Cardinals tied for CKL volleyball lead BY JIM MISUNAS jmisunas@gbtribune.com HESSTON — There's no doubt that University of Illinois commit Sofia Simic is the sparkplug for the No. 3 state-ranked Hoisington Cardinal volleyball team, which placed third in 3A last year. The high-energy Simic is the Cardinals' team leader with ace serves and winners with a high-flying style.  Simic needed every ounce of effort to help outlast Hesston 28-26, 25-21 in a wild Tuesday matchup. The Cardinals rallied from a deficit for a first-set victory thanks to miraculous back-to-back saves by Libero Miya Nachtigal. The Swathers led 23-20 on the brink of a first set victory, but Mila Simic backed up Nachtigal with a third save and Kelsi Maier and Sofia Simic closed out points with winners. The Cardinals (27-4, 7-1 CKL) are tied with Halstead for first place in the Central Kansas League. The Cardinals also downed Nickerson 25-15, 25-10 for a sweep Tuesday.  Sofia Simic (346 winners, 168 digs, 70 ace serves, 30 blocks) is a versatile talent, who talked about the Cardinals during a radio interview Tuesday afternoon. "We knew we'd do big things in the league," Simic said. "Our chemistry has improved tremendously. This is our year. Our work ethic is unmatched." Simic's leaping jump serve is hard to handle. "I hit a topspin serve, which has risk with a high toss," she said. "But it's been worth it. " Kelsi Maier is another all-around talent with 332 serves, 225 served received, 166 digs, 181 winners and 37 ace serves.   "Our goal is to go to state," Maier said. "Right now, we're perfect. Our chemistry and energy on the court makes it exciting to play on this team. I'm excited for the rest of the season."  Nachtigal is a defensive genius with 378 serves received and 208 digs. "Even when we're down, we'll come back and put up a score. We have a drive to come back," Nachtigal said. Setters Reese Vaughn (366 assists, 318 serves) and Brynn Tarlton (326 assists) offer two options for setting up the Cardinal hitters. Sofia Simic believes an early-season victory over 3A state-ranked Beloit showed the Cardinals' potential. "One of our hugs wins was against Beloit when something shifted," she said. "We knew we had to bring the fire. We need 'Beloit energy' when we play our best volleyball."  Simic pays tribute to Hoisington volleyball coach Mykela Riedl. "It starts with our coach. She's amazing," she said. CHASE TRIANGULAR—Ellinwood def. Macksville, 25-4 25-12;  Ellinwood def. Chase, 25-3, 25-3; Macksville def. Chase, 25-7, 25-7 GODDARD TRIANGULAR—Great Bend def. Campus, 23-25, 25-10, 25-13; Great Bend def. Goddard Eisenhower, 25-14, 23-25, 25-18; Eisenhower vs. Campus HALSTEAD TRIANGULAR—Halstead def. Larned, 25-11, 25-11; Halstead def. Pratt, 25-10, 25-14; Pratt def. Larned, 27-25, 25-19 HESSTON TRIANGULAR—Hoisington def. Nickerson, 25-15, 25-10; Hoisington def. Hesston, 28-26, 25-21; Hesston def. Nickerson, 25-20, 26-24 HILLSBORO TRIANGULAR—Hillsboro def. Smoky Valley, 25-22, 25-23; Smoky Valley def. Haven, 25-19, 25-21 LA CROSSE TRIANGULAR—La Crosse def. Central Plains, 25-15, 25-13; Victoria def. La Crosse, 25-21, 25-18; La Crosse def. Central Plains, 17-25, 25-20, 25-19 NESS CITY QUAD—St. John def. Otis-Bison, 25-5, 25-19; Otis-Bison def. Ness City, 25-21, 25-16; Otis-Bison def. Kinsley, 25-21, 26-24; St. John def. Ness City, 25-8, 25-8; Kinsley def. Ness City, 25-19, 25-14; St. John def. Kinsley SOUTH CENTRAL QUAD—Bucklin def. Pawnee Heights, 26-24, 25-22; Minneola def. Pawnee Heights, 25-18, 25-16; South Central def. Pawnee Heights, 25-16, 25-14; Bucklin def. South Central, 25-17, 22-25, 25-17; South Central vs. Minneola; Bucklin vs. Minneola CENTRAL KANSAS LEAGUE Hoisington 7-1 27-4 Halstead 7-1 22-5 Hesston 6-2 17-9 Hillsboro 6-2 23-6 Nickerson 3-5 9-20 Haven 2-6 15-14 Smoky Valley 3-5 11-20 Pratt 2-6 14-18 Larned 0-8 7-21