By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
There were times in Tuesday night's Topeka West United Kansas Conference volleyball triangular when Seaman looked like one of the best teams in Class 5A.
Seaman volleyball celebrates Tuesday's victory over city and UKC rival Topeka West. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Of course, there were also times when Tatiana Dowling's Vikings looked like an extremely young team that only has one senior, Acey Thompson, on their roster.
But after dropping a tough three-set nailbiter to Spring Hill, which took a 25-23, 21-25, 25-23 victory, Seaman bounced back to sweep Topeka West, 25-11, 25-22.
And while the Vikings continue to fight inconsistency at times, Dowling continues to see steady progress and is excited about the future.
"We talk a lot about trying to be consistent and control what we can control and limit our errors, and you saw us go a little up and down with that tonight,'' Dowling said. "Our girls work really hard, they have really great attitudes, they're extremely coachable and they're great kids and they can play at a really high level.
"So as soon as it all clicks at the same time consistently, they will be unstoppable.''
Seaman freshman standout Kamryn Carlson (13) delivers a kill against Spring Hill in Tuesday's UKC volleyball triangular at Topeka West. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman led for much of the first set against Spring Hill, including a kill from 6-foot-1 freshman standout Kamryn Carlson to go up 4-1 early on.
The Vikings went on to take a 19-15 advantage before the Broncos ran off five straight points to go in front, 20-19.
There were ties at 20, 21 and 23 before Spring Hill scored the final two points of the set.
Seaman built a 14-8 advantage in the second set but Spring Hill came back to forge a tie at 19 before the Vikings forced a third set with a 6-2 edge to close out the four-point win as Carlson continued to dominate things at the net.
Spring Hill never trailed in the third set after opening 7-2, 9-3 and 20-12 leads but the Vikings fought back to get as close as 24-23 before the Broncos scored the match-winning point.
Seaman sophomore Alivia Dowty sets the ball during Tuesday's UKC volleyball triangular at Topeka West. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
After a somewhat slow start in the first set against West, Seaman took control in the middle portion of the set and closed out the 25-11 win with a 9-2 finishing spurt.
West put up a fight throughout the second set against the Vikings, leading 17-14 and 22-20 before Seaman, now 5-9 overall and 3-1 in the UKC, ended the match with five straight points.
Spring Hill opened its 2-0 night with a 25-20, 25-10 victory over host West.
Topeka West senior Sydney VanDyke spikes the ball in Tuesday's Topeka West volleyball triangular. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Chargers put up a valiant fight against the Broncos in the opening set, including a lead at 17-16 and a tie at 18 before Spring Hill was able to close out the five-point win.
The second set was all Spring Hill as the Broncos opened up a 17-7 lead and went in front 23-8 before closing out the 25-10 win.
Match results
Spring Hill def. Topeka West, 25-20, 25-10; Spring Hill def. Seaman, 25-23, 21-25, 25-23; Seaman def. Topeka West, 25-11, 25-22.
