Ark Valley News - Hornets 3-3 at tourney, lose home tri

Hannah Johnston hits against Salina Central during the Aug. 26 tournament.

Hornets 3-3 at tourney, lose home tri
By Randy Fisher
Last Updated: August 31, 2017

Before the Valley Center High School volleyball team took to the court for the first time this year, coach Holly Rutter warned there would be a lot of ups and downs this season. After eight games, she's sounding like a prophet.

At the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League preseason tournament Aug. 26 in Hutchinson, the Hornets played so-so in losing their first three matches and notably better in winning their last three. They played poorly in losing a triangular Aug. 29 at home, going 3-5 overall and 0-1 in league.

Rutter was pleased with the manner in which the Hornets finished in splitting six games at Hutch.

“Although we didn't do hot in the morning, we were able to come back and get three wins in the afternoon and walk out with a positive mindset," she said.

In its initial pool, Valley lost to Maize, Andover Central and Salina Central. After being reassigned, the Hornets beat Dodge City, Liberal and Hutchinson.

Valley Center lost 12-25, 20-25 against Maize, ranked eighth in Class 5A.

“The low that I saw against Maize the very first game I hope I never have to see that again. We were just nervous," she said. “The second game they came back … and were phenomenal. … I was proud of them for that."

Several girls were playing in their first-ever varsity match, including 6-foot, 4-inch Hannah Johnston. The sophomore middle recorded 21 kills and a team-high nine blocks on the day.

“I was not really nervous," she said. “I played club and it's faster, too. I was just really excited to play with the team."

The Hornets whipped Andover Central, fourth in 4A-I, 25-15 in the first set. But the Jaguars won the next two 20-25, 21-25.

With Salina Central winning the first set 23-25, Valley Center was close to tying the match in the second set. Unfortunately, the rally fell short as the Mustangs pulled out a 24-26 victory.

The second pool consisted of the four teams who finished fourth in their initial pool.

Valley beat Dodge City 26-24, 25-23 and Liberal 25-23, 25-13.

Hutchinson won the first set 21-25, but Valley bounced back to capture the second 25-15. The Hornets trailed 23-20 in the third set before pulling off the winning rally for a 26-24 victory.

“I told them I know you can win this game … but you guys all have to believe it and have to trust each other to do that," Rutter said of the third set. “Their heart was completely in it, and I loved that. That's what it's all about."

Ellie Shank hit .250 with 31 kills and 25 assists. Johnston had 21 kills, with Alora Klinkhammer and Reagan Fischer each adding 18. Shank (2.27) and Emily Kemp (2.21) led in passing. Fischer had seven aces and Shank six. Johnston had nine blocks, while Shank and Klinkhammer each had six.

Rutter praised the play of sophomore Carlie Claussen, who had 44 assists.

“I couldn't have asked for a better showing in her first varsity outing. She did wonderful," Rutter said. “I really wasn't sure what to expect from her."

The Hornets lost seven sets by an average of five points per set. That includes a 13-point loss in the first set against Maize.

It was a different team that hosted Andover Central and Wichita Heights, losing to both in three sets. Rutter thinks the girls played at an out-of-control pace.

“They're just flying and overcompensating, and flying in front of each other," she said. “They almost do too much sometimes instead of playing controlled. They need to know their position instead of going after everything. They see ball and go. It doesn't work like that."

For the second time in four days, the Hornets beat Central in the first set. And also for the second time in four days, the Jaguars won the next two sets.

Behind the early hitting of Shank, Valley Center grabbed an 8-2 lead in the first set, only to watch Andover Central tie the game at 12. The Jaguars eased in front 21-17 before the Hornets made their move.

A stuff block from Klinkhammer, sandwiched around a pair of Central errors, pulled Valley to within 21-20. Fischer scored Valley's next four points for the 25-23 win.

In the second set, Andover Central broke a 5-all tie and never trailed. Leading 20-15, the Jaguars reeled off five straight points to win 25-15.

The third set looked a lot like the second. Down 8-7, Central hit an 8-0 run to take control. The Jaguars coasted to a 25-16 win.

Shank hit .323 with 12 kills and 10 assists. Fischer had seven kills but also six attack errors. Klinkhammer hit .364 with six kills.

The Hornets fared no better against Heights, winning the first set but losing the next two.

Heights never went away in the first set. Trailing 16-13, the Falcons eased on top 18-16. A kill by Johnston and two aces from Shank sandwiched around a Fischer kill, put the Hornets up for good at 20-18. They went on to win, 25-21.

In the second set, Heights led 13-10 before pulling away with a 6-0 run, en route to a 25-14 victory.

Down 6-1 in the third set, Valley tied the game at 7. Heights led 15-13 when it put together a 7-0 run and won 25-16.

Against Heights, the Hornets hit .010 as a team. Shank (seven) and Fischer (six) had 13 of Valley's 20 kills.

JV splits — The Hornet junior varsity took to the court for the first time and split Aug. 29. They lost to Andover Central 25-18, 23-25, 9-15 and held off Wichita Heights 25-15, 25-22. For the night, Kylee Dawson had 12 kills, while Amber Haden and Chaeli Keenan each had eight.