The Andale volleyball team entered Saturday’s bracket play of the Class 4A State Tournament at the Hutchinson Sports Arena as winners of 15 in a row, looking to cap off its season with the program’s third state championship in six years.
However, it was not an easy road for the reigning champions to get back to where it wanted to be after going 3-0 in pool play on Thursday. Andale was taken to a third set for the second consecutive match in its semifinal against Eudora. After dropping set one to the Cardinals, 25-21, Andale rallied to take the final two sets, 25-12 and 26-24.
Andale got an opportunity to face Bishop Miege for a third time this season and second in the state tournament. Like against Eudora, Andale dropped the first set, 25-21 and rallied for a 25-19 victory in set two. Set three was a battle, but the Stags claimed their 30th state championship, knocking off the Indians, 25-20, taking the rubber match between the two teams.
“We really competed,” Andale coach Scott Johnson said. “We were two points away from playing for third place. Just to fight to get into that championship game, we did not play our best in the first set. I’m really happy with how they responded to win set two. Then, we took it point for point throughout set three, but they pulled away at the end, and that’s a phenomenal team.”
Andale graduates 10 seniors off a team that finishes with a 36-6 record.
“They’re great players,” Johnson said. “It’s been a great three years with some of them. Some have been one or two years, but just a great group of kids. It made for a great year.”
Andale will have three of its seniors continuing to play collegiately, with Reagan Winter committed to play at Washburn, Abbey McNeal committed to play at Nebraska-Kearney and Megan Klabo committed to play at McPherson College.
