By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Only one team in the state of Kansas remained unbeaten heading into state volleyball weekend. Ellinwood’s 42-0 record heading to the Class 2A State Championships in Dodge City was the culmination of years of program-building by Eagle coach Greg Maxwell. Saturday afternoon, his team reached the pinnacle, taking down Valley Heights 25-16, 25-21 to secure the school’s first state volleyball championship and a perfect 47-0 record.
"This is a milestone these kids have been dreaming of their entire careers," Maxwell said. "I remember them sitting in our gym when they were tiny. We talked about you're here to start your quest for a state championship. To see them accomplish it is what this is all about. I've wanted this so bad for them. This was our year, there's no doubt about it, but for them to be perfect is phenomenal."
Ellinwood broke a 21-year state drought under Maxwell in 2019. The next year, his team finished at 31-5 but was unable to compete in the sub-state finals due to COVID quarantine. The next season, and last fall, Maxwell led the Eagles to fourth-place finishes. This year’s squad pulled off the unthinkable with just two seniors in Kyndal Moore and Regan Widener.
"It's unreal," Moore said. "It's kind of hard to think about it right now. It just feels unreal and it's amazing."
Not that the road was easy. Throughout the season, Ellinwood handed Little River its only two losses of the season as the Redskins went on to claim a fourth-straight 1A, Div. I title in Saturday’s morning session in Dodge City. The Eagles also beat the likes of Hoisington, Ellsworth, and Hillsboro – all teams that played at state.
"We didn't really focus on the undefeated part," Maxwell said. "Obviously, there's a point in the season where we knew we had to be undefeated if we wanted to accomplish our goals. We didn't want to take any chances in pool play, drop one and not get to day two. At one point it became a reality but it was never the goal. The goal was a championship."
The Lady Eagles skated through Friday’s pool matches, winning three matches in six sets. Jefferson County North fared little better in Saturday’s semifinal as Ellinwood jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead with the help of a strong service from sophomore Mette Maxwell. The Lady Eagles advanced to the finals with a 25-10, 25-14 win against the Chargers.
Things continued to go well in set one against Valley Heights. Ellinwood built a 16-9 lead with four of those points against coming on mistakes. Junior Alyvia Batchman had a big block that led to a Widener kill, then Moore put down a block for a 19-10 lead. Ellinwood went on to take the set 25-16.
The Lady Eagles had to battle some adversity in the second set. With Mustang senior Ava Smith hitting from the left side, including three straight points, Valley Heights built a 9-3 lead. Coach Maxwell broke up the action with a timeout and reminded his team it only need to score a point to get Smith off the front line.
"That was the whole strategy was we had to get her into the back row," he said. "Nothing against the rest of their team - they're a very solid team - but she's elite. If you give a girl like that swings and we're not swinging it, you're going to be in trouble."
Batchman put down a block for the next point, then took over on serve. Widener returned up front to deliver a trio of kills to level the score at nine, then a big Batchman serve gave Ellinwood the lead at 10-9.
"We just have to focus and stay relaxed, don't be afraid and keep playing hard," Widener said. "That's how we worked our way back into it."
The teams battled from there. Valley Heights pulled ahead 15-14 with an ace, but the Eagles battled back with a kill by Batchman. They never trailed again. Batchman put down another block, and kills from Widener and sophomore Ayla Ritchie kept the gap at 21-19. Widener, still in the back row, came up with a pair of huge digs that led to a point and a 22-19 lead.
The Mustangs got as close as 22-21 on another ace but Maxwell staved off the comeback with a kill, then Moore poked over a soft hit to set up championship-point at 24-21.
Maxwell’s team did what few teams have ever done with a perfect season, but he knows the road does not have to end with success in 2025.
"The seniors were phenomenal this year from start to finish," he said. "They have been the reason we're standing where we are right now. We're not done. We have goals for multiple years of being in this situation and giving ourselves an opportunity."