Free State volleyball started the season with four straight victories on the way to a 7-2 record here in the early going.
The Firebirds only dropped one set across their first four matches to reach the final of the Hays Invitational tournament on Aug. 30. They took down Olathe North 21-25, 25-14, 25-17 before sweeping host Hays 25-18, 25-13, Scott City 25-17, 25-10 and Gardner Edgerton 25-11, 25-19.
Free State earned a bit of revenge in that semifinal match after losing an exhibition match against Gardner Edgerton at the latter’s jamboree before the season.
The Firebirds had a tougher time in the finals against Bishop Carroll. They took the Golden Eagles to their limit in the opening set, but ultimately fell 29-27 before dropping the next set 25-19.
Junior middle hitter Anniston Clark led the Firebirds with 48 kills during the tournament. She’s currently at 61 kills through eight matches with a 4.3 kills per set average. She also leads the team in blocks with 19 total blocks, including six solo.
Senior outside hitter Annika Lintecum sits second on the team with 41. She also leads the team with 10 aces. Junior setter Tessa Nover-Estes has racked up 149 assists at a 7.5 assists per set average. She also leads the team in digs with 51. Senior libero Ava Corbin currently holds the top mark for serves received at 60, followed closely by junior opposite hitter Dayton Devlin at 53.
Following the tourney in Hays, Free State earned a 25-18, 25-13, 25-18 road win over Shawnee Mission West on Sept. 2. A couple days later at the Blue Valley Northwest Invitational, the Firebirds lost 25-20, 14-25, 25-20 against Manhattan before turning things around with a 25-13, 20-25, 26-24 win over the host Huskies.
Free State kept things rolling with a 17-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-23 road win over Shawnee Mission Northwest on Sept. 9.
The Firebirds will turn their attention to another road tilt against Olathe North on Thursday, Sept. 11 before heading to the Olathe South Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 13.
