INDEPENDENCE Saturday was an anticlimactic ending to the season for the Iola High volleyball team. The Fillies bowed out of their sub-state tournament in a play-in game against Kansas City Piper in two sets.
Although the Fillies struggled throughout the season to find consistency as a unit, there is hope for the future. Gaby Lampe was the solo senior for this season, meaning the remaining Fillies will be back for 2020.
Iola failed to get in a rhythm early against Piper High, dropping the first set 25-9. The Fillies performed better in the second set, but ultimately fell short in the 25-19 loss. A sluggish opening has been a trend all season long, according to head coach Amanda Strickler.
It seems every game we played this season, in the first set we arent awake, Strickler said. In the second set we played tremendously better, and started figuring things out. We cant take a set off, this is sub-state, and we dont get a warm-up set.
Heading into the 2019 season, Strickler was fully aware the odds were stacked against her youth-filled squad. She emphasized that every serve, kill, and dig performed this year have worked to fully prepare the Fillies for next season.
We broke some ground on things we hadnt before, and it is just a matter of putting it all together, Strickler said. The key to that is you have to keep touching the ball. The girls cant wait to touch a volleyball until next August.
In order for the Fillies to gradually improve, Strickler said she is encouraging the girls to play club volleyball during the offseason.
Humboldt
The Lady Cubs were one match away from returning to state, but Burlington was the roadblock that stood in their way.
Humboldt earned wins over Douglass, 25-17, 25-23, and Neodesha, 13-25, 26-24, 25-20, to advance to the sub-state championship. Humboldt was unable to win a set against the Burlington Wildcats, losing by scores of 25-13 and 25-22. Alayna Johnson finished the tournament with 62 assists, and sister Emma chimed in 15 digs. The Lady Cub attack was driven by Jessics Myers earning 26 kills, and Jada Dangerfield adding 12.
The girls fought hard all day, but we came up short in the end, head coach Terry Meadows said. I thought we stayed in rallies because of our defense, but we did not put the ball away very well at all. I was very impressed with the play of Kirsten Kobold and am excited to see what she will be able to do for us next season.
