FORT SCOTT — Iola High’s Fillies took on two of the top three teams in the Southeast Kansas League Thursday. It was the finale of SEK play for Iola as it moves to the Pioneer League next year.
The Fillies lost 25-14, 25-16 to Chanute and dropped a 25-12, 25-17 decision to host Fort Scott. The two losses put Iola at 1-7 in SEK play for 2011 and in eighth place.
Pittsburg finished off the SEK season with a sweep over Labette County and Parsons Thursday. Pittsburg put together back-to-back undefeated SEK championships.
Pittsburg is 8-0 followed by Chanute at 7-1, Fort Scott at 6-2 after losing to Chanute 25-22, 30-28 Thursday. Parsons went 4-3 in league play as did Labette County. Independence was 3-5 followed by Columbus at 2-6. Coffeyville was 0-8.
“We were doing more right than wrong Thursday even though the score does not indicate this,” said Jodi Grover, Fillies’ head coach. “The chemistry is getting stronger. We passed very well.”
Iola will get another crack at Fort Scott today in pool play at the Anderson County High Invitational in Garnett.
“My hope for the girls is that we are peaking at the right time. We are looking better for longer periods of time,” Grover said.
Iola has today’s tournament then to prepare next week for the Kansas Class 4A Substate Tournament. Substate will be played in the same gym as the Fillies play in today at ACHS.
The 4A substate is next Saturday in Garnett.
On Thursday, senior Riana Dolenz put down four kills and had three solo blocks at the net for the Fillies in the two matches. Kendra Taiclet, a senior, delivered five kills and four solo blocks.
Freshman Emery Driskel had two kills and a solo block and junior Libby Shay had two kills. Junior Katie Thompson had two kills and an assisted block.
Kyra Moore was credited with 12 set assists and two defensive digs. Taiclet came up with seven digs and Dolenz made six digs.
Keli Lee served two aces and had two digs. Shay had four digs. Emma Sigg had two digs.
“When we were down 15-4 in the first set against Chanute, we let them score two points one more time during the next six rotations,” Grover said. “We started in such a hole we couldn’t dig ourselves out.”
Iola was up 8-4 on Chanute in the second set. Chanute had a 10-point run. Grover said the positive was after that run, Iola held Chanute to two points or less per serve.
