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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
There's a lot of volleyball teams across Kansas who would love to have back-to-back top-four state finishes on their resume.
But Seaman will be shooting for more in Friday and Saturday's Class 5A state tournament at the Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina.
Seaman volleyball celebrates a point during Saturday's Class 5A sub-state tournament on the Vikings' home court. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I think it just needs to be our drive to win,'' Seaman coach Tatiana Dowling said. "We've got to come out and want it and not be satisfied. I think that they're hungry and they're tired of getting fourth and they're excited to step up to the challenge.''
The Vikings earned their fourth straight state tournament berth with a 25-16, 25-15 win over Newton in last Saturday's sub-state final on their home floor.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural knows it enters Friday and Saturday's Class 6A state volleyball tournament at Salina in the unfamiliar role of an underdog.
But the Junior Blues also know that until somebody proves otherwise, they rule the 6A roost.
Washburn Rural's volleyball team celebrates after receiving the Class 6A sub-state championship trophy last Saturday at Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Jada Ingram spikes the ball during last Saturday's Class 6A regional volleyball tournament at Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural captured its eighth state championship a year ago and is determined not to give up its lofty perch without a fight.
"We're going to go in every game, play our hardest, and a lot of people aren't really expecting us to have a great run, but we're going to show them,'' senior Jada Ingram said.
And senior Zoe Canfield said there's no doubt that the Junior Blues are playing with a little bit of a chip on their shoulders.
"Heavy on that chip on the shoulder,'' Canfield said. "I think we're really excited to turn some heads and see what we can do at state. I think a lot of people have doubted us but we've been working hard this season and I think we can prove a lot of people wrong.''
The Junior Blues enter this weekend's state tournament at the Tony's Pizza Events Center as the No. 5 seed at 28-10 and will open their state bid at 3:30 p.m. Friday in Pool I play against No. 4 seed Blue Valley West (29-9).
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A frantic Washburn University comeback came up short in Saturday's 31-28 football loss to Fort Hays State at Yager Stadium.
Washburn junior Caeden Spencer had a 42-yard pick-six in Saturday's 31-28 MIAA loss to Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn junior Caeden Spencer scores on a 42-yard pick-six in Saturday's 31-28 MIAA loss to Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn (1-7, 0-7) trailed 31-14 with 2:29 to play in the third quarter before trimming the Fort Hays State lead to 31-21 with 6:08 remaining when Teondre Carter, who made his first career start, scored from 5 yards out.
Carter's touchdown run was set up after the Ichabods' Nasjon Porter blocked a Tiger field goal attempt and Kamble Haverkamp returned it 34 yards.
After a 59-yard pass from Sam Van Dyne to DJ Bell set the Ichabods up at the Tiger 5, Carter went out the left side for the score.
On the Tigers' next possession, the Washburn defense held the Tigers to a punt and Bell returned it 47 yards to the Tiger 42-yard-line.
After passes to Tyce Brown and Triston Johnson, Van Dyne hit Johnson for a 25-yard touchdown pass, pulling the Ichabdos within three with 2:35 to go.
After an Ichabod kickoff, the Tigers converted on a third and four from the 31 and three plays later ran out the clock for the win.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Jesiah Bonura
JESIAH BONURA, Cair Paravel Latin
A senior football standout, Bonura compiled 435 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns in last Friday's 74-28 win over Maranatha Academy as Cair Paravel wrapped up a 6-2 regular season in just the Lions' second season as a full KSHSAA member in football. Bonura had four kickoff returns for 195 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 193 yards and two TDs on five carries and caught four passes for 47 yards and a TD.
Jackson Esquibel
JACKSON ESQUIBEL, Shawnee Heights
Esquibel, a senior cross country star, capped a sweep of city, United Kansas Conference and Class 5A regional individual titles Saturday at Shawnee North Community Center. A two-time 5A state medalist in cross country and a state champion in track, Esquibel posted a 53-second victory in the regional meet, clocking a five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 46.02 seconds.
Payton Fink
PAYTON FINK, Washburn Rural
Fink, a junior cross country standout, followed up her Centennial League individual title with a 10-second win Saturday at Wichita, helping the Junior Blues post a sweep of city, Centennial League and regional team championships. Fink, who placed fifth in the Class 6A state meet as a sophomore, clocked a winning five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 01.20 seconds in the regional meet.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Nine-time state volleyball champion Silver Lake is back in the Class 3A state tournament field after a three-year absence.
Silver Lake's volleyball team poses for a team picture after winning the Class 3A sub-state tournament Saturday at St. Marys. [Silver Lake volleyball]
Sarah Johnson's Eagles, the No. 2 seed in Saturday's St. Marys sub-state, punched their ticket to Friday and Saturday's state tourney at the Hutchinson Sports Arena with a hard-earned 25-16, 21-25, 26-24 win over No. 1 seed Rossville in the sub-state final.
The Eagles, 28-11 on the season, opened their sub-state bid with a 20-25, 25-4, 25-13 quarterfinal win over Sabetha and knocked off Royal Valley in the semifinals, 25-23, 28-26.
Silver Lake and Rossville hooked up for the fifth time this season in the championship match, with four of those matches going to three sets.
Silver Lake, which won its most recent state title in 2018, is the No. 6 seed for the 3A tournament and will open the state tournament with an 8:30 a.m. Pool II match Friday against No. 3 seed Cheney (35-4).
The Eagles will also face No. 2 seed Neodesha (36-3) at 11:30 a.m. and No. 7 Riverton (25-10) at 12:30 p.m. in pool play.
On the other side of the 3A bracket are No. 1 Beloit (37-2), No. 4 Heritage Christian (34-4), No. 5 Smoky Valley (29-11) and No. 8 Goodland (23-15).
The top two finishers in both pools will advance to 9 a.m. semifinals on Saturday, followed by the championship and third-place matches.
MATCH RESULTS
Quarterfinals -- Rossville def. Atchison County, 25-14, 25-6; St. Marys def. Jefferson West, 25-21, 25-17; Silver Lake def. Sabatha, 20-25, 25-4, 25-13; Royal Valley def. Hiawatha, 25-18, 25-18.
Semifinals -- Rossville def. St. Marys, 25-13, 25-21; Silver Lake def. Royal Valley, 25-23, 28-26.
Championship -- Silver Lake def. Rossville, 25-16, 21-25, 26-24.
