Iola High’s volleyball team has shown several signs of improvement in the young 2013 season.
The Fillies will have an opportunity to measure themselves against regional volleyball powers, such as Burlington and Anderson County, when action begins this morning at the 23rd annual Iola High Invitational.
The Fillies took home fourth place in 2012, the first time in three seasons an Iola team had advanced out of pool play and into the final four teams.
They’ll see some familiar faces, including two teams they’ve already faced this year.
Defending tournament champion Burlington will be in the house, as will runner-up Anderson County and Pittsburg, which took third.
Also competing in the tournament are Prairie View — whom the Fillies already have defeated on two prior occasions this season — Labette County, Parsons and Caney Valley.
Iola will take on Prairie View, Labette County and Pittsburg in pool play, with the top two teams advancing to the semifinals. Iola’s pool matches will be on the north court.
In the other pool are Anderson County, Parsons, Burlington and Caney Valley. They’ll play on the south court. Iola played Burlington in a tournament at Central Heights, falling in two close games.
The first matches begin at 8:30 a.m. in the IHS gymnasium.

A festive crowd packed the Riverside Park grandstands to watch Iola High’s 2013 home opener Friday.
The Mustangs didn’t disappoint.
Iola scored early and often, rolling up more than 300 yards rushing in the first half against visiting Osawatomie.
By the time quarterback Tyler McIntosh found wideout Tyler Powelson on a 23-yard touchdown pass on the last play of the half, Iola led 40-0.
The Mustangs let off the pedal in the second half, substituting liberally in the third and fourth quarters, but still rolled to a 47-14 victory.
The win keeps Iola’s record spotless at 2-0, although a much higher hurdle looms next Friday when Field Kindley High of Coffeyville rolls into town. The Golden Tornado is one of the most highly regarded Class 4A teams in the state.
“Next week is going to be a whole different animal,” Iola head coach Doug Kerr said. “We’ve got tornadoes coming to town, and we need to be ready.”
The game started as a near carbon copy of Iola’s 2012 game against the Trojans. Iola scored a trio of quick touchdowns and led 20-0.
But unlike a year ago, when Iola allowed a pair of Osawatomie scores to keep the game in doubt, there was no such letup.
Iola held Osawatomie to only two first downs in the first half, and constantly harassed Trojan quarterback Brody Russell, who misfired on all nine pass attempts in the half, with three interceptions.
The Mustangs had no such problems.
It took all of five plays for Iola’s Shane Walden to bust loose on a 37-yard touchdown run to put the Mustangs up 7-0, just over a minute into the game. John Whitworth followed at the 4:17 mark with a seven-yard touchdown run.
Jacob Rhoads stepped in front of a Russell pass for an interception to set up Iola’s next possession at midfield. He capped the subsequent drive with a 34-yard scoring jaunt to put the Mustangs up 20-0.
The Mustangs turned to ball control in the second quarter, marching 79 yards on 11 plays. John Whitworth waltzed untouched into the end zone from nine yards out to push the lead to 27-0.
Osawatomie’s only real scoring threat in the half followed before a Trojan holding penalty negated a first-and-goal situation. Instead, the visitors came up dry on a fourth-down pass.
Iola followed with a seven-play, 76-yard drive, capped by another Rhoads score, this one from 29 yards away.
Adam Kauth’s interception gave Iola the ball back with 2:11 on the clock.
McIntosh misfired on two straight pass attempts, but rushed for 18 yards on his next two carries, including an eight-yard jaunt on fourth-and-two to keep the drive alive.
The teams traded penalties before Iola set up for one last play from the Trojan 23 with four seconds left. McIntosh led Powelson perfectly into the corner of the end zone, where Powelson corralled the ball seconds before stepping out of bounds.
Mason Key’s extra point put the gap at 40.
“It was nice to see Powelson get that score,” Kerr said. “He had a nice game. So did Trent Latta.”
McIntosh added another touchdown on a one-yard keeper to start the third quarter, pushing the lead to 47-0 before Kerr called off the dogs and began playing reserves on both sides of the ball.
“I liked how we didn’t let up like we did last year,” Kerr said. “That tells me the guys have learned a lot since last year.”
The only wart on the night: Whitworth exited the game late in the first half with an undisclosed injury and did not return to the game.
“I’m really proud of the way Jacob stepped in,” Kerr said. “We’re blessed to have plenty of depth at running back, and a lot of guys got into the game.”
Iola racked up 430 yards on the ground on 48 carries, led by Rhoads’ 120 on nine rushes. Walden rushed for 95 yards, Whitworth for 81.
McIntosh was 6 of 13 passing for 90 yards.
Iola amassed 543 yards of total offense in the game.
Riley England led Osawatomie with 98 hard-fought yards. At one point, he had 64 yards rushing in the third quarter, while the rest of the team had minus-11 yards in total offense.
“The big thing was they threw in some wrinkles we weren’t expecting, but the guys made adjustments on the field by themselves,” Kerr said. “Did we make some mistakes? Sure, we did. But those are things we can correct.”
Kaden Macha led the defense with eight tackles, including five solo stops. Bryce Misenhelter added a sack, while Adam Kauth, Brice Aiello and Rhoads each intercepted a pass.
Kerr was unsure of the severity of Whitworth’s injury.
“We’re a little banged up,” he said. “I should know more (today).”
The game had an added flavor as Iola honored several Mustang alums who played between 2000 and 2012, while members of the Kansas National Guard were on hand as part of a commemoration of Patriot’s Day.

