Kansas high school volleyball: Wichita North clinches first state berth in 20 years
For the first time in two decades, the Wichita North volleyball team will play in a Kansas high school state tournament.
The Redhawks were dominant on Saturday in their home regional, winning in straight sets over Campus (25-23, 25-20) and Maize (25-16, 25-22) to punch their ticket to the Class 6A state tournament for the first time since 2004.
After years of finishing near the bottom of the City League standings, North (30-8) is now projected to be the No. 5 seed at the 6A state tournament played at Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina from Nov. 1-2.
Coach by Jessica Keys, North has seen a resurgence this season led by seniors Tori Buss, Andrea Hernandez, Cora Daggett, Michela Baiano, Ytzel Grajeda-Del Rio and Valerie Ayala, as well as Ryann Daggett and Sydney Araiza.
Here are capsules on other Wichita-area volleyball teams that qualified for the state tournament this weekend.
Wichita-area high school volleyball state qualifiers
Andover (31-4) avenged one of its four losses this season by easily handling Bishop Carroll in a 25-17, 25-18 victory in a 5A regional championship match. The Trojans are back at the state tournament for the second straight year and fifth time in the last eight years, although they are looking for their first top-3 finish since 2004. Andover has been led this season by seniors Aliyah Green, Lauren Heinz, Kaitlyn Gordon, Alana Eilert, Erin Palyash and Bailey Wilson, as well as Camille Avila, Brooke Parham and Bella Bouddhara.
Argonia (38-6) is back at the Class 1A Division 2 state tournament for the second straight year after prevailing in a three-set thriller (23-25, 25-16, 25-23) against Attica in a regional final. Attica had won two of the three matches in the regular season before Argonia won the most important one. The Red Raiders have been led this season by Autumn Coleman, Tori Morrison, Lindsay Coleman, Lakelyn Love, Emmah Phillips, Kara Jones and Linden Greve.
Clearwater (33-4) was dominant in a 25-18, 25-10 regional final victory over Rose Hill to lock up its second straight bid to the 4A state tournament. Clearwater is looking for its first state trophy since a third-place finish in 4A Div. II in 2015. The team has been led this season by seniors Kenzy McArtor, Madison Williams, Kaylee Hampton, Autumn Chmieleski and Camryn Carlson, as well as Justine Berlin, Trista Welty, Madi Clevenger.
Flinthills (37-2) is back at the state tournament for the third time in the last five years, which included a state runner-up finish in 2022, following a 25-16, 25-12 win over Madison in a Class 1A Division 1 regional final. The Mustangs have been led by senior outside hitter Harlee Randall and senior setter Emily Scribner, as well as Alex Scribner, Yeva Taylor, Charli Bohnen, Adrienne Rodriguez, Brylee Heimgartner and Joliene Dragoo.
Halstead (38-2) continued its dream season with a dominant 25-16, 25-20 victory over Hesston in a 3A regional championship, as the Dragons punched their ticket to the state tournament for the first time since 1991. The team has been led this season by senior Dalaina Schutte, as well as Bailey Bernal, Katharine Engel, Jordy Schroeder, Piper Schroeder, Daynica Euwer and Annie Williams.
Inman (39-2) is back at the 2A state tournament for the third straight year after finishing fourth for two straight years. The Teutons had few issues dispatching Moundridge in the regional final in a 25-17, 25-17 victory, as they look for their first state trophy since winning first in 1994. Inman has been led by junior outside hitter Suttyn Harris, as well as Kenna Woods, Adi Alcala, Brooke Aden, Taylor Froese, Morgan Froese and Ellie Thimmesch.
Little River (35-6) is back in the Class 1A Division I state tournament for the fourth straight year and as the two-time defending state champion. Little River edged out Goessel, 25-21, 25-20, in a regional final and the team has been led this season by Arika Feldman, Adelynne Strecker, Havana Olander, Saelyn Raleigh, Evie Look, Avery Lafferty and Macy Schubert.
McPherson (24-15) had lost to Andale all three times this season, but won the match that mattered the most in a 25-23, 25-22 regional final on Andale’s home court. It snapped a run of six straight years of Andale not only reaching the state tournament, but also advancing to the semifinals. For McPherson, it’s the second straight state bid after finishing runner-up in 4A last season and the fourth state bid in the last five years. The Bullpups have been led this season by seniors Addison Chapman and Haely Hagemann as well as Brooke Doile, Ava Romero and Rylie Whitfield.
Sedgwick (36-5) broke through to the state tournament for the first time since 2005 and just the second time in program history. The Cardinals will look to win their first state match ever after prevailing in a three-set thriller (25-13, 16-25, 25-13) against Conway Springs in the regional final. Sedgwick has been led this season by junior outside hitter Kalyn Sampson, as well as Lauren McGinn, Katelyn Hansen, Gaby Petersen, Logan Budde, Alivia Burns and Ella Vondracek.
Wichita Central Christian (23-17) bounced back from a 7-11 start to the season to play its best volleyball in October, as the team is headed back to the 2A state tournament for the second straight year. The Lions will be in search of their first state victory in program history after topping Cherokee-Southeast in a three-set thriller (22-25, 25-15, 25-18) in a regional final. The team has been led this season by Jaye McCurdy, Audrey Arnold, Ally Chance, Julia Glassburn, Ellie Petz, Kamryn Moff and Emily Schroeder.
This story was originally published October 27, 2024 at 7:00 AM.
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