The Hillsboro High volleyball team came up just short in its first encounter with undefeated Wichita Collegiate when the two teams met at a double dual in Ellinwood Sept. 15.
The Spartans, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, defeated Hillsboro, who had been the preseason No. 1 pick, 25-21, 13-25, 25-23.
Two wins at Ellinwood improved Collegiate?s record to 4-0 in league play and 11-0 overall, while Hillsboro fell to 5-1 and and 10-4 after beating Sterling later that evening, 25-10, 25-21.
Coach Sandy Arnold, though disappointed in the outcome, said her team battled Collegiate well.
?Serving was an issue for us, and then we had a couple of problems down the stretch when we made maybe some poor decisions and hit some balls out of bounds,? she said. ?We didn?t play to win as much as we should have.
?They?ve got a good team,? Arnold said of the Spartans. ?I told their coach I hope we play them three times this season. Two times in league and the third time at state.?
Against Sterling, Arnold felt her troops played a good first game but was not as sharp in Game 2.
?I don?t know if we were tired or just a little unfocused,? she said.
Coming?The Trojans were scheduled to play the first of two triangulars at home Tuesday night, Sept. 22, against Halstead (1-5, 5-10) and Smoky Valley (4-2, 8-6). Next Tuesday (Sept. 29), the Trojans will host Haven (0-4, 4-10) and Hoisington (3-1, 6-3). Matches begin at 5 p.m.