By the numbers

Osawatomie    0-0-7-7—14
Iola    20-20-7-0—47
Iola — Shane Walden 37 yd run (Isaias Macias kick)
Iola — John Whitworth 13 yd run (Macias kick)
Iola — Jacob Rhoads 33 yd run (Kick failed)
Iola — Whitworth 9 yd run (Macias kick)
Iola — Rhoads 28 yd run (Kick failed)
Iola — Tyler Powelson 23 yd pass from Tyler McIntosh (Mason Key kick)
Iola — McIntosh 1 yd run (Key kick)
Osawatomie — Joey Brightwell 11 yd pass from Brody Russell (Sheldon Booe kick)
Osawatomie — Riley England 11 yd run (Booe kick)
                 Osawatomie         Iola
First Downs    7    21
Rushes-yds    25-86    48-430
Passing yds    64    113
Total Offense    150    543
Passes     5-17-3    8-15-0
Fumbles-Lost    0-0    2-2
Punts-yds     3-NA    1-22
Penalties    6-55    5-60
Individual Leaders
Rushing: Iola — Rhoads, 9-120, Shane Walden 8-95, Whitworth 8-81, McIntosh 8-33, Aiello 3-26, Kauth, 4-19, Macha 2-17, Kelly 3-8, Team 1-(-23). Osawatomie — England 20-98, Noah Newcomb 1 (-2), Ayres 1-2, Russell 2-(-10).
Passing: Iola — McIntosh 6-13-0-90, Taylor 2-2-0-13. Osawatomie — Russell 5-17-3-64.
Receiving: Iola — Latta 2-37, Powelson 2-34, Aiello 2-12, Rhoads 1-11, Zimmerman 1-9. Osawatomie — Brightwell 2-23, Wylie 2-17, Pursley 1-24.

A caption accompanying an article Wednesday on the Humboldt High volleyball team’s home sweep of Oswego and Neodesha incorrectly identified Breanna Kline as one of her teammates.
Additionally, a photo of Allyson Hobbs that accompanied an article Saturday about Iola High’s tennis team incorrectly identified her as her sister, Alexis.
We regret the errors.

ST. PAUL — Southern Coffey County High’s volleyball team went 1-2 Tuesday in a quadrangular meet in St. Paul.
The Lady Titans knocked off Crest High, 25-15, 25-18, before dropping a 25-20, 26-24 decision to Pleasanton and a 25-13, 25-19 contest to St. Paul.
Amanda Sherwood and Connie Lyda led the way with 17 digs each. Breanna Isch had 10 kills and nine solo blocks. Sherwood and Chenae Newkirk each had eight assists.
Southern Coffey County sported an 86 percent night from service line, 93 of 108.
The junior varsity will be in Moran for a tournament Saturday. The varsity resumes play Tuesday in Moran.

YATES CENTER — Marmaton Valley High’s junior varsity basketball team spiked its competition Monday in winning the Yates Center Invitational Tournament.
The Wildcats went 3-0 on the day, defeating Burlington, 25-11, 11-25, 15-11, Pleasanton, 25-19 and 25-16, and West Elk, 25-18, 25-5.
“The girls had a great start to their season, winning the tournament,” head coach Jamie Stodgell said. “The team’s aggressive play at the net and a strong serving percentage contributed to their success. The girls’ desire to win showed on the court.”
Tanna Lutz led the Wildcats with 26 serving points, while Kenzie Harrison added 22 points and two kills. Tessa Olson added 17 points, 12 kills and five blocks. Shauna Knight scored 14 points with three kills, Misty Storrer had 15 points and 10 kills. Alex Thomas had seven points. Emily Plaschka and Magie Stevenson each scored two points.

CANEY — Yates Center High’s girls golf team continues to show improvement, head coach Kevin Barnes said, the most recent evidence coming from a tournament Tuesday in Caney.
Becky Wendland shot  a 55, good for 14th place overall. Marlana Buchanan tied for 26th with a 59. MaKayla Jones shot a 66, good for 45th.
More than 60 golfers from 14 schools competed, Yates Center coach Kevin Barnes said.
“Becky and Marlana shot close to what they did last week and MaKayla shot 10 strokes better than she did on the same course a week and a half ago,” Barnes said.

PAOLA — Iola Blue and Gold Soccer Club opened the 2013 fall season in fine fashion Saturday, even with broiling temperatures well into the 90s.
Blue and Gold consists of three teams, 14- 12- and 10-and-under.
The 14-and-under group thumped Louisburg 8-1. Collin Bedell scored two goals with three assists. Desiree Hartpence added two goals, as did Nolan Jones. Matt Karr scored the final goal. Jones had two assists.
Parker Smith had four saves, Bret Plumlee two.
The 14-and-under squad won despite being down two players because of other commitments, head coach Brek Ulrich said.
The 10-and-under team was in a similar boat, with four players gone because of commitments with the Allen County Youth Tackle Football League.
Even so, the club stood toe-to-toe with LaCygne before falling 5-4.
Carter Wilson had three goals, two of which came from Logan Ulrich assists. William Jay scored the other goal.
Brett Willis had four saves in goal. Will Talkington added four saves.
Iola’s teams play in the Paola Soccer Club League this fall.

MORAN — Dan Uhlrich isn’t the only new head football coach for Marmaton Valley High School.
At a special USD 256 Board of Education meeting Wednesday, the district further clarified the duties for Uhlrich, Kyle McAloon and Derek Scharff. All three are considered co-head coaches.
The trio were appointed to replace Kent Houk, who resigned Sept. 4, two days before the 2013 season began. Uhlrich, McAloon and Scharff were assistants under Houk.
The head coaching duties will be split among the three, with Uhlrich serving as the team’s head coach during games.
The remaining head coach’s salary left over from Houk’s resignation will be split among the three.
Marmaton Valley visits Crest on Friday.