BURLINGTON — The Iola High volleyball team ended an impressive season on a winning note, defeating both Santa Fe Trail and Anderson County in Burlington Tuesday.
The Mustangs’ (22-12) victories capped a final stretch of games where Iola won eight of their final 11 matches, including a couple of four-game win streaks.
For head coach Amanda Holman, it’s her winningest season at the school. In fact, the last time Iola won this many games was 2014, almost a decade ago.
“We ended our regular season facing the two toughest teams in our league and came out with two wins,” said Holman. “Our girls came ready to play. They are putting the pieces together, believing in themselves. The team is strong.”
Iola knocked off Santa Fe Trail in three sets, 25-22, 20-25 and 25-18.
Alana Mader led the Mustangs offensively with a team-high 14 kills while Reese Curry added eight. Curry also led the way from the serving line with four aces. Defensively, Mader had eight total blocks and Elza Clift had 19 digs.
“Elza is doing a great job controlling the first touch, whether that be in receiving a serve or reading the hitters and getting ready to pick up a dig,” Holman said.
Kaysin Crusinbery went for a team-high 22 assists.
AGAINST Anderson County, the Mustangs won in two sets, 25-21 and 25-22.
Mader and Curry each had a team-high seven kills while Jackie Fager led the way from the serving line with one ace. Defensively, Mader made a team-high seven blocks while Curry had a team-high 14 digs.
Crusinbery notched a team-high 14 assists. 
IOLA and Humboldt are in Fredonia Saturday for the Class 3A sub-state tournament.
They’ll be in what is arguably one of the state’s most competitive brackets, with No. 1 seed Neodesha boasting a 33-3 record. (Find more info here.) Iola is seeded No. 4, while Humboldt (30-8) is the #2 seed. Anderson County is ranked third.
Matches start at 2 p.m. Iola encounters Prairie View first, while Humboldt will take on Burlington.
The winner of Saturday’s tournament heads to state in Hutchinson on Oct. 27-28.
