By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
There were times in Monday's Hayden-Topeka High volleyball dual when the host Wildcats looked to be on their way to a sweep.
But there were also times that the Trojans appeared to be poised to pull out a comeback win before Hayden ended up with a hotly-contested 25-23, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22 victory over its Centennial League rival at the Bueltel Activities Complex in the season-opener for both teams.
Hayden sophomore Bella Reid (12) is congratulated by her teammates after making a big play in the Wildcats' 3-1 dual win over Topeka High Monday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"We love winning,'' Hayden coach Jim Davis said. "We've got a new squad this year, we're real young. We only have one senior, Jenessa Broxterman, and you saw her tonight, she stepped it up. We gave her the game ball tonight.''
The first set was tied at 20 and 23 before Hayden scored the final two points to take the set.
Hayden jumped out to a 13-5 second-set lead on a block from freshman Kadence Watts and later led 17-8 on kill from Broxterman and 19-10 but Topeka High battled all the way back to within 24-23 before the Wildcats closed out the win.
The third set went back and forth throughout, with Topeka High jumping out 4-0 before Hayden fought back to take a 10-5 lead on a kill from junior Hannah Schmitz.
Hayden went on to open up a 16-9 advantage before the Trojans answered with an 8-0 run, including several big plays from sophomore Jo'Mhara Benning, to take a 17-16 advantage.
The Wildcats led as late as 19-17 but the Trojans rallied for a 23-20 advantage on a service ace from junior Amirah Gibbs and went on to claim the three-point victory.
Hayden took 19-18 lead in the fourth set on an ace from freshman Reese Huscher before High rallied for a 21-19 lead.
The Wildcats took a 22-21 advantage on a kill from Broxterman. Then, after a kill from High's Gibbs to knot the match, junior Reagan Huscher, Broxterman and Schmitz closed out the match with three straight kills.
Hayden had trouble handling prosperity at times, letting several leads get away, but Davis said that was understandable given the Wildcats' youth and that Monday's win was big for Hayden's confidence moving forward.
"That's the reason why you saw them hop off the bench and rush the floor,'' Davis said. "We're playing together as a team. It's outstanding.''
Topeka High celebrates a point in Monday's volleyball dual at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Despite the tough loss Topeka High coach Bridget Bargmann said she was extremely proud of her team.
"I have five seniors, so we have the leadership, but we have inexperience at the varsity level, so it's just growing pains,'' Bargmann said. "It's just the first game of the season and I'm excited.
"I have a good group of girls and we're going to be good.''
MATCH RESULTS
Hayden def. 25-23, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22
