5 seed Maize South went 3-0 on the day to secure its spot in the state semifinals. Great Bend fell to Blue Valley Southwest a 25-13, 13-25, 25-20, then lost in straight sets to Maize South.
The Panthers led Lansing 16-14 in the third set, bumping the lead to 19-14. A big dig from Kya Behr went over the net for a 22-15 Panther lead. With a tiebreaker looming, every point counted, and the Lions battled back to 22-20. Alex Mayers halted the run for a 23-20 Great Bend lead. The Panthers were a point away from a win before Lansing battled back to a 24-23 score. Stevie Mayers ended a long rally with a block to secure the win 25-23.
Despite the win, Lansing advanced to Saturday's semifinal match against St. Thomas Aquinas.
CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Class 5A @ Rim Rock
The Great Bend girls will run as a team at 12:20 p.m. at Rim Rock Farm just outside of Lawrence. Brogan Lashley will be the lone Panther representative in his race at 10:35 a.m.
Class 3A @ Rim Rock
The Ellsworth girls will as a team at Rim Rock Farm beginning at 11:10 a.m. Hoisington senior Tristin Compton and freshman Jensynn Williams will also run in that race, as will Russell junior Averie County. Hoisington senior Brody Rossman and Russell freshman Adam Hoch will represent their schools in the boy's race at 12:55 p.m.
Class 2A @Wamego Golf Course
The Ellinwood girls will run as a team in Wamego at 12:20 p.m.. Senior Ryan Pohlman and sophomore Caleb Herrman will run in the boy's race at 10:35 a.m.
Class 1A @Wamego Golf Course
The boy's race will include the St. John boys running as a team, as well as Central Plains sophomore Jayden Stiles and Stafford senior Joel Valadez at 12:55 p.m. The girl's race will feature Macksville junior Kennedy Butler at 11:10 a.m.