SALINA — The Iola High Fillies volleyball team advanced to today’s final four at the state tournament. THE FILLIES needed to win against eighth seed Nickerson to secure a spot in the final round, but couldn’t pull it off.
It was anything but easy.
On Friday, Iola finished in a three-way tie with Girard and Nickerson at 1-2 in pool play at the Class 4A-II Tournament at Salina’s Bicentennial Center.
So, it came down to which team with the highest percentage of sets won.
Iola was able to survive and advance, even though it wasn’t the way they wanted to.
“We fully expected to play (today), but I also thought we would come out with two wins,” Fillies coach Emily Sigg said. “I’m glad it worked out in our favor, but they battled a little. Knowing that we have a second chance, maybe that will motivate us since we came out of it.”
The day started strong with a small upset. The fifth seed Fillies beat fourth seed Girard in their first match, 25-13 and 25-19.
The first set was all Iola. The Fillies took a 10-3 lead to start the match and never looked back.
Girard rallied for four straight points after falling behind 23-8, but Iola slammed the door from there. Addie Haar and Emery Driskel each had three kills. Emma Piazza had six assists and Kyra Moore had four assists.
The second set went point-for-point. Iola took an early 7-2 lead, but Girard didn’t go away — scrapping out a three-point rally.
Iola pushed back out to an 18-12 lead. Again, Girard rallied, this time for five points to bring the score to 18-17. Again, Iola slammed the door without surrendering the lead.
Driskel had two aces and three kills. Piazza had four assists and three kills. Ashlie Shields, Haar and Moore each had one ace.
IOLA’S second match pitted the Fillies against top seed Clay Center. Iola fell in straight sets, 25-13 and 25-14.
The Tigers jumped to a 6-0 lead in the first set. Iola fought back to get within three at 10-7. Clay Center closed the set with a 15-6 run.
Haar had two kills and Platt had one — the only kills for the Fillies.
The second set was more of the same. This time, the Tigers took a 3-0 lead. Iola climbed to within 6-5. But Clay Center showed its toughness once again. The Tigers closed the set, and match with a 9-3 run.
Haar and Driskel each had three kills, while Piazza and Moore both had two kills.
Nickerson erased an 18-11 deficit in the first set to rally for a 27-25 win. The winner came on an ace that hit the top of the net and dropped straight to the floor.
Haar and Driskel each had four kills. Shields and Moore had two kills. Piazza and Moore each had three assists.
The Fillies returned the favor in the second set, rallying from a 23-17 deficit with six straight points. The teams traded points until Iola took the upper hand in a 27-25 win.
Moore led the team with six assists. Driskel had three aces and five kills. Haar recorded four kills.
The third set didn’t go the Fillies’ way. Trailing 10-7, it appeared Nickerson hit a ball out of bounds and the referee briefly awarded Iola the point. But the line judge overruled, saying the ball hit a Fillies player first.
Instead of leading 11-7, Iola found itself instead with a 10-8 advantage.
Momentum shifted on the play. Nickerson raced to a 17-12 lead.
With the score 22-17, Iola rallied for one last run to tie the game on five straight points.
The Fillies didn’t complete the comeback this time and lost the set and match, 25-23.
The Fillies only totaled six kills as a team, with Driskel putting up four of them. Moore had two assists and Haar had an ace.
“Today didn’t go how we planned or wanted exactly, but the end result is what we needed,” Sigg said. “So, I’ll take it. I hope it motivates them for (today).”
Iola takes the court in the final four today at 10 a.m.
Sigg said the team isn’t satisfied.
“We talked about that how we wanted to get to Saturday,” Sigg said. “Then, you’re playing for more than just being at state.”
Despite losses, Fillies advance at state volleyball tourney
